Traps, temptations, and tantalizing things are part of life, a good part, in some ways, a bad part, in others. Sugary sweets, a good cigar, stretching
those Christmas dollars on the credit card, sipping a little whiskey, or putting back a couple of beers at the ballgame (also known as stretching the
credit card again; really, what's up with $8 warm beers at the ballpark?) are some of life's little enjoyable moments. But beware: eating a box of
cookies everyday, piling up insurmountable debt, drinking whiskey like it's water, or acquiring the dreaded "beer belly" are all consequences of
overindulgence, a lack of balance and, sometimes, self-control. Do any of these in excess once or twice, and it's a life lesson. Repeat, time and again,
and they
become unhealthy addictions. Smashed is the story of a teacher who has lost control of her life under the power of alcoholism and her noble,
sometimes futile, and sometimes successful efforts to better herself in any way she can.
Bad timing.
Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Charlie (Aaron Paul) are married to both one another and to their shared passion: alcohol. They drink freely and
frequently. Alcohol controls their lives and is a constant in even their daily routines; Kate swigs beers in the shower and sneaks a few sips of
whiskey
from a hidden flask in her car before going into work. She's a functioning alcoholic and someone who needs it in her system to operate. She
teaches
elementary mathematics and, one day at work after a night of binge drinking, vomits in front of her class. The students suspect she's pregnant
and she affirms their belief with a lie. Her "pregnancy" becomes the hot topic at work, but she confides to the school's vice principal, Dave Davies
(Nick
Offerman), that she's actually an alcoholic. Lucky for her, Dave understands her plight; he's about a decade sober and invites her to his "Alcoholics
Anonymous" meetings where Kate finds a friend and a sponsor in Jenny (Octavia Spencer) to help in her recovery. Unfortunately, Charlie's not too
keen on the idea of quitting, which means Kate will have to fight an uphill battle against both of her loves if she's to drop the one she has to start
living
without.
Smashed isn't the most harrowing, intense, and downright grotesque substance abuse movie out there; it pales in both dramatic content
and
the sheer sense of depravity and hopelessness depicted in the terribly unsettling but hugely effective Requiem for a Dream, but then again it doesn't aim for that dark a style.
This
is less a warning label movie a more a glimpse into a life troubled by addiction. It's more about seeking out help than it is falling further into the
clutches of the addiction. Yet even if it's not really repulsive, it is quite fascinating and still a bit unsettling. It follows a largely predictable path and
takes a few easy avenues for dramatic convenience (a baby shower before a baby bump is even visible?) but nevertheless impresses with the
intimate appeal and deep character study that's at the heart of the experience. Director James Ponsoldt (Off the Black, another "alcohol"
film) keeps the movie focused and brisk -- it clocks in at well under 90 minutes -- but manages to tell a thorough and thoughtful story in that short
allotment of time, a testament to the power of its simple but engaging script and, more importantly, it's brilliant on-camera performances.
Smashed may be the beneficiary of solid direction and a positive script, but the real showstopper here is the thoroughly convincing
performance from Mary
Elizabeth Winstead. She finds a real, believable sincerity in the part, whether high on life while under the influence or at her
darkest and weakest both drunk and sober. She finds an authenticity beyond the superficial, though, and commands the role and her audience from
within. For as
believable as she is while "intoxicated," it's the character's heart and soul that truly comes cross as genuine, no matter the situation or the people or
the truths and lies and unbelievable lines she hears from other characters in the movie. It's a true commanding performance that should have
found more recognition in awards circles than it did. Aaron Paul is quite good in a lesser role, an important role but one that's a bit lost behind
Winstead's
dominant work. Nick Offerman is also excellent in a role with a few surprises while Octavia Spencer is fantastic as the film's dramatic stabilizing
force.
Smashed arrives on Blu-ray not in a hazy stupor but rather a clear, robust, and sharp high definition transfer. The film opens under a bit of a
dull overlay early in the early morning shots, but it picks up vibrance and brilliance when it moves to the classroom and displays some very nice colors
and reveals crisp, accurate details around the room. The HD video source presents something of a flat, glossy look, but it also showcases positive
definition on faces and clothing and some of the textures both inside and outside Kate and Charlie's somewhat run-down home. Black levels and skin
tones are generally fine, though the former can look just a little too pale in some places. There are a few lower light shadows that show some banding,
some slightly difficult color transitioning, but generally the image is free of any other defects. It's not a showstopper by design, but Sony's transfer is
nevertheless solid and reflects the movie's source nicely enough.
Smashed features a balanced and satisfying DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This isn't a track that offers a dazzling sound
design or an abundance of realistic, involved sound information, but it serves its fairly limited attributes nicely. Music delivery is expectedly strong, with
clear, tight, and precise notes creating a very natural presence around the front of the stage. The track picks up some nice ambiance at the karaoke bar,
with music and the general din of the place drifting into the back speakers. Other fine little supportive effects may be sonically light but certainly crucial
in creating a robust, realistic atmosphere; even something as small as the hum of a convenience store refrigerator helps to add necessary environmental
nuance to a scene and heighten the drama of it. Dialogue, as expected, plays clearly and without hitch from the center channel. It's not the most
dynamic track out there, but Sony's latest lossless offering holds down the fort with ease.
Smashed's supplementary section is headlined by an audio commentary track. A making-of featurette and deleted scenes are also included.
Audio Commentary: Director James Ponsoldt & Actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead deliver an energetic and balanced commentary. They
cover the nuances of the characters and the performances, behind-the-scenes information from the shoot, story origins and construction, filmmaking
locations, "drinking" in the film, and much more. This is a very good commentary that supports the movie well. With optional English, French, and
German subtitles.
Making Smashed (HD, 12:23): A straightforward supplement in which cast and crew cover the basics, including story origins,
themes, casting and characters, performances, the challenges of the material, and more. Also included is some raw on-set footage.
Toronto Film Festival Red Carpet and Q&A (HD, 14:45): Cast and crew talk up the film on the red carpet before answering some
questions following a screening of the film.
Deleted Scenes (HD, 10:25): Ted & Susan Singing Danny Boy, Kids Ask Kate About Baby Gender, Kate and Charlie Play Piano,
Longer
Shares at AA Meeting, Santa's Village, and Kate Cooks for Charlie.
Smashed is a real little gem that might not be so emotionally draining, visually harrowing, and psychologically terrifying as other "substance
abuse" movies, and it certainly travels along a somewhat predictable arc, but it's nevertheless a very well-crafted film that moves quickly and satisfies
thanks to a remarkable performance from Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Sony's Blu-ray release of Smashed features solid video and audio. An
average assortment of extras are included. Highly recommended largely on the quality of the film and its lead performance.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has officially announced and detailed its upcoming Blu-ray release of James Ponsoldt's latest film Smashed (2012), starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul and Octavia Spencer. The release will be available for purchase on March ...
