Running with Scissors (DVD, 2007)

What would it be like to be raised by a single parent, bipolar mother? This movie gives a true insight to that dilemma based on the autobiographical book by Augusten Burroughs. Deirdre Burroughs (Annette Bening) starts out the movie pretty believable. She is neglected by her husband Norman(Alec Baldwin) and adored by her 13 year old son Augusten (Joseph Cross). But when Norman finally has enough of her ranting, he leaves forever.

Deirdre then becomes the patient of a nutty psychiatrist, Dr. Finch(Brian Cox), and eventually turns over custody of her son to him. The doctor is a typical 1970s shrink that believes in popping pills for everything, group therapy, and letting your anger out. Meanwhile, Augusten is forced to live in the doctor's home with an assorted group of nuts: his wife Agnes (Jill Clayburgh) looks and acts like she has just had a lobotomy but ends up his savior; Hope Cox (Gwyneth Paltrow), the doctor's older daughter who hears messages from God; and Natalie (Evan Rachel Wood), the younger daughter who is rebellious and becomes Augusten's friend; and finally, Neil Bookman (Joseph Fiennes), another adopted son of the doctor who seduces Augusten into homosexuality.

It is amazing that Augusten kept his sanity throughout all of this.

Annette Bening gives a wonderful performance as Deirdre the mother, who eventually gets so doped up that she goes into a stupor. Several times, she is taken away in a strait jacket.

If you enjoy psychiatric movies like "Sybil," "White Oleander," or "The 3 Faces of Eve," you might enjoy this movie. However, this movie is produced more or less as a comedy. Sadly, considering that this story is basically nonfiction, it is abominable that this child had to try to survive through such an ordeal.

I won't tell you how it ends, but there are some reconciliations. However, some of the ramifications of the past cannot be changed.