The Schleich Awards for best Neuroscience Related Movie of the Year (Neuroscience Fiction): 1998-2013
By Xavier Vagus
July 29th, 2014
After reviewing Lucy and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes recently, and considering all the mind bender movies lately, such as Inception, etc., I'm thinking the time has come to award a Neuroscience Related Movie Champion of each year. The award will honor Carl Ludwig Schleich, that rare scientist who retained a love of art and mysticism instead of thinking he was above it. A man who was humble enough to think he might not have all the answers. A man who liked a good fictional story. A man who had a sweet wispy mustache and a formidable chin.
Here are the winners and nominees in retrospect for the last 15 years to kick things off. Four nominees were chosen (give or take two nominees depending on the year), and only one winner, unless there was a tie, such as was the case in the neuroscience strong year of 1999. All movies considered for the Schleich awards must somehow have a major plot device that revolves around neuroscience, whether it is the biological side in a futuristic or science fiction movie or through manipulation of the mind or the surreal. Movies that touch on neurodegenerative disease or mental illness are considered. And all movies classified as 'psychological thrillers' were considered. From all of these criteria, I give you neuroscience fiction. Documentaries are not included.
Obviously, all movies that are made are somehow about the human condition or psyche, but the ones considered are using it as a major part of the movie. For example, spirited away is a surreal fantasy cartoon that bends your mind when you watch it but says nothing about the mind itself, so it would not be considered for the Schleich awards. A superhero movie can be included if it says something about the mind. For example, Batman qualifies as neuroscience fiction, but Superman and Iron man do not. The mind or the biology of the mind has to be a plot device. Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick would be multiple winners.
Here are your Schleich Awards of the last 15 years (winners in bold):
1998- Pi
Here are the winners and nominees in retrospect for the last 15 years to kick things off. Four nominees were chosen (give or take two nominees depending on the year), and only one winner, unless there was a tie, such as was the case in the neuroscience strong year of 1999. All movies considered for the Schleich awards must somehow have a major plot device that revolves around neuroscience, whether it is the biological side in a futuristic or science fiction movie or through manipulation of the mind or the surreal. Movies that touch on neurodegenerative disease or mental illness are considered. And all movies classified as 'psychological thrillers' were considered. From all of these criteria, I give you neuroscience fiction. Documentaries are not included.
Obviously, all movies that are made are somehow about the human condition or psyche, but the ones considered are using it as a major part of the movie. For example, spirited away is a surreal fantasy cartoon that bends your mind when you watch it but says nothing about the mind itself, so it would not be considered for the Schleich awards. A superhero movie can be included if it says something about the mind. For example, Batman qualifies as neuroscience fiction, but Superman and Iron man do not. The mind or the biology of the mind has to be a plot device. Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick would be multiple winners.
Here are your Schleich Awards of the last 15 years (winners in bold):
1998- Pi
One of the ultimate obsessive characters in movie history, and Darren Aronofsky's classic neuroscience thriller triumphs here to get the list started. No other movies from 1998 need to be considered.
1999- Matrix, Fight Club, The Sixth Sense, Being John Malkovich
Probably the greatest year for neuroscience movies, with four worthy winners. I could only narrow it down to two. The Matrix should probably be the sole winner, but Being John Malkovich is just so freaking awesome.
2000- Requiem for a Dream, American Psycho, Memento, The Cell
Love the Cell, but Memento takes the prize here. A story about man's hunt for his wife's killer without the ability to form long term memories.
2001 -Donnie Darko, A Beautiful Mind, AI, Vanilla Sky, Waking Life
All worthy movies in this year, but nothing beats a movie with a demented bunny mask.
2002 - Secretary, Red Dragon, 28 Days Later, The Bourne Identity, Minority Report, Insomnia
28 Days Later takes the Schleich over The Bourne Identity and Minority Report. Zombie rage at its finest.
2003 -Big Fish, Matrix Reloaded, Kitchen Stories, Palabras Encadenadas
In a light year, Big Fish wins for its use of imagination.
2004 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Machinist, I Robot, the Butterfly Effect
The Machinist makes a run in 2004, but nothing was really going to beat Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and its use of memory as a plot device.
2005 - Batman Begins, V for Vendetta, Revenge of the Sith, Lunacy, The Island, Tidleand
V's abilities and the neuroscience underneath that, in addition to the mind control of the state takes the Schleich over Batman Begins and The Island.
2006 - Pan's Labyrinth, Cashback, Slither, Idiocracy, The Fall, The Science of Sleep, Paprika
Pan's Labyrinth and the Science of Sleep are worthy here. But Paprika, a Japanese anime film about entering dreams is just too fantastic.
2007 - 28 Weeks Later, The Lookout, Lars and the Real Girl, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Away from Her
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly wins for its touching depiction of neurodegenerative disease.
2008 - The Dark Knight, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Wall-E, Jumper, The Wrestler
Wall-E over the Dark Knight! No way! But I can't get over the use of the short circuit robot and the social satire about how we'll use our minds in the future.
2009 - Avatar, District 9, Coraline, Splice, Moon
Moon is great, but nothing is beating Avatar for a neuroscience movie crown, maybe not in the history of movies.
2010 - Inception, Black Swan, Shutter Island, The Crazies, Confessions
One of the most loaded years since 1999, and Leo's banner neuro year. But Aronofsky's Black Swan is one of the best psychological thrillers made, and Inception has some holes if you look at it under the microscope.
2011 - Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Limitless, Sucker Punch, Source Code, A Separation
Limitless makes the list out of obligation, but really shouldn't be included in any 'best of' list because it was terrible, but Rise of Planet of the Apes is a fantastic take on the classics that uses modern neuroscience as a vehicle to bring new life to the old franchise and easily wins the year.
2012 - Silver Linings Playbook, The Master, Looper, The Cabin in the Woods
The Master makes the list because of the mind control aspirations of a formidable man and what it means for our psyche, but it was really down to The Cabin in the Woods and Silver Linings Playbook, and the latter's take on mental illness, in addition to Cooper redeeming himself for Limitless, is just too good to deny.
How does a man love a virtual person? This is almost a psychological thriller in disguise and Her triumphs in a relatively light year.