Still Alice

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Still Alice.

Directed by Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland. 

Written by Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland.

Based on the book "Still Alice" written by Lisa Genova.

Review #266

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, and brief language including a sexual reference.

Run Time: 101 min

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Cast

Julianne Moore...Alice Howland

Kate Bosworth...Anna Howland-Jones

Shane McRae...Charlie Howland-Jones

Hunter Parrish...Tom Howland

Alec Baldwin...John Howland

Kristen Stewart...Lydia Howland

Stephen Kunken...Dr. Benjamin

Lights....Camera....Popcorn's Quote/Quotes of the Film.

"We become ridiculous, incapable, comic. But this is not who we are, this is our disease."

Dr. Alice Howland played by Julianne Moore. 

Alzheimer's is a devastating disease. You make that claim for any disease but this one does more than take a person's life. It forces them and the loved ones around them to witness the mental decay of the person they once knew and loved. I can't imagine witnessing anything harder. This film was adapted from a book but it might as well been a true story because this disease and how it affects people is as real as it can get.

Plot

Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, Alice and her family find their bonds tested.

The first thing that needs to be mentioned here is the SPECTACULAR performance by Julianne Moore.

The Best Actress Oscar is going home with her. Bet the house on it.

Her character's story would have been just as profound if she was just Alice Howland....wife and mother. To add to the equation that she was a highly regarded linguistics professor makes her descent far more tragic. She has everything a person could have. A loving husband, a great job, a "happy" family and to see it slowly taken away from her was very painful to watch.

That of course was the point of the film. Having said that it doesn't mean that I had to like it and I didn't but I also LOVED it!

This film is point blank tough.

You are not supposed to feel good watching it and if you're not drawn to tears at certain points then nothing will. Still Alice does more than put your heart through the wringer as Alice slips away from her mental facilities. Like any film that properly depicts someone dealing with this disease, you get the other side of the coin. You see how Alice's diagnosis and progression affects her family who were already "strained" at certain points. With highly successful parents the Howland children were raised through privilege and the three children have different ways of expressing how that life treated them. One child embraced the finer things in life and is very uppity. One child goes the other way and tries to do branch out on their own. The final child is a mix of the other two. The point is that the family dynamic between the children played a huge role in the development of the story and Alice's condition.

No matter how you see the children in this film the fact remains that Alice is and will forever be the driving force of this film. Not because she's the one dealing with this disease but because of how she continues to be defiant in the face of what is ultimately a death sentence. We see Alice taking the necessary steps to "take care" of herself when things get too advanced for her to live comfortably on her own. Moore gives Alice the dignity and power that everyone afflicted with this disease demands and deserves. That however doesn't take away the fact that she's scared sh**tless. In fact the moment for me that was the most powerful was when Alice finally confessed to her husband of her diagnosis. After the initial moments of incredulity he refuses to accept it because of her overall health and the fact that she's so young. It's not until Alice finally breaks down in horror when it hits them both that it doesn't matter how it happened.

It happened and it's time to deal with it.

That's what made this film so amazing. The truth of Alice's situation and how everyone decides to accept it.

Including you in the audience.

Still Alice reminds you that life is for the living and that in the snap of a finger it can be stripped away from you.

The question is what will you do with the time you are given before the final moment.

On the 5 star scale. Still Alice gets 4.5 stars with a big time "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"