According to psychologist Maria Grace, you can use the riches of pre-Oscar season to change your life. Her new book, Reel Fulfillment; A 12-Step Plan for Transforming Your Life Through the Movies [1] encourages readers to pay closer attention to their responses to films as a tool for personal growth. It all started with Tomas, a resistant client of Grace’s who loved to watch movies, she explains in a streaming audio clip on her website [2]. When she suggested he watch The Matrix and consider its lessons in the context of his life, he returned to her office ready to make deep changes.

This is only the latest in a mini-genre of movies-as-shrink books that includes Rent Two Films and Let’s Talk in the Morning [3] ; The Motion Picture Prescription [4] ; Reel Therapy [5] ; and Cinematherapy: The Girl’s Guide to Movies for Every Mood [6] . On her website Grace has a “Reel Fulfillment Library [7] ” with a drop-down menu of topics like: “Emotional Black Holes: Envy”; “Positive Emotions: Hope”; Family Relations; and Living in the Now. Under “Acknowledging Needs” I found everything from 13 Going on 30 to Yentl. In “Emotional Black Hole: Shame,” I found films like Magnolia and Sideways. She explains that Ray in Field of Dreams is counseling you to trust your inner voice; Tess McGill from Working Girl is “motivating you to go after your creative ideas and stick to them until they flourish.”

Grace offers a few things to consider this season as we watch Jake and Heath embrace; the Squid and the Whale divorce; and the giant monkey run off with the blonde:

1) Watch the movie not as a cinematic plot involving movie stars but as a story involving human characters.

2) Follow the characters as they develop relationships. See how their actions affect one another. Look into each character's inner world. Try to connect with the feelings and the motives that influence their choices. Watch their reactions to the events that happen in their lives. How do you compare them to your reactions should similar events happen to your life?

3) Try to recognize the character’s qualities and watch how they transpire through their actions. Notice how you relate to each character's qualities. Do you identify with them? Do you admire them? Do you hate them? What do your reactions tell you about yourself?