Columbia Pictures Corporation
Starring: Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Elisabeth Moss
Directed by: James Mangold
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some major spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Based loosely on the real-life story by Susanna Kaysen. Susanna (Winona Ryder), a young woman in the 1960’s, checks herself into a mental hospital for treatment and becomes close with the intriguing but explosive Lisa (Angelina Jolie).
Featured Feline: The opening segment is from the end of the story and we see a burned patient named Polly (Elizabeth Moss) holding a grey short haired cat in a dark area.
The cat slips away from her and walks on a windowsill.
Late in the film Susanna and Lisa have escaped and end up at the home of former patient Daisy (Brittany Murphy). Daisy owns the cat whose name is Ruby. Lisa hisses at Ruby and scares her.
Susanna bonds with the cat, calling her and petting her. The scene gets ugly when Lisa viciously attacks Daisy verbally. Ruby runs away when the abuse begins.
The next morning Susanna gets up early and leaves the house. Ruby follows on the porch and stands looking after her.
When Susanna returns she finds Daisy is not yet up. Ruby is sitting at the top of the stairs.
Going upstairs to investigate, Susanna finds Daisy’s room empty and Ruby pawing outside the bathroom door.
Unfortunately Susanna finds that Daisy has killed herself. She crumbles with Ruby beside her as Lisa unemtionally leaves.
As the coroner takes away the body, Susanna sits on the porch holding Ruby.
Dr. Potts (Jeffrey Tambor) arrives on the scene and takes Susanne back to the institution, but he allows her to bring Ruby with her.
The girls of the ward are all intrigued by Ruby, but most especially Polly who has a love for animals. Susanna says she can play with the kitty.
Ruby is only seen occasionally in Susanna’s room and one night Susanna notices she is missing.
In searching for Ruby she finds Lisa, Georgina (Clea DuVall) and Polly holding Ruby in the underground tunnels where they used to sneak away.
There is a major confrontation between Lisa and Susanna. Polly is seen holding Ruby in the background during this scene, which ends up where the movie began.
In the end Susanna is discharged and she asks Polly if she would care for Ruby. Polly happily agrees.
Director James Mangold explained on the DVD’s commentary track that the cat was not in the original book but that he wanted Susanna to be able to bring back something physical from Daisy’s house to keep her memory alive in the minds of the audience after her death. He also commented that the cat actor was very good.
The animals trainers on the film were Ursula Brauner and Michelle Iwamoto working for Boone’s Animals for Hollywood.
Final Mewsings: Cats can bring comfort in the worst of situations.
Many thanks to T.j. Dotson for recommending this movie to us!
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