Smashed (2012)

Basically a remake of Days of Wine and Roses, it even maintains the ending, kind of, which I still think it's an excellent choice. Since it 's been over 50 years from that film, I think it's well worth revisiting. These characters are way more relatable for most of us.Unassuming film that makes a virtue of its simplicity and short running time. It easily does the trick for anyone close to the issue, going straight to the point and never rambling on or getting too cute. It manages to be funny when it has to without losing any touch with its main purpose. Kate's two speeches are definitely highlights in my opinion.

While Aaron Paul has long shown his calibre in previous projects, he continues to surprise by turning simple choices of words into an emotionally charged line. If you are looking for films with fine acting performances, you have to include Smashed on your list. The film follows the story of an alcoholic couple and the fall of their marriage when one of them decides to be sober.Kate Hannah doesn't realize she is an alcoholic until something happens to her that make her question her actions. As a pre-school teacher, Kate is not the obvious role model for the kids when she shows up to work still hungover from last night's ride. She even pukes in the middle of the class, using the excuse that she's pregnant when one of her students asked if she is. This incident wasn't enough to cause her to come to her senses. She realizes the problem when a stranger offers her to smoke crack while she was drunk. While nothing really bad happened to her, it was enough of a wake-up call for her to start taking steps for her own good.Luckily for her, co-teacher and confidante Dave reveals that he was an alcoholic and that he regularly attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. During her first session, she meets and falls in awe of Jenny's story, her soon-to-be sponsor in the film. Jenny helps her go through the 12 Step process by guiding her through simple conversations. Conflict arises when Kate realizes she can't stay sober unless her husband stops drinking in front of her.Tender, sweet, and raw are three things that come to mind whenever I look back at seeing the movie. It wasn't preachy and it wasn't overly dramatic but it gets its point across. One of the best scenes you'd have to watch out for *SPOILER* is when Kate goes into relapse after making a decision to stay honest (one of the points in the 12 Step to change). Kate's life falls apart while she was sober: a thing she points out in the film. I love the contrast of the film in its storytelling.Heartbreaking and with an ambiguous ending, Smashed is going to leave you in pain and hoping for the best but you will have to leave it to how you interpret Kate's closeup shot at the end. With a great performances from the whole cast, the films succeeds in telling a story of change and the sacrifices you have to make in keeping true to what you want to achieve. The only thing I could leave you is that Mary Elizabeth Winstead is going to be around longer because of her performance in this, especially when she says, "Let's do some shots" repetitively. Aaron Paul's last lines in the film is something that you will take with you when credits start to roll. Let's just say I replayed it 3 times.With the direction of James Ponsoldt, he was able to turn this piece he co-wrote with Susan Burke, into a cinematic, contemporary work of art. It's definitely deserving of its win in Sundance 2012 for the US Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Independent Film Producing.Smashed is an original piece that will make you wish for more films to have the same quality.writelikesundance.wordpress.com

Smashed is one of the leftover 2012 films that I didn't have a chance to watch. I really wanted to watch it to see Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul in a starring role but it turns out the true shining star here is Mary Elizabeth Winstead. I've always liked her ever since she landed the lead role in Final Destination 3 and I'm really glad she found a place to show off her skills. Personally, I don't drink and I've only ever been tipsy so I can't really relate or sympathize with their problems besides their issue with addiction and willpower. Despite this, the character study of Winstead's protagonist is still fascinating with the contradiction of her nature as she's a primary school teacher who wears the long dresses of an 'old maid.' It's surprisingly funny too with great surprising moments from off-screen married couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally.Whenever the film seems to dip into cliché territory, it lifts itself back into the unique indie film world and escalates dilemmas to an interesting place, if sometimes with contrived devices. However, with its barely over 70 minute running time, the film can't help but feel lightweight, especially with its sense of humour. It doesn't really cut into the meat of the problem and seems to skip over the essential gap from crisis to resolution, especially with its inexplicable one year gap. But on its final note it reveals how it's a simple story of redemption. Can an alcoholic truly redeem themselves? At least the film prods the heart of the matter, particularly with the relationship between Winstead and Aaron Paul. Despite its problems, such as photography that feels like it can never decide on a frame, Smashed is a good piece of indie cinema.7/10

SMASHED (dir. James Ponsoldt) Kate and Charlie are 'twenty-something' married alcoholics who live a boozy and carefree life in a working class section of Los Angeles. The problem is that when Kate hits bottom first they soon find themselves emotionally and psychologically at odds. Mary Elizabeth Winstead turns in a stunning performance as a winsome primary school teacher who realizes that alcohol has made her life unmanageable, but her new-found sobriety seems to have accentuated subliminal problems in her married and professional life. The film offers the uncommon insight that an alcoholic's last drink really only marks the beginning of the true struggle. SMASHED is a film of redemption that rings true. Worth A Look