I didn't know what this movie was about until I watched. I suffer from this condition and can give you some insight into the ups and downs. First, Mania is the BEST feeling in the whole world. You will never understand that feeling unless ...well, unless you have bipolar disorder, but, believe me, it IS the BEST. That's one of the reasons people stop taking their medication. The second reason people stop taking their meds is that they make you feel NOTHING. Nothing at all. Not happy, not sad, not a person. No feeling at all. The depression is horrific. Your mind is like a tunnel. There is nothing outside of that tunnel, you CAN'T think of anything or anyone else. Because of that tunnel and not being ABLE to get out, or see beyond it, you think of suicide. People often say, "oh, they were just a coward and took the easy way out". NOT even close to being true. People with this condition DON'T want to die, they just can't get out of that tunnel. They are exhausted, in terrible mental pain, and have an overwhelming sense of guilt. You can NEVER understand that unless you live it. They feel that it will NEVER, EVER, get better. That is what they truly BELIEVE. It's different if you embezzle millions of dollars from the company you work for and commit suicide because you don't want to go to prison. That is not the same situation. Many family members of people with any type of mental illness are sometimes relieved after a suicide, because they have seen their loved ones suffer for so many years. They stay up at night with worry. The cry themselves to sleep because their loved one is in so much pain, They are HELPLESS and hopeless after trying everything they can possibly think of DOING...something, everything, anything, that may help. (And, yes, sometimes giving up, or getting angry is an option.) Relief that your loved one is no longer suffering...that's O.K..Sorry, but religion is out the door on this one. You can't "pray" away mental illness. Unfortunately, not even God can penetrate that tunnel. But, remember this, the brain can become diseased just like any other part of your body. It's an organ just like your pancreas, or kidney. If you don't have a mental illness, you're just lucky. Like I'm just lucky I don't have cancer. Does this make sense...or am I just manic and rambling right now? ;)

I saw this movie years ago and liked the way they brought this character and his affliction to light, when those with mental illnesses and the medical community had little to say about it. I found it used for $0.75 and shipping and decided to purchase it to watch and distribute to family and friends. Richard Gere gives a realistic presentation of being manic and the up and down emotional high and bottom bumping lows of one suffering from depression. Bruce Altman's presentation of Mr. Jones was moving and the audience is presented with a honest portrayal of mental illness and the way we view those with a condition where the patient is reluctant to admit or even allow treatment for the condition. Warm and enlightening. Sad and true for so many out there, who go from a state of euphoria to periods of great depression, as they try to live their lives. Worth watching and if you are a Richard Gere fan, a must.

Richard Gere as the incredible and harshly afflicted Mr. Jones is able to pull and push you through the whole experience of suffering from having the illness of Bipolar Disorder type 1 from what I can most likely tell. It is marked by its euphoric or even agitated highs to its exacerbating and debilitating depressions - or lows. I know people with this disorder who suffer for lifetimes while on medications, in therapy or support groups too, and watching out for themselves on a daily basis as everyone is their own best advocate for how one feels. Gere is a wonderful and very feeling actor to bring this precisely to the big screen. I found his portrayal of wanting to literally fly at the beginning absolutely fearless as in a manic high as being so accurate to how a euphoria can make you feel... as if you can do anything at all; as if you are totally fearless as Mr. Jones believed himself to be. His exuberance at the concert hall when the conductor was in charge of the orchestra playing Beethoven's rousing Symphony No. 9 in D minor: "Ode to Joy" and Mr. Jones just knew he wasn't feeling it within himself where he could himself feel that reverberating joyfulness from that sound... he ran right up onstage to conduct the Symphony himself; what an exquisite scene. That is until you are not euphoric any longer. Mr. Jones is soon hospitalized and medicated while 'crashing' further downward as if spiraling while all the time losing his interests one by one. Any of his inner joy, he struggles to regain for a new normal. If that appears as an overly simplified explanation of the manic-depressive phases, I surely didn't intend it to be as, once again, Richard Gere portrays this flawlessly and I feel this performance is his absolute best, although, sorry to say, not within the best movie's story line.

While Gere is divine in his character's portrayal of Bipolar Disorder type 1, I had an immense problem with his psychiatrist, Lena Olin, Dr. "Libbie" and questioned her motives towards a patient. Not my idea of how a doctor of either sex should be treating a patient of the same or opposite sex... It just should not be done and is illegal for that reason. I have heard some very heartbreaking accounts of just this sort of issue occurring. Just for a moment, how would you feel about this same movie if these two roles were reversed? Something to contemplate in the sugary unbelievable love story 'part' of the plot and ending of the movie. Four helpful stars go entirely to Richard Gere's heartrending portrayal of Mr. Jones I thought was perfect in every way.

The movie quite accurately depicts the struggles of a person with bi-polar 1 disorder. Some patients' highs aren't as high, but the "crash" of the depression always comes. Those who worked with the producers and director to help minor characters in the hospital and in the individual sessions gave accurate insights as well. Body language and mannerisms were spot-on. The first time I watched this movie, I was amazed at its ability to show the truth about mental illness in at least a few people and how we struggle. The second time I watched it, it was or research.

Mr Jones, played with Richard Gere and Lena Olin, was quite a departure from the usual films he chooses to act in. Actually, he played to extreme excellence the manifestations of a type 1 person with the psychosis, that used to be called "Manic Depressive". In addition to his excellence in performing such outstanding acting skills in playing the part, the movie was further elevated to a higher level with the compassion and understanding of his female Psychiatrist, Lena Olin. The two formed One as Romance evolved into a very special kind of love in this movie. In my opinion, it was a "Movie to Watch" sometimes again and again and I very highly recommend it. And Yes, that was Richard Gere really playing the piano.

Richard Gere is amazing ...cinematography was great, and the pace of the film and the writing were substantive.

I watched this movie being filmed from the window of my apartment in San Diego, Second and Hawthorn. They even asked me to get out of my window so I wouldn't be in one of the shots of my window. It was covered with a blue bedspread and watching Richard running back and forth on the roof across the street of my place was and is one of the highlights of a movie star wannabee. Thanks Richard Gere for only taking out the last site and the best picture of my front window. I did also enjoy watching Richard driving back and forth on Second Street on the bike he was using.

An entertaining movie which has romance and the challenge of understanding a manic-depressive person who is never depressed, but manic most of the time. Good music background. Very enjoyable storyline. I've seen it several times on VHS and have ordered it from Amazon on DVD.

The story is filled w/ real life situations w/ excellent cast performances. If you have a friend or family in mental distress, there is a bit of good advice displayed, yet not a psychological movie. Just people enjoying their relationships.