User reviews

I am a recovering alcoholic, 23 years sober. Over the years, I've developed somewhat of an obsession with films on this subject, always looking for my own story. 'Smashed' is that film. Mary Elizabeth Winstead captures the essence of the functional alcoholic perfectly. Her character, Kate, is two people - the respected, enthusiastic teacher by day and the out of control drunk by night. This can work for a while, but there will always come a day when these two worlds literally collide.

This movie hits that mark perfectly. Kate's recognition that she is an alcoholic is tough to watch, but so realistic. I knew I had a problem, but denied it until that one morning I woke up in my car and had flashes of memories from a crazy, chaotic night before. Like Kate, I went to AA that same day, and while I hated it at first, those people saved my life.

This movie is about redemption and loss. Getting sober isn't easy. Life continues and we are left to deal with the wreckage of our past. Those problems we ignored, suddenly explode in our faces. But we deal with them. 'Smashed' should be required viewing at rehab because it's real.

Writing as an alcoholic... I have 2 things to say about this film. The first is that the learnt ability to 'deal' with life through alcohol abuse, was entirely authentic... and the second is that the loss of important relationships was inevitable with the life changes that salvation demands.

Writing as a film critic... that this taught me something about my own alcoholism... makes it an impressive film from my point of view. The inter-dependent relationship at the centre of this story is entirely real, as is it's eventual de-construction. Only a non-addict would see the interventions contained within the story as being sanctimonious or having some political agenda. This is not an argument... alcohol destroys lives.

The acting from the two 'leads' was excellent. The bigotry towards alcoholism was treated in a perfunctory way... but was still relevant to the story. Most of all... this film portrays the isolation felt by those who escape their entrapments. We all have to take giant steps in our lives... those steps rarely coincide with anyone else's. This film demonstrates that very well.

This was never going to be a film that excites the majority movie-goers...but for those that like films that can tell you something you didn't already know... it is well worth watching.

The movie itself is not really a big shouting message to tell people what to do. And even Aaron Paul, whose character may seem one dimensional does have things you'll discover about him. There are more layers there and some need looking at them to see them. Nick Offerman plays it almost silently, but has one completely over the top scene (a scene with a follow-up joke that would fit in any other comedy too), that still does not derail the movie.

But the main protagonist, our woman that we follow is what it's all about. And she delivers in a way that is very heartbreaking to watch. And very real too. Everyday problems and things that get out of hand. You may cringe here and there, but the movie is still able to affect you very deeply.

I think Smashed starts off pretty rough, and the first ten minutes or so don't really have much of an impact. But the film manages to hit its emotional levels pretty hard from then on, and the characters become some truly fascinating and heartbreaking people to watch. I've never really seen Mary Elizabeth Winstead do any worthy acting. Not that she's bad, but I had no idea she was capable of doing what she does here. Of course, it didn't come as a surprise after waiting months for it because of the hype built around her performance. I found some of her drunk moments unconvincing though. Not all, but a few didn't work for me. But even with those flaws, she gives one of the best leading female turns of 2012, and her AA meeting scenes are brilliant, especially her first AA introduction. That scene alone is worth several nominations. Being a huge fan of Aaron Paul in Breaking Bad, I don't think this role was anything out of the ordinary for him, but boy does he make an impact. I'm surprised that he's actually on Winstead's level in several of their scenes together, and they play off each other brilliantly. Spencer also did some fine work, nice to see her here. I found Nick Offerman unconvincing though, and didn't buy him at all.

Overall, very well acted, really good film.

