STILL ALICE - 2014

There are so many illnesses and diseases that exist in the world today that just don’t have a cure, no matter how many fundraisers we donate to or telethons we listen to, there never seems to be any change in the world or in the diseases and illnesses that they are working towards find a cure for. For me I’ve only ever known one person who had Alzheimer’s they were very late in their age and always said they had had a good life. When she passed though everyone’s response was “she’s better off” personally I always had a problem with that sentiment. It’s not like Hallmark make cards saying such things, so why would people believe that “they’re better off” can be consoling in any possible way. I guess we as individuals deal with such things in our own unique way and this film will definitely have you thinking about yourself and your own little quirks and what ifs by the time credits run.

Alice is sitting at a table celebrating her 50th birthday with her three children and husband, Alice is a linguistics lecturer at the local university, she keeps not only her mind fit by solving problems and playing word games but also her body by jogging about the campus on a regular basis. One day during a presentation Alice forgets a word, she thinks nothing of it until later when she is out jogging and gets lost about the campus unable to find her way back home. Alice goes to see her GP who refers her to a neurologist where she is told she has Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Alice of course can’t believe the news but goes about telling her husband and children of her illness, she must also tell her family that the disease is actually hereditary and passed down through the mother so the kids must be checked as well. Two of the children take the test the third child refuses. As the film progresses the harshness and reality of what a day to day struggle living with the disease becomes very heartbreaking. Alice sets up some questions on her phone whilst still able to comprehend her surroundings; she makes a video directing her to take some drastic action when the day comes that she can no longer answer any of the questions…

The one thing that really works for this film is its simplicity in the way the story of Alice is told, everyone involved has done a wonderful job bringing the hardships and heartache that Alzheimer’s brings forth. Julianne Moore (Seventh Son, Children of Men) is amazing as Alice Howland, I don’t think anyone out there could have done any better, and finally the lady got the award she should have been awarded a very long time ago delivered to her due to the outstanding character she created and her amazing skills as a talented actor. Starring alongside her is Alec Baldwin (30 Rock, Rock of Ages) as her husband John Howland, Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns, Before I Wake) as Alice’s eldest daughter Anna Howland-Jones, Hunter Parrish (Weeds, 17 Again) as Alice’s middle child Tom Howland, and most surprising in her role Kristen Stewart (Twilight Saga, Jumper) as the black sheep of the family Lydia Howland, she did shock me a little especially as she has never been a personal favourite of mine, she stepped up to the mark quite well in her role. Directed by both Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland (The Fluffer, The Last of Robin Hood) both guys working together have made something that could have been extremely difficult to pull off yet they have made it seem much easier in their final delivery.

I did find it very slow in places which in turn made the film feel quite long but worse than that it took away a lot of the emotion I was supposed to be feeling as well. Don’t misunderstand me here; the film is a tear jerker especially for those of us that replace the actors with ourselves and our own life situations. The first time I watched this film there was one scene early on that had me blubbering like a baby, just at the helplessness poor Alice was going through, I inturn put myself in her place which made it far worse.

till Alice is a film that deserves more recognition than it has received so far, it is a film that will tear down your walls and make you fear not only your own life but that of all your nearest and dearest as well. Not a family friendly film as the young ones will get very easily bored I feel and tear your attention away

Still Alice – 4 out of 5 BanShee Screams

Thanks for reading.

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