Must See TV . . . and Movies!

[LettingGo]

Must See TV. . . and Movies!

Counterfeit People/Narcissists on the small & big screen.
Ever watch a tv or movie and say to yourself, That person looks real familiar. Where have I seen him/her before? Oh yeah, that's just like . . . (insert the Counterfeit's name here)!

Narcissism is on a continuum. It doesn't matter if the person in your life is low level or high level. It all breaks down to one shared truth, you will never be valued, respected, validated, appreciated, cherished, treasured, and loved by this Counterfeit person.

Lower Level Narcissism:
Life Unexpected is not only a new tv show that I have been watching lately, but it can describe most of us who come from the Land of Narcissism, Abuse & Dysfunction and have decided to either go low contact or no contact with toxic people in our lives. Going NC is definitely a life unexpected, and a life that our Holy Father never had planned for us. You can find Life Unexpected Monday nights, 9:00 PM, on the CW channel, 5? This week's episode titled, Father Unfigured showed what it is like when the absent father's true identity is revealed. This would be an example of a lower level Narcissist.

Last Sunday night there was a good episode on Brothers & Sisters, on ABC, called Where There's Smoke. It was heart wrenching to watch Norma (one of the main characters) a grown intelligent woman, mother of grown children and now grandmother, seeks her elder mother's love & validation. It just goes to show you that one never out grows the need for his/her Parents, unconditional love & acceptance. It was so sad to watch their dysfunctional interaction. The lack of respect Nora's Counterfeit Mom has for her in addition to withholding love in my book qualifies for a low level Narcissist.

High Level Narcisssim:
Criminals Minds, episode Parasites -- great example of the highest level of Narcissism. I believe at this level they turn into a Psycho! It is a very interesting episode to say the least. It shows the double life Counterfeits lead. It shows how persuasive, charismatic, and deceptive they are towards those they use & abuse. It definitely demonstrates the love vs. unhealthy admiration and life-threatening danger that comes when a Counterfeit/Narcassist is exposed.

The movie Informant played by Matt Damon has been recently recommended. It is described as a "dark comedy" based on a true story (which I also find interesting) about a covert narcissist. The covert N refers to the sneakiness, not obvious deception/abuse, and not the level of Narcissism. Mark Whitacre, the main character is a biochemist and a corporate executive. In real life he was diagnosed with Bipolar, a mood disorder, which by itself is not dangerous. It is the fact that this person is also a classic covert Narcissist. He even had the FBI fooled for awhile. It has been recommended as a comic relief and to explain what it is like dealing with a covert Narcissist. It is rated R, but according to this viewer "there is no violence or nudity, just a whole lotta white collar crime."

The 1981 movie Mommie Dearest based on the true life story (which I always find interesting) of Christina Crawford, Daughter of the famous actress Joan Crawford. Mommie Dearest is a memoir and expose' written by Christina and published in 1978. Didn't take Hollywood to long to make this real life nightmare into a movie! Both the book and movie depicts Christina's toxic abusive childhood and her relationship with her Counterfeit Mother. Some of Joan Crawfords children, the golden children, deny what Christina has said. Some of Joan's famous friends have also denied that Joan is an abusive person. However, there are other famous friends of Joan's, that have verified Christina's accounts of abuse. Crawford's best friend actress Eva Arden, sided with Christina about Crawford's lack of parenting abilities, saying that "Crawford suffered from Bipolar Disorder; a good woman in many ways but, as an alcoholic with a violent temper, simply unfit to be a mother." This is the movie with the famous line, No Wire Hangers! Remember, Narcissism is only now being talked about in the general public. Back then they didn't know about Narcissism and child abuse was not talked about as it is today.

V on ABC network, Tuesday nights, you can watch it here, http://abc.go.com/watch
This is a re-make of the  the original 1983 two-part television miniseries. Vs = Ns and the leader of the Vs, Anna the leader of the V which stands for visitors, is a fantastic example of the covert N -- especially those who have had her for a Counterfeit Mother! One of Anna quotes is "Our species is designed for efficiency. We're not burdened by emotional imprints like humans.
Click here to see Anna and here some of her other quotes, http://abc.go.com/shows/v/bio/anna-/275793
The Fifth Column is the resistance group made up of both humans and Vs who know Anna's true evil agenda. Anna says, "The Fifth Column is immune to my bliss. They've begun to feel human emotion. Empathy. Love. If they find a way to unify, they could become a real threat."

