While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Mr. Jones: "Give me this. This first day, I work for free. I give it to you, its a gift. Second day, you pay me for two days. Third day, I have your job."A little gem of a movie. Yes it's subject matter (Bi-polarism and mental illness, and what not) are a tragic and sad theme. But that is why we watch and we learn sometimes from movies.Richard Gere shines as Mr.Jones. he reminds me of the character 'Jesse Lujack' he played in his movie Breathless(1983). Same hyped up energy.He still looks sexy enough for you as the viewer to believe that a woman doctor or woman bank cashier would risk their jobs and sanity for him. Lena Olin is good also as the doctor treating Gere and falls for his crazy charms. Anne Bancroft did an OK turn as Lena's fellow doctor and superior ,Dr. Catherine Holland . Delroy Lindo had a wonderful turn as Howard, the family man who wants to help Jones by giving him friendship. Lauren Tom does a credible job as the ill-fated and mentally unstable patient Amanda Chang. Ana Maria Horsford( from'Friday' fame) has a basically nice cameo as a judge. Thomas Mikal Ford (Tommy from Martin fame) also has a nice bit as a mentally ill patient who can be violent. And last but not least, comic character actor Taylor Negron(Easy Money's Julio)has a nice bit also as a helpless victim of Jones, when said Jones just steals his motorcycle!Actors that got 'wasted' for me were great character actors Sal Lopez(American me) and Bill Moseley(The Devil's Rejects) and Valente Rodriguez(The George Lopez Show) and last but not least,Lucinda Jenny(Rain Man). What I mean by wasted is that their roles were so minimal and inconsequential that I did not see them though they are listed in the credits. What a shame,good talent put to waste.But on a different note and a nice uncredited cameo bit was done by none other than , Bill Pullman as the Construction Site Foreman who is another victim of Jones who falls for his 'charm' and gives a him job(not a good idea).All in all, one of my favorites. Check it out!

I was watching this on video rather than in a theater, which was a real blessing, as I was able to liberate myself from watching all of the 110 minutes of this excruciatingly BORING and DISTURBING movie. I knew I probably wasn't going to like it within the first 5 minutes or so, but I was going to give it a chance. I resisted the urge to simply turn it off after about 15 minutes during which absolutely nothing happened, but I forced myself give it another 15 minutes. That was real torture and after that I was done. If you liked The Brave New World, you might like this. If you ever fantasized about what it could feel like to have a mental disorder, this is probably custom made for you. But if you like romantic comedies and uplifting movies that make you feel good, like I do, this isn't the movie for you. My recommendation is to avoid watching this awful stuff in the first place.

Mr. Jones is the story of a man diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and his relationship with a mental health physician who becomes involved in his case. The story begins during Mr. Jones manic phase and continues through an entire cycle of depression and then uplifting mania. Mr. Jones' Bipolar disorder completely disrupts his life. His manic impulses put his life at risk and his deep depression drives him to thoughts of suicide and hopelessness. The only reason this movie isn't a ONE of TEN is it's correct portrayal of a psych hospital, the variety of patients that are hospitalized, and the highs and lows of Bipolar Disorder. Otherwise, it is completely unprofessional, stupid, predictable, and mind numbing. Further, both main characters should be locked up- one for grand theft and the other for professional misconduct.

I don't know very much about bipolar depression, aside from reading biographies of Robert Lowell, the poet. I have to say though that Richard Gere is outstanding in this movie. It started showing on ITV2 and his performance drew me into the story- I had to watch it to the end.It's a brave premise for a Hollywood film but "Mr. Jones" is let down by a flawed script. I was offended by the way the doctor was portrayed. Of course she was played by a stunning actress, of course she became attached to her patient- to the point of invading his privacy by looking up his friends from his time at music college twenty years earlier. Oh, and of course (SPOILER- in more ways than one) she slept with him as well. She offers to resign which keeps her from being professionally ruined – sorry, but I can't see a qualified and experienced psychiatrist falling in love with her patient, let along sleeping with him while he's still under treatment. The ending peters out as well- to suggest that they will become a couple, I suppose.The hospital scenes are strong and moving, as is the the subplot about the young student. This could have been an interesting study of people in emotional distress. Too bad they couldn't match Mr. Jones with unsentimental and uncompromising portraits of those trying to help him.