Just watched this and thought it a better film than the review allows. In particular, I found the scenes with Silverman and Charles nuanced -- for instance, when they drive upstate for a conference. The vacuum is the terrible solitude she's created by her actions, and his having to choose his role as father over husband in order to protect himself and their kids.
1
5 weeks since its release,haven't seen a showing within 250 miles.Sad to see that her roots are not worth of a viewing.She was reared in community inundated with alcoholism/drug addiction,Manchester NH.Nick Nolte and James Coburn(Best Supporting Actor) made a flick called Affliction.Guess the pros do not feel New England is a worthwhile market.
I can only conclude from the review of 'I Smile Back' by Ms. Catsoulis that she does not have first hand experience with addiction. Addiction IS the source of self loathing and degrading behavior. What Ms. Catsoulis finds lacking is what I found most true; struggles with addiction are always baffling and without cause except for the misfortune of genetics. Amy Koppelman masterfully draws the reader into the crazy world of those who are an addict, or those who love one. These topics likely "stagger onto our movie screens" because they touch the hearts of the many who live them.
5
As a longtime member of Al Anon Family group, I find it useful to remember that a good description of alcoholism is "cunning, powerful and baffling."
3
I'm unsure what the critic means by this sentence:
"It’s a performance in a vacuum, one that could have cut deeper had her scenes with Mr. Charles displayed even a fraction of the emotional anarchy that John Cassavetes could write with one hand tied behind his back."
Is the issue here with the material as written, or the acting by Silverman's costar, or both? Or are the scenes solely focused on Laney to the exclusion of all other characters? The assumption that John Cassavetes wrote his scenes effortlessly and that this film in particular would have been better as a Cassavetes film strikes me as trite.
"It’s a performance in a vacuum, one that could have cut deeper had her scenes with Mr. Charles displayed even a fraction of the emotional anarchy that John Cassavetes could write with one hand tied behind his back."
Is the issue here with the material as written, or the acting by Silverman's costar, or both? Or are the scenes solely focused on Laney to the exclusion of all other characters? The assumption that John Cassavetes wrote his scenes effortlessly and that this film in particular would have been better as a Cassavetes film strikes me as trite.
10