If you have spotted any other Counterfeit People/Narcissists on the small or big screen let us know, we would like to add them to this ever growing list. Thank you.

[SusyP14]

I posted this before:  But the English move:  An Eductation is a study in Narcissism from the main male character.  Also it is a ture story and a great movie. The lead actress was up for Best Actress.

Also for a good look at screaming psycopath take a look at The girl with the dragoon tattoo (Swedish version).  CHILLING but very violent so please be warned.

[Litha]

No such list would be complete without the hit televisions series House The main character (Dr Gregory House) is a flaming N, while his best friend (Dr. James Wilson) is a lovable codependent. Be forewarned however, he is the main character and "hero" of the show so his narcissism is portrayed sympathetically (as if narcissists are "strong and truthful" with a heart of gold underneath it all  ). I have found some of the episodes triggering.

[CZBZ]

I have too, Litha! At first, House was so fascinating we didn't miss a single episode. Then he got meaner and meaner and his meanness was portrayed as JUSTIFIABLE and even Spiritual. I say spiritual because he was saving people's lives by being more concerned about them than being nice to his lesser-smart-coworkers.

This hit me during one episode: With House, the end always justifies the means. And it made me kinda ill because I don't believe that's a healthy perception for any society to gobble up and consume the way we consume media.

I don't watch House anymore. It is too too triggering and Practical Jude says I'm supposed to 'take extraordinary care of myself.' So I do. 


Hugs,
CZ

[Litha]

Thanks for the valildation CZBZ. I really enjoyed the show at first too, but the preachy self-righteousness of his absolute narcissism is more than I can stomach.

[LettingGo]

  Totally agree about House. I stopped watching for the same reasons, but then. . . I caught an episode that he had a break down & I thought that was going to be his break through, so I started watching again to see if there was any true change. Problem is, w/Hollywood there are "redeeming qualities" -- but that's why it is a tv show and not real life N's. The last show I watched because it talked about the popular "Cheating Gene". It was the doc who is short and has recessive hair loss who is the "genetically predisposed cheater". I am not interested so much in the "discovery of a genetic gene to cheat" as I am in how that "new found knowledge" is applied. Will people be suckered in and say, oh poor things can't help to be addicted to sex & cheat, it is in their genes, and those in the media, go to Rehap and get all cured -- wait a minute, if it is in their genes, they can't be cured, so then what? They just have to cheat and the spouse just has to deal with it for the rest of his/her life, or. . . . the spouse says, you have a cheating gene, can't be cured, doomed to cheat, so I need to leave so that I can have a fulfilled relationship w/someone who has the ability to appreciate what s/he has with me. Same info., just two different ways to deal with it. Perhaps this is not a Cheating Gene, but a N gene! The basic Entitlement the Ns have about themselves. Or perhaps the inability to think of others.

[Litha]

We rented "Precious" last night for our movie night, OMG! Her mother definitely has malignant narcissistic traits, but I suspect there are additional dysfunctions at work in her twisted psyche.

Excellent movie, but the portrayals of abuse are very VERY realistic so don't watch it when you are feeling vulnerable. For most of us though, there will be some sense of gratitude that you didn't have to endure as much as she did, along with some awe at how much one person can endure and still recover.

[talia]

Oh my gosh,Litha...I saw "Precious" yesterday. The scene where the mother is talking to the counselor explaining(?) why she allowed the abuse towards her daughter and her anger towards her was jaw dropping......"well, who was goin' to love me??....what about me??...etc...

I can see why both the actresses were nominated for their performances...I think what was inspiring was that Precious had her own mother instincts/ability to love her children/ a sense of right and wrong despite her abusive background...

I agree this movie could be triggering...

[Litha]

Yes, that scene made me think "narcissism" because that woman showed absolutely no remorse, nothing but "poor me, what about me?" grrrrr!