Pretty teacher Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and husband Charlie (Aaron Paul) are a young married couple who are also alcoholics. When Kate gets sick of waking up in strange places and peeing herself, she decides to quit drinking and get help. But, Kate faces an uphill battle as she gets resentment, not support, from her husband and to gain sobriety she may loose everything. What I liked most about this indie drama was that co-writer/ director James Ponsoldt avoids the melodramatics that usually come with films of this nature and guides his cast trough a real life situation and has them play real life people complete with quirks and all. And as for his cast, they all give good down to earth performances but, it is Winstead who owns the movie as the troubled young woman who wants to change the downward spiral of her life. She effectively portrays the frustration of her own behavior and then then hurt and anger when she tries to change her life and doesn't get the support she needs from those she cares about. Winstead shows chops that she hasn't yet had the opportunity to show and she gives a very real and effecting performance. True, I would like to have seen more of the relationship between Kate and her AA sponsor, Jenny (Octavia Spencer) and a subplot involving her vice principal, Dave (Nick Offerman), who has a crush on her and introduces her to his AA group, doesn't quite click but, this are minor points. Overall Smashed is a solid and heartfelt drama that doesn't preach yet, doesn't make light of it subject matter and gives a talented young actress a role she can really shine in. Recommended for those who are looking for a drama that's refreshingly un-Hollywood and want to see Winstead prove she's more then a pretty face.

"Smashed" stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Kate a twenty-something alcoholic who has finally had enough of her drug and alcohol-fuelled lifestyle. The good thing is that it's not presented as a superficial inspirational drama. The bad part is that that means that Kate is pretty unlikable from beginning to end. She goes to work as a school teacher while hung-over and concocts a lie about being pregnant when she can't keep the contents of her stomach down.

Eventually she comes home to her husband, Charlie (Aaron Paul), and realizes that it's time for her to get sober. Good for her. Unfortunately, Charlie doesn't realize that it would be a good idea for him too. And thus starts the deteriorating relationship drama that parallels the progressive character study.

Most people will be watching this for Winstead's tour-de-force career- defining performance. I watched it because of Aaron Paul. The quiet but powerful actor of the hit show "Breaking Bad" has his fair share of fans through his portrayal of the drug-dealing junkie, Jesse. Nobody can treat Jesse poorly. On the show they'll likely die, outside of the show, they'll get a scathing review. In "Smashed" we've already established that Kate isn't very likable and because she thinks she's more mature than Charlie she doesn't treat him with much respect.

As Kate and Charlie's marriage deteriorates, I'm not sure which emotions the filmmakers wanted from the audience, but I was just mad. Charlie deserved better. Actually most of the actors deserved better. A lot of people are praising the humour and supporting performances in this film. Nick Offerman played a fellow addict who had a very creepy side which was supposed to account for a wicked sense of humour but it was just a bit too awkward for me to find entertaining. Octavia Spencer plays Kate's sponsor and her wicked sense of humour seems to come out of nowhere since her character isn't well defined.

"Smashed" does offer a realistic view of the struggle of addiction and sobriety with a refreshing mix of humour and drama, but it was hard to be on Kate's side and the film doesn't seem to give the supporting characters their full due.

A no holds barred film exploring what quitting a substance can mean (obviously its different for different people), that is delivered with subtle humour and compassion, minus the preach-iness.

Its an effective approach that is a gentle mix between food for thought and entertainment.

Smashed is a quality film not to be missed :)

I enjoyed this movie. MEW is a great actress and did a good job in this movie.

One thing that make me think though is how I laughed at the sex scene where her husband falls asleep. Since it is happening to a man, people laugh. And that is OK. The far left likes to say that men can't be victims of sexism, so maybe they can't be victims of rape in their eyes either.

If it were a woman getting slapped to stay awake during a sex scene, then the guy kept going once she was completely asleep; we would all be talking about "the disturbing rape scene in Smashed"

But, since it was a guy...it is just funny. Nobody cares. He probably liked it, right?

You can't have it one way and not the other. So, think about a gender reversal when you laugh at that scene and then ask yourself if you would be fighting just as much for a man while you're out there marching in your pink hat and chanting about the patriarchy.

This film was one of two real standouts for me at the Sundance Film Festival 2012. Lead by two Oscar-worthy performances from Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Kate) and Aaron Paul (Charlie), "Smashed" accomplishes the impossible by addressing a very serious topic with depth and sympathy and realism, while still finding time to make the audience laugh hysterically now and then. Director James Ponsoldt and his co-writer Susan Burke deserve high praise for pulling off that feat. Additional kudos go to "Parks and Recreation's" Nick Offerman, as the deadpan sad- sack co-worker who takes Kate to AA and starts her on the road to sobriety. In a role that's the opposite of uber-confident Ron Swanson, he's hilarious as the always-ill-at-ease Dave.

This is one of those rare movies that is just like life: sometimes very funny, sometimes very sad, but always real. I hope it gets the audience it deserves.

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

This movie is a very realistic take on alcoholic tendencies. It is hard to watch at times if you are empathetic. But the journey that MEW's character take's is rewarding and worth the hard journey she endures.

Smashed follows a married couple who are both alcoholics. Ultimately, the wife Kate realizes how much alcohol has affected her life and attempts to sober up.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead pulls off a largely solid performance here. Sometimes she seemed kind of off, but for the most part she was charming and I really enjoyed seeing her character on screen. Aaron Paul did a consistently great job I think. He's an interesting character that maybe should've received a bit more attention, but for what he has does great. His character is complex and flawed, and he pulls it off in a convincing way. And moreover, both these actors have great chemistry. They play off of each other really well, and I definitely bought into the idea of them being married.

The writing is usually pretty good. There are never any issues I had with it really. I was never left confused or wondering how a particular character could be so stupid or anything. It captured addiction fairly well, which is exactly what I presume it was going for.

Overall James Ponsoldt has created another solid movie. While it isn't as good as some of his others, it's a solid film that I certainly enjoyed seeing. In the end I would recommend it.

My only real complaint about Smashed would be that there's just not enough of it. Things happen way too fast, we get very little time with the relationship between Charlie and Kate before it starts crumbling, and I have a feeling that an extra fifteen minutes in the first act of the film - focusing on Charlie and Kate, rather than extra time given to Nick Offerman and Octavia Spencer, who do remarkable work but whose characters are given far too much screen-time - could have driven Smashed right into modern classic territory. Because the ingredients are all there - the screenplay is insightful, clever and touching, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul both deliver fantastic, fresh, funny and very real performances.

As it is, Smashed mostly remains a light-hearted slice-of-life dramedy that doesn't quite hold enough substance, nor does it make up its mind about how seriously it wants to treat the subject matter. Offerman offers a strange and disturbing comic relief where Aaron Paul's character - which seemed interesting and complex - is left barely explored. Winstead pretty much has to carry the film herself, and she does just that - her performance is the real revelation of the film, and she makes Kate a fascinating, real and complicated character who's hard not to love and care for, whatever questionable decisions she might make. Her performance and the screenplay make the story an engaging one that's hard to resist and made me just want to see more of.

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.

The short feature only talks about the grave effect of alcoholism on modern version of marriage institution. And, well, it talks sharp & real.

Mary Winstead is amazing as she takes on two roles in here: one, when she's sober and another when she's drunk. Both are so distinctive, they speak volumes as to how how a person becomes when he drinks all night, all day. Aaron Paul finely complements her, with his peculiar diction and portrayal. Both are two of my favorites now. Even the supporting cast is very good.

Hitting exactly how alcoholism strikes relationships and wrecks havoc in all aspects of a person's life, the plot evolves into self-realization and the story further. There is humor, which purportedly is an embarrassment to the characters. With a sweet ending, Smashed is original and soothing, with its music & setup. Fine direction, photography & editing.

BOTTOM LINE: Recommended. Great performances and a very authentic story.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO

"I don't think I can do this anymore, I think I need to slow down and I might need help." Kate (Winstead) is an elementary school teacher who loves her job. She is married to a man she loves. One day at school she throws up in class and the class asks if shes pregnant. What starts off as a little lie snowballs until she reveals the truth. Kate is an alcoholic. This is one of the best under the radar movies that I have seen in a long time. While not as intense as Flight was at showing the effects and struggles with addiction this is still a very well done and disturbing look at the problem. Winstead gives an amazing performance in this and deserves to be nominated or at the very least talked about. The movie is depressing and a little hard to watch but it really should be seen by a bigger audience then it will get. I know movies about addiction aren't at the top of everyone's list but this is a movie that I do recommend. Overall, a movie that is hard to watch in some parts but deserves to be seen by more people then will see it. I give it a high B+.

Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and her husband Charlie Hannah (Aaron Paul) are a couple of drunks. His life is a series of drinking, partying, and listening to bands. Only for her, things have gone from embarrassing to scary. After some disturbing events, she goes to AA for help.

Drunk acting is arguably the toughest type of acting. For Aaron Paul, this is second nature. For Mary Elizabeth Winstead, this is a departure from her usual sweet pretty girl roles. It's always great to see an actor stretch. She does a good B+ job. I hope she continues to stretch.

The story is unsensationalized serious realism. Some will find problems with the modest script. It is a short 80 minutes. There isn't some crazy hurdles for Kate to overcome. Her difficulties are reasonable problems that most hardcore drunks face. There is limited embellishments in this movie. Nick Offerman does one crazy line of dialog. That's the extend of embellishing in this one.

A young woman who works as an elementary school teacher confronts her problem with alcoholism. She is forced to deal with her problem after vomiting in front of her 1st grade class. The AA meetings lead to the usual difficulties of recovering alcoholics, regarding marriage and work. An outstanding performance by Mary Elizabeth-Winstead highlights this terrific drama, as she effectively portrays the travails of addiction without being overly dramatic, she realistically dives into this role, carrying the entire film. This movie avoids slow pacing, and really kept me engaged, with a likable lead character, and believable surrounding acquaintances and family members. This is certainly one of the finest films of the year.

If I hadn't researched alcoholism and watched a selection of documentaries on the subject before watching Smashed, I might have thought it overly dramatic and over-the-top. I didn't always understand just how dangerous alcoholism could get, and while I'm no absolute expert, I do get the impression that this is mostly honest and true to life, when it comes to representing these problems and how they affect people in real life. Alcoholism is scary because alcohol is legal, and often socially acceptable, particularly if you're young like the two main characters in this film. It might not instantly ruin your life the way that a heroin or meth addiction might, but it creeps up on you and can make you an addict without you even realising. And you don't have to risk your life or your freedom to purchase alcohol the same way you might have to do so when buying outlawed drugs.

Smashed, however, I must say is not quite a great film. It's a really solid depiction of alcohol addiction, but it is very straightforward, and brief, and therefore not as in-depth an exploration on the subject and its characters as it could be. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the only one really given the opportunity to shine here, which works, as she is fantastic and largely carries the movie. Aaron Paul is in more of a supporting role; fans of Breaking Bad may be disappointed to find that the movie does not focus on him as much, but he does a good job with what he's given to do. Their relationship is mostly believable- not entirely, but the chemistry is decent and for the most part understandable.

The acting is mostly good, the script is solid but again: very short, and this helps the movie be direct, straightforward, and immediate, but does make it feel quite simplistic and not really something that you haven't seen before, should you already be familiar with other films that depict addiction. It's competently shot, but it has that handheld style that is such a cliche for indie films from the past 10-15 years, and it always irks me because I think it's rather overdone in low-key, low budget, "quiet" character study type movies.

For all the flaws though, it is a good look into the pitfalls of alcoholism, especially in regards to how it can derail both your professional and romantic lives. Given that there is still somewhat of a cultural belief that alcohol isn't super harmful, in relation to its addictiveness, I think a solid movie on the topic is still worth watching and talking about. If it makes at least a few viewers become more critical, or at least more aware of their drinking habits, then I'd say it's served its purpose well. And being a generally good movie with a very good central performance, I believe there's a good chance it has done (and will continue to do) just that.

I watched this again after coming across the DVD that I'd not seen since I bought it. Probably 7 years since I watched it, and I enjoyed it like it was brand new. It's so reminiscent of 28 Days with Sandra Bullock, but a nice enough change to circumstance to make it like a new film. Nevertheless the story is still an old one but it's presented here in such great terms that it feels brand new. Although they all got paid buttons for this movie, imho this is MEW's best ever piece of work to date. Everyone else is great and it's always nice seeing Mackenzie Davis and Octavia Spencer, but MEW makes the film and for the vast majority of it not a pick of make up in sight. Fabulous entertainment.