Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? Yes.
Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Yes.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 101 minutes (~1.75 hours)
“Still Alice” is a dramatic film that is an adaptation of the novel of the same name. It follows Alice, an ambitious and successful linguistics professor, as she develops Alzheimer’s disease and struggles to hold on to her life as everything collapses around her. It stars Julianne Moore (Alice Howland), Alec Baldwin (John Howland), Kristen Stewart (Lydia Howland), and Kate Bosworth (Anna Howland-Jones).
To be honest, I entered “Still Alice” expecting a dry, artsy chick flick, only to find that it was actually a pretty fast-paced story filled with many genuine, relatable moments. It’s a touching tale that’s supported by an amazing cast that brings well-rounded characters to life. It’s so easy for you to picture yourself in Alice Howland’s shoes, and it’s even easier for you to picture yourself as one of her family members. And that’s how the film reaches out to you – by making you empathise with each suffering character.
Highlights
Lydia Howland’s character growth
Right off the bat, I had my prejudices seeing Kristen Stewart play the character. Yes, the same Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame. Lydia is introduced as a slightly selfish, strawberry generation wannabe actress, making her dislikeable from the get-go. However, as Alice’s condition worsens, her own good nature rises to the surface, and in the end it is she who gives Alice the support that she needs so much. To see her grow from a selfish brat into a selfless caretaker helps you see that some good did come out of Alice’s condition after all.
Julianne Moore’s excellent performance
I won’t embellish her performance as “gripping” or “riveting,” but she draws you in with her portrayal of a strong, independent woman who slowly loses a fight with an incurable disease. She only breaks down openly once or twice, but it’s the choice pauses, the unspoken subtext, and the silent actions that truly bring her inner conflict to life. When she succumbs, as you know she inevitably must, you feel intense sorrow for her.
Well-paced film
This movie is surprisingly quick, with a fast-moving plot that’s full of new revelations or personal conflicts. It’s not just about someone and her family whining about a terminal disease – it shows how Alice’s condition affects ever single person in the family, including herself. There are no big twists, just good writing and well-planned beats.
Different perspectives
Although we see most of the film through Alice’s point of view, there’s no doubting how the other characters view the situation. They all bring a different take on the situation, and it’s interesting to see how their responses to the situation are all valid, yet vastly different in approach and mentality.
Letdowns
Abrupt ending
The ending comes like “a rug pulled out from other you,” to quote Alice. In hindsight it’s supposed to evoke the helpless loss of memory that Alzheimer’s disease patients suffer, but it’s handled without any finesse. It comes out of nowhere. Fortunately there’s Kristen Stewart and Julianne Moore to anchor this strange conclusion.
Too many superfluous characters
To be blunt, only Alice’s daughters and husband serve a purpose in the story. The rest of her family members are meant to pad out the family and make it look like a prosperous, joyful family. However, they serve no purpose, and their screentime could have been diverted to another, more deserving character.
“Still Alice” is a sympathetic ride that’s equal parts Alzheimer’s disease suffer, equal parts coming-of-age story of a daughter about to lose her mother. It is this dual perspective that gives the film an emotional resonance that lingers long after you leave the cinema.
“Still Alice” opens in cinemas 5 February, 2015 (Thursday).
This review was also published on Yahoo Singapore.
Leave a Reply