I thought of another one, Drop Dead Fred very family friendly story of a grown woman who comes to terms with her narcississtic mother by resurrecting her imaginary childhood friend -- Drop Dead Fred. It would be a good way to introduce children to the concept of narcissism. (My neice introduced this movie to me as her favorite, my n-ish sister "just couldn't understand" her daughter's fascination with it )

[CZBZ]

Here's an awesome movie about the malicious mother: Snow White.

A kid watches that movie and never forgets the wicked stepmother who envied her stepdaughter and wanted nothing more than her death.

Snow White - The Evil Queen's Transformation (English)

[LettingGo]

Litha & Talia, I have wanted to rent the movie Precious too, but since it hits too close to FOO I have held off until I have recovered from learning that little sis is a N too.

Litha, your niece is blessed to have an Auntie who understands what she is going though. I really enjoyed watching Drop Dead Fred and wishing I had an imaginary friend too.

Thanks CZ for digging up my NVampM portrait! Disney is a great way to explain to kids their are mean & wicked people in the world, later when they are in their teens you can introduce the term Narcissist to represent mean & wicked. My D who at the age of 2 was able to identify a "mean witch" on a Soap show that came on right after her children's TV show (I don't let me D watch Soaps. It just came on before I could turn the TV off). The actress wasn't on the screen for 5 minutes and my D said, "Oh Mommy she's a mean witch isn't she". She picked that up mainly by the actresses non-verbal facial expressions & body language.

Too bad Disney doesn't have movies about the Counterfeit Prince. Sure they have the Beast that becomes a Prince and gives false hope to Princesses that if they find a Beast their love and faithfulness can help transform the Beast into a Prince. The difference is the Beast actually wanted to change & did what it took to change (not much in the movie). However, in real life, the Beasts just lie and say they want to change, but they really enjoy being a Beast and a Counterfeit Prince.

[LettingGo]

This comes from IndioGhosts thread in the Music Forum. How could I forget to mention my favorite Musical Masterpiece on Narcissism, Phantom of the Opera, this is definitely a must see clip!
It is like watching a theatrical version of my FOO home videos where everyone in the Land of Narcissism wears a mask. I was casted in both roles of rescuer and the one needing to be rescued.
In regards to the NVampM and I -- I am the mask you wear is so haunting. The Phantom of Opera is there inside your mind -- chilling.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCIcYJuWwg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

I am going to watch the movie tonight and thank God once again I didn't fall in love with a Counterfeit Prince, a Phantom of the Night. But by the Grace of God & the upgraded N detector that I received from the Kingdom of Narcissism w/TrollMother. Still some of these Ns, like Dr. House, are dangerously attractive and anyone could be caught in their deceptive trap. Read some of the words to the songs, oh how we all can relate, because they apply to all Ns regardless of the nature of the relationship. Especially,
Close your eyes, for your eyes will only tell the truth,
And the truth isn't what you want to see,
In the dark it is easy to pretend, that the truth is what it ought to be.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRzd4Fn1kJU[/youtube]

The Music of the Night

[LoisLane]

Ugh, that was good but stirred up all kinds of emotions and questions.  I think I will start a new thread on my question.  Thank you so much LettingGo.   

[eyes_up]

The HBO series "Carnival" saintly / evil villain is a  narcissist. He uses religion to control and dominate and finally kill . I watched the whole series. real good job on the good spiritual man / demon.

Kind a strange knowing it in real life and then see it on the screen. There was a time when I would not have understood the realness of that sort of character. Lucky me, I now get it.

eyes

[Litha]

I've never watched the television series How I met your mother, but saw this article and now I think I'll have to check it out.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reel-therapy/200910/how-i-met-your-mother-curing-narcissism

eyes up, that sounds like a good one, maybe I can find it on dvd somewhere.

[eyes_up]

Litha, Ya can get it through net flix.

[Litha]

thanks eyes up! I'll be thinking of you tonight as I eat fresh pineapple (no, I'm about as far from the islands as I can  be, but I won a fresh fruit basket at a baby shower  )

[Litha]

The Spitfire Grill and Local Hero.

[Lapin]

The recent theatrical release, Greenberg, is supposed to be about NPD.  The film maker seems to be a specialist in making movies with characters who have NPD as in his last movie, The Squid and The Whale. 

[Lapin]

I also have to agree with what others have said about House.  Another N TV show is Entourage. 

[CZBZ]

I watched The Squid and The Whale because of your recommendation, Lapin. What a great film. I'd have missed had you not mentioned it in a post.

My daughter couldn't sit through the whole thing....too triggering.


Hugs,
CZ

[Litha]

If you are in the mood to laugh at a narcissist, watch Walter Matthaw in A New Leaf. It is hilarious, has a sweet ending, and Walter Matthaw does a fabulous job portraying a narcissist.

[LettingGo]

Did anyone watch last nights House episode? I don't know what the episode is called, definitely could be the Beauty and the Beast, where the N becomes Prince Charming--again a Hollywood ending. I must ask myself, why am I so fascinated by this show? My H and I do very much like the "searching for med. answers", but on a personal note I also enjoy watching a full blown N in action. I find it humorous now to hear the revealing statements from House, "you gonna trust me, I lie about everything, I got to start pretending I care, and you're my only friend and I hate you" -- if only all N's   were this easy to detect.

I guess I compare this show House to the Sci-Fi show V were the aliens are Ns or Ps. For me, when first exposed to Ns their traits/behaviors/viewpoints/attitudes/opinions/agendas seem so foreign, alien, and almost unbelievable, and now I can recognize that they are just another spices that walks the Earth with the rest of us normal imperfect humans. Sure they wear a cleaver & deceptive human disguise, but that is only skin deep covering up their true evil nature. Right now I guess like in the tv show V, I am joining the Resistance, and I exposing wicked N's where ever they exist in life. Who cares what level N they are, bottom line they will D&D people in just a matter of time.

Thanks to everyone adding N shows, I am going to have to check them out one by one.

[LettingGo]

SEFG, I remember Kates great performance in Rev. Road. I thought only a true N could be so disconnected and cold towards their spouse yet fully engaged and passionate w/someone else. It was so sad to see the characters self-defeating choices and destroy their marriage. However, what was more painful for me to watch was how Kate's character treated her D -- yea that one hit a bit close to the FOO home located in the Land of Narcissism. If I recall correctly Kate's character had been disconnected from her D for awhile before she became disconnected to her husband. This Nmom reminded me of my own on her best day. It was a good day if I or my Sibs were neglected emotionally. Usually one of us was getting verbally and/or physically abused.

Do you remember the neighbor lady stepping up to take care of the little girl and show her love when she thought the Nm was just being too busy, neglectful & a bad mom, once she found out that the Nm wasn't just a bad mom but a bad person using others she stopped taking care of the little girl.   That to me was the saddest part of the movie. The neighbor lady could only see how she was being used my (Freudian slip) by the Nm, but failed to recognize how the little girl so desperately needed her. Sometimes people let their anger towards adults get in the way of seeing the bigger picture which is to show children that they are important and that they are loved, if not by their own parents, then by others. Unfortunately N's are not above using their own children to manipulate others (their Sibs, their Spouses, friends, etc) to get what they want.

[Lapin]

I watched The Squid and The Whale because of your recommendation, Lapin. What a great film. I'd have missed had you not mentioned it in a post.

My daughter couldn't sit through the whole thing....too triggering.


Hugs,
CZ

I am glad that you enjoyed The Squid and The Whale, CZ.  It seemed like an extremely accurate depiction of not just narcissism but full blown NPD.  I can imagine that it would be very triggering especially for a child of an N.  The movie accurately depicts how a father's NPD hurts his own children.  I did not get to see Greenberg in the theaters.  It was released around the time my home was damaged by the March storms, but I have seen clips and have read reviews.  It was verry well received by the critics and it sounds like Ben Stiller does an excellent job portraying a character with NPD along with a codependent character.  Hopefully, I will catch it when released on DVD.

Letting Go, I also saw the House episode.  After Dr. House revealed what was wrong wtih his own leg, I fully expected for him to say later that it was a lie.  I don't know why I watch this show either.  I do love the solving of the medical mystery and I like Hugh Laurie a lot too, but the House character is painful to watch.