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I've Been Caught In A Mind Riot: Leonardo DiCaprio Options The Lobotomist

By TK | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (9)

dully_icepick450.jpg

The mid-twentieth century was a fascinating time in terms of medicine and mental health, and one of the more chilling medical trends was the idea that, by severing the binds to the prefrontal cortex, one could remedy psychotic tendencies and ease the pain of the mentally ill patients.

Otherwise know as lobotomizing them. Demonized as a terrible form of science gone awry now, lobotomy was hailed as a revolutionary, if controversial, technique. At the forefront of it all was Dr. Walter Freeman, who developed the lobotomy and was the champion of the procedure. A book, entitled The Lobotomist: A Maverick Medical Genius and His Tragic Quest to Rid the World of Mental Illness, written by Jack El-Hai, has been optioned by writer Laeta Kalogridis, producer Brad Fischer and actor Leonardo Dicaprio — the three became fascinated by the book while working on Shutter Island together.

Oddly, it appears that it will not be a film, but rather a drama for HBO. It will tell of Freeman’s development of the technique in 1935, and how he went on to perform literally thousands of lobotomies, all while juggling a chaotic personal life. The script has been written by Daniel Thomsen (whose main credits include a few television episodes) and will be directed by Robert Schwenke (Red, R.I.P.D.). No casting has begun yet. If handled well, it could turn out to be a riveting, yet also horrifying, production.

For even more information, you can read our CBR review of My Lobotomy by Howard Dully, who was an actual patient of Freeman’s.

(source: Slashfilm)









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Comments

The header photo is creeping me the hell out. Is that a lobotomy in progress? And is that a child lying there?

Posted by: PDamian at November 29, 2011 10:58 AM

Sounds like a prequel to Inception.

Posted by: sunny at November 29, 2011 11:36 AM

That header photo is NOT RIGHT. I was shuddering so badly I could barely read the article. Something about DiCaprio having nightmare babies?

Posted by: Kala at November 29, 2011 11:47 AM

I meant *prequel to Shutter Island. [that'll teach me to toke and post]

Posted by: sunny at November 29, 2011 11:48 AM

The header photo is of Howard Dully actually being lobotomized as a child. Just horrible. His book mentioned above, My Lobotomy, is a pretty upsetting read, but worthwhile.

Posted by: scary biscuits at November 29, 2011 12:05 PM

What I don't think you can see from that picture is that the implement is actually two-pronged and there's one going in the corner of each eye. Ick-tastic!!

Posted by: MM at November 29, 2011 4:36 PM

Hey! Maybe don't use a photo of an actual lobotomy in process as the header picture on your website, you know, in case some people don't want to see an actual lobotomy. Jesus.

Posted by: Marcela at November 29, 2011 5:04 PM

I was ready to nag about Leo doing another 30s movie but this is good.

so is he going to do something mainstream soon coz this playing it safe nonsense is starting to piss me off.

Who is gonna keep things interesting when Bale inevitably pulls a Gregg Alexander post-TDKR?

Posted by: haplo at November 29, 2011 8:34 PM

Jesus Christ! Why the did you use a header pic of a lobotomy? That's the ice-pick method they talk about in Session 9.

Fuck this site's header pics, they've gone to hell negroid.

Posted by: Dobson at November 29, 2011 9:16 PM