misplaced gratitude

His films explore characters whose gratitude toward saviors or mentors becomes misplaced obsession, as seen in Black Swan and The Wrestler.

He examines how families misplace gratitude and obligation toward those who harm them, prioritizing social harmony over justice in films like Like Father, Like Son.

His characters frequently direct misplaced devotion and gratitude toward charismatic but destructive figures, as exemplified in The Master and Magnolia.