‘Smashed’ spotlights alcoholism with exceptional depth

James Ponsoldt’s Sundance Film Festival hit “Smashed” is more than just another melodrama about the dangers of alcohol. Instead of after-school special clichés, the movie takes a close look at relationships built on superficialities.

James Ponsoldt’s Sundance Film Festival hit “Smashed” is more than just another melodrama about the dangers of alcohol. Instead of after-school special clichés, the movie takes a close look at relationships built on superficialities.

Winstead and Paul’s portrayals burst with a human quality rarely seen in movies dealing with addiction or marital strife. They know how to show happiness and energy as authentically as intense sadness. Kate is the friend who makes a party fun; she’s charming and crazy, both ridiculous and hilarious when drunk. This makes it all the more startling when the laughter stops. The audience, though not the inebriated Kate, feels this transition as the smiles fade and the discomfort takes over. Ponsoldt and his cinematographer Tobias Datum intelligently show this transformation with tight close-ups that Winstead and Paul completely own.

As Kate gradually commits to sobriety, it becomes apparent that, for her, a life without alcohol is a mundane one. Or, more accurately, if your marriage and friendships are created when drunk, they will falter when sober. Kate has to face the fact that she is not married to Charlie. Rather, drunk Kate is married to drunk Charlie. Sober Kate does not care for her husband very much when she is not drunk.

When the supporting characters take centerstage, however, the story begins to waver. At this point, “Smashed” becomes purely about alcoholism and feels both familiar and false. The supporting cast of Offerman, Megan Mullally and Olivia Spencer contribute little to the film’s strong points. The one exception here is Mary Kