Smashed (2012)

Smashed: Directed by James Ponsoldt. With Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally. A married couple whose bond is built on a mutual love of alcohol gets their relationship put to the test when the wife decides to get sober.

“Writing as an alcoholic… I have 2 things to say about this film. The first is that the learnt ability to u0026#39;dealu0026#39; 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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWriting 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 itu0026#39;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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe acting from the two u0026#39;leadsu0026#39; 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 elseu0026#39;s. This film demonstrates that very well.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis 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 didnu0026#39;t already know… it is well worth watching.”