InaneSwine Finally, after all the B-movies and weak horror flicks, Mary Elizabeth Winstead has a real shot at showing us what she's really capable of. She's the shining star in this, a well made, even handed and realistic insight into addiction. Aaron Paul supports her brilliantly, though he is in danger of being typecast as the partying substance abuser.

dlrturtle 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.

Steve Pulaski Smashed is the second movie of 2012 to fearlessly tackle substance abuse/dependency with a purely human focus. The first film, Flight, which deservedly scooped up two Oscar nominations, showed the aftermath of a pilot who saved the lives of dozens of people on a seemingly doomed aircraft before being discovered for having drugs and alcohol in his system. Neither a sob-story, a feel-good picture, or a courtroom drama, just to oust a few stereotypes, it was an emotional, deeply honest story about a man overcoming the limitation set-forth by an uncompromising, unnecessary addiction. I loved it and went on to name it one of my favorites of the year.Smashed is a story a bit more traditional and less unique, yet still terrifically captured, dealing with Katie Hannah (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a first-grade school teacher who is addicted to alcohol. So addicted, her marriage to Charlie (Aaron Paul), a goofy, often unremarkable man, is practically predicated off their mutual love for getting buzzed. After vomiting in front of her class from a hangover, Kate creates a diversion to the children/fellow teacher saying she is pregnant, giving her a whole other problem to deal with. Eventually, she comes to terms and realizes she needs to sober up. She does this mostly in seclusion, only allowing her husband to know, while trying to up the courage to come clean to the children and the teachers that she is not pregnant.She joins Alcoholics Anonymous, and meets Jenny (Octavia Spencer), the leading lady who tells her that it is a tricky, unforgiving act to quit drinking, yet it must be done. These scenes at AA have a very strong sense of the awkwardness and tension likely present in your first couple meetings. It takes a few meetings before you can find that the strangers you're sitting with, while perhaps foreign in experiences, can relate with you on a strong part of life. It's just sad that it has to be alcoholism.Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who has mostly assumed roles that don't allow her free expression other than conventions (Final Destination 3) or sidelined her to supporting roles (Death Proof) explodes here, playing a rational, strong woman caught up in circumstances that completely weaken her. Winstead bravery and commitment to a challenging, emotionally potent role could further make her the modern Joseph Gordon-Levitt of character actors, with her wide ranges and effortless attempt to convey believability within a challenging role.At only seventy-seven minutes, Smashed packs something of a wallop for viewers. It attacks human grief and tribulation with a sense of raw understanding, and never cops out for the emotional depth and sentimentality of a Lifetime drama. It's much wiser, knows how to create characters, and has scenes that are so awkward, yet so rich (take for example the scene where another teacher expresses his fondness for Kate) that they beg to be seen again. This film would serve as a nice companion piece to the documentary Bill W., about the man who started AA. A double feature of the two would show a nice, versatile portrayal of an organization.Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, and Octavia Spencer. Directed by: James Ponsoldt.

Chris L Banal and of no real interest, these are two terms that define pretty well Smashed. The scenario is pretty weak, we are on auto pilot from start to finish, everything is more or less predictable and unfolds unsurprisingly. The cast, though good on paper especially considering the presence of Aaron Paul, is almost transparent, struggling to make the most of their characters who cruelly lack depth. Besides, Smashed serves us up all the stereotypes of the alcoholism theme: AA meetings, sponsor, bad company, etc. The situations, characters, have all been been (better) treated dozens of times in other movies.At least, Ponsoldt deserves credit for his cinematography, though the ultra typical "indie" style can be irritating, and for not dragging the story too much (the movie is only 1h15).