Exceptionally bad portrayals of the autistic, episode 02

Josh Hartnett can protest to his heart's content that Mozart And The Whale was treated like a hot potato by the studios because they did not understand the subject. The more likely reality is that people who understand the subject better than he does would have come out in force to scuttle the film's chances of turning a profit. For it is one of the most exaggeration-ridden portrayals of autistic characters ever committed to film, and it is as deep as a puddle to boot.

Film stars and studios alike should realise by now that to participate in a film based on a Ronald Bass script is to make a pact with the devil, so to speak.

A note for defenders: Do not bother trying to tell me this film was based on real people. I know already. I have had online conversations with one of them, and if I were given a choice between letting him speak for me to a government that is about to decide whether or not to give Autism Speaks the time of day or going to prison for the rest of my life for gutting him and parading his corpse around in front of said government, I would pick the latter. This is because in his manner of conversation, he makes it abundantly clear that he thinks his is the only kind of autistic individual that deserves to be spoken for. He is a coward and a creep of the highest order.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• autism
• civil
• rights
• anti-curebie
• education
• anti-ignorance

[heidilc76]

You have made me want to see ths movie now, to try and understand your perspective. I am very uneducated and ignorant , I am ashamed to admit, about both Austism and Asperger's. Something I want to correct, so thanks

[aspie182]

@heidilc76 If you want to understand my perspective, it would be a better idea to go and see films like Starman, Blade Runner, Män som hatar kvinnor, and Zwartboek. But bear in mind it takes a lot of research and journeying in order to gain a true understanding.

[daughter189]

I'm ignorant?! There are many comments below from people who like this movie but you're not taking any of their points into consideration. It may not fit YOUR idea of Asperger's but the characters displayed the necessary symptoms just in different ways because personality plays an important part and everyones' personality is unique.

[shuckydog]

I think there needed to be more of a variation on the different expressions of the spectrum; there was variance but it was shallow- in lower functioning characters it was limited to personality.

What was largely missed is the fact that many autistics will respond differently in public vs private situations depending on their ability to camouflage and their response to environmental stimuli- they're not static. It would have been useful to have explored that in more depth- for all characters.

[aspie182]

@VavShin Have you seen the effort that curebies and other "charities" go to in order to strip autistic adults of their voice and say in their own affairs? An effort that includes throwing films like this out there so scum can claim what a wonderful portrayal it is? How is that not destructive to my situation, pray tell?

The characters in this film, and I mean *all* of them, are about as different from each other as two normies.

[VavShin]

@aspie182

How is this a very bad and destructive situation?

And I don't think this film displays everyone alike.

The two main characters, for example, have very different personalities and behavior.

[DeathnoteBB]

@aspie182 I'm not entirely sure what you mean.

[aspie182]

@DeathnoteBB What kind of asshole makes out something that shapes and forms every perception I have of everything that I see, hear, or feel to be something separate to me? Oh, that's right, it is called a curebie.

[aspie182]

@VavShin I am sick of people who defend what is a very bad and destructive situation for many of us with cries about how everyone is different. Yes, everyone is different... except in films that deliberately try to portray people on the spectrum. Then they become so fukking alike, it is scary.

[VavShin]

I have aspergers syndrom myself, and I think the characters in this movie is quite good.

I'm so sick of self righteous aspies who fail to realise that people with aspergers is a VERY non homogenous group.

[aspie182]

@JoRdAnMaSt3R I think we should concentrate on one problem at a time. When someone calls me "(insert adjective here) with autism", it is as much as I can do to not punch them until their brain stops what little functioning it possesses. This is because the phrase carries the unspoken implication that something which has shaped my life in immeasurable ways since I was born is somehow separate to me. It is the equivalent of "...with blackness" to me.

[aspie182]

@SumireIsrafel Having seen the leads in other productions, I can only agree. Radha Mitchell has been added to a very short list of actors that I will avoid entire films in order to not have to look at.