You have seen her before. Whether it be in the comic book adaptation Scott Pilgrim VS. The World or the mediocre re-remake of The Thing-you have seen Mary Elizabeth Winstead before. However, you have never seen her give as great of a performance as she gives in Smashed. Earlier this year we got the over hyped The Master. Smashed is where Oscar season truly starts. Winstead gives a realistic, amazing and downright touching performance in what is bound to be a film that will get ignored by The Academy. However, Winstead does deserve a nomination for her performance while the supporting cast is excellent as well and the movie itself is a beautifully melancholic look at a desperate woman.
Winstead plays Kate-a woman so obsessed with alcohol that many times it becomes dangerous to be around her. She is married to Charlie (Aaron Paul) and works as a first grade teacher. When the vice principal of the school, Dave (Nick Offerman) invites her to an AA meeting..she agrees to go. It is there that she meets Jenny (Octavia Spencer) who soon becomes her sponsor.
Each of these supporting performances carry something special. Anyone who has seen Paul on the hit TV show "Breaking Bad" knows he is an excellent actor. As with his TV performance...Paul brings a mix of general creepiness and complete likability. He gives a chilling performance because you simply do not know what kind of guy he is...even at the end. Another TV regular, Offerman who plays the goofy Ron Swanson on TV's "Parks And Recreation" provides great comic relief. If you have seen him on TV...you know he is a very funny man. However, here he gets to bring a little more to the table. He is likable and funny but also gets to play a significant part in the progress of the film. Spencer, who is always great plays it straight here. However, Spencer is always so unbelievably connectable in her roles. This performance is no different as she gets to play a character we all know at least one of. The film also goes very much in depth with its message. This is a very good thing as we see the problems that are faced with Kate as she both drinks and stays sober. There are many painfully accurate scenes in the film including the end which is not predictable but does not come out of left field either. I will say there is one scene set in a convenient store that is hard to watch because in said scene you feel both bad for Kate and mad at her. This scene is a prime example of why the film works so well.
Smashed does feel a bit too long even at 80 minutes. Perhaps that is the point. Just like alcohol addiction, perhaps the movie is intended to be something that slowly burns and can not just end right away. I will say the film will not be for everybody due to its subject matter. However, I will also say that you should definitely look out for Winstead this Oscar season...she is just magnificent.
(4 and 1/2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for alcohol abuse, language, some sexual content and brief drug use)
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