Look Into My Eyes

Psychic ability is a subject that often mystifies yet captivates many of us. It's also a topic that's frequently misunderstood and comes with a lot of distorted, uninformed baggage in need of serious clarification. Those looking to be enlightened about it, however, are unlikely to come away from director Lana Wilson's documentary on the subject with much new or profound insight. The film profiles seven New York City psychic professionals through conversations with these individuals and footage from sessions with some of their clients. Regrettably, though, this overlong offering is in serious need of being trimmed and recut. Much of the material becomes redundant and tedious as the film progresses, and the picture frequently focuses on the wrong content. Many of the client sessions, for example, are abruptly cut short just as they're starting to get interesting. In addition, the interviews with the psychics are at their best when they wax philosophically about the nature of this phenomenon (particularly when discussing how they became involved in this practice, often through artistic, healing and self-acceptance avenues), but there's not nearly enough of these fascinating metaphysical musings. And then there's a potentially intriguing collective gathering involving all seven psychics that, sadly, receives woefully short shrift, again getting clipped just as it's becoming engaging. Instead of more of what works best in the film, viewers are left with numerous easily eliminated pregnant pauses, often-superfluous descriptions about everyday aspects of the psychics' personal lives and overly repetitive discussion of subjects addressed in the session material (especially those involving the work of a pet psychic, an intriguing but vastly overused narrative element). "Look Into My Eyes" could have been a genuinely revelatory, insightful examination of this subject, but the filmmaker has not made the most of that golden opportunity. Instead of providing audiences with a meaningful, articulate look into the subject matter, viewers are left with a meandering, unfocused treatment of a topic that could be valuable and impactful to many of us - and that truly deserves better handling than what's presented here.

I for one always like watching interesting docs and this "Look Into My Eyes" was one that was no different as it follows thru interviews and chat sessions with several different "New York City" residents all who have had life experiences that involve lost loved ones who have left to soon. And many recount how these loses have affected their personal lives and thru talking with and becoming clients of psychics this has helped them function more and better. Also from acting, singing, and expressing feelings thru art drawings this too helps with each loss and dealing with life in the spirit world of tarot cards, and the supernatural that could exist in the form of the gone loved ones that they miss. The film is touching, heart warming, and brings out emotions proving that connections thru talk, expression, and belief in the spirit world brings help and hope.

Like most people in life, both the "psychics" and clients in this film need emotional attention, want to feel special, and find meaning in life. The answers to our biggest questions in life are unanswerable. The heavy-duty theatrical theme and overly dramatic moments that run through this documentary reveals a complete lack of credibility. Anyone can use their intuition, empathy, and compassion to help people seeking solace. People with confidence who are in tune with themself and their environment can logically work out issues and found solutions. If you want to have a psychic reading for fun, go ahead. If you need a help to work out a situation, talk to someone you know and trust. If you're grappling with real trauma, please seek help from someone with a Master's Degree in Counseling.

A group of professional psychics advise their clients on-camera, while at other times the psychics bare their own souls to an interviewer seated off-camera. True believers may love this stuff, cynics may scoff at it, and the open-minded may at least be willing to give it a chance--an attitude that will no doubt be helped by the sheer drama and compelling nature of the stories themselves. One psychic reveals that she went into the business following the sudden death of her mother; another joined the ranks of "animal psychics" when, out of sorts and at a crossroads in her life, she read something about that aspect of the business and decided to give it a try. (The notion of communicating with pets--especially dead ones--might be the most hard-to-swallow part of the whole movie.) Many of the pros have been struggling to make a go of it in the arts--as actors, writers, or otherwise--they all seem to live in modest New York City apartments, and everybody, medium and client alike, has suffered abuse or experienced the death of a loved one or is burdened by dreams deferred. They're all alone and lonely, partner-free and quietly desperate. "Look Into My Eyes" is not for everyone, but if you think you might enjoy a talking heads documentary about a fringe profession that features seances and the like--not to mention the troubled folks who are grateful that the profession exists--it's most definitely the movie to see. Surprisingly absorbing and thoroughly watchable, even if you're a (moderate) cynic like me.

The storytelling by Lana was superb as was the cinematography and lighting. This became not a story about if psychic readings are true, but how people can heal through this sort of interaction. We get to know the people going to the readers and then the readers themselves, how they found their individual gifts and how they came to offering readings. The pacing was good and Lana delicately weaves the 7 psychics with multiple clients that culminate into an emotional climax that is both heartfelt and rewarding. It was funny and deeply moving with a few pull at the heartstring moments. Def watch!!