alcoholism is one motherfucker
one of my all time favourite indie projects!! an impressively raw film with authentic direction. the grounded and honest filming style lets the moving performances take spotlight. the pacing doesnt feel overly fast or slow to me, it feels perfect for the simple story they tell. there is ample time to let scenes breathe and feel natural while not overstaying their welcome in the slightest its very snappy and motivated. i found the tone to be really consistent taking the subject matter seriously with poignant and powerful scenes while still having room for levity with really great comedic moments from paul and offerman that always painted a lil smiley face on me!
annie jacobs gives a perfect performance as expected and due to the specific way the movie was produced, carries the film along with paul as the main attractions. winstead manages to stay likeable even while playing a flawed character. she makes kate a layered and empathetic main character which keeps the tone from being miserable while not betraying the realistic goal. smashed is quite a grungy movie which reflects kate’s internal struggle, a smart way to stylise the film in a grounded way.
in general its worth a watch especially if you personally relate to kate or if anyone close to you has. debatably a micro budget so i’ll give it the tag
10/10
ps. my fav part of the movie 35:32
