There is something quite refreshing about watching a film you know literally nothing about. That was the case when I watched Smashed (2012), a film that I happened to spot on Netflix while browsing for a film to just pass the time. It ticked all the boxes for what I wanted at that time, actors who I like, a short running time and a title that reminded me of University. I was sold. And boy was I surprised at how much I liked this film. I do have a liking for small budget, American indie films, and this is most definitely fitting into that mould. It is well made for its budget but obviously does not have any big effects or huge star actors, but that’s what I like about those kinds of films because it often leads to more compelling stories because the focus is solely on the characters and not focusing on special effects or action set pieces. I obviously have no problem with films like that, but they are the norm and so films like this are a breath of fresh air. Anyway, I'm letting the review get away from me. The film, as you probably guessed from the title, follows Kate Hannah (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), an alcoholic school teacher, whose alcohol abuse is starting to catch up with her and affect her job and relationships. The turning point comes when she throws up in the classroom and lies that she is pregnant to cover up, and then that night, whilst drunk, smokes crack and passes out under a bridge. The rest of the film follows her as she attends AA meeting and struggles against temptations and the problems that her drunken actions have gotten her into.
As I slightly went into in the into, the film has a very indie style of filmmaking. There are no really extravagant shots, no CGI effects or special effects of any kind. It is also pretty basic, hand held way of filmmaking. It isn't anything breath-taking or awe inspiring. You don't sit there and think wow that shot is stunning or that set piece or sequence was incredibly shot and designed. But what this style of filmmaking does give you is a feeling that what you are watching is very personal. In many ways, it is a way of filmmaking that drags you in more so than big budget films can because of this feeling that the film is extremely personal. It is perfect for a film like this, a film that is telling a deeply personal story, focused on one person, and so a very personal style of filmmaking adds to this feeling. I do have a soft spot for this style of filmmaking and Director James Ponsoldt does a good job in the film without really straying away from the normal conventions of that shooting style. The story itself is a gripping one. It is equals parts charming and really difficult to watch, especially one scene where Kate breaks her sobriety and has a drunken breakdown. It is a film that explores alcoholism in what would seem to be a realistic way, but also does not shy away from the enjoyment and pleasure of drinking. It is not a film that attempts to tell its audience that everyone who drinks is an alcoholic and that drinking is sinful and blah blah blah, but instead takes a much more realistic look on how alcohol, when abused, can affect people’s lives. It is a quite powerful and emotional story and I felt myself being more invested in the characters of this film than I have in quite a while.
Of course, a film like this would be nothing without its actors. When a film is shot on such a small budget and is telling a very personal story the performances of the actors are so important in creating the film you want. And I have to say that everyone does a brilliant job in the film, and that is probably due to the fact that they cast really talented actors. Nick Offerman puts in a great, rather understated performance as Dave Davies, the Vice Principal of the school Kate teaches at and a recovered alcoholic himself. Octavia Spencer, although not in the film much, does an unsurprisingly great job as Kate's sponsor, Jenny, and Aaron Paul is also great as Charlie Hannah, Kate's husband, who is an alcoholic himself but refuses to admit as much. But the real focus of the film is of course on Kate, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is brilliant in the role. She is funny, charismatic, charming and likeable but at the same time is sympathetic, awkward and sometimes (mainly when she is drunk) very unlikeable. She manages to portray a character who is all these things but remains believable throughout and who you are routing for. You can see how much the alcoholism is ruining her life and you desperately want to see her succeed, so much so that when the film dangles a carrot in front of her to try and make her break you get knots in your stomach hoping that she doesn't. It is a powerful performance and is one I will remember for a long time.
Smashed was a very pleasant surprise. Before I happened to glance it on Netflix I knew nothing about it, hell I didn’t even know it existed. So, when I watched it and found a well-made, brilliantly acted and engaging little indie film that I enjoyed immensely I was pleasantly surprised. It is a film that does focus on a difficult theme of alcoholism and it does lead to some difficult to watch scenes, but I think that is testament to the people involved because I’m sure that’s exactly the kind of reaction they will have wanted from the audience. The short runtime helps the film as it allows for it to stay focused and not drag out any needless plot points or character arcs. It may not be masterpiece of a film, but it is a very, very good one and I implore you all to give it a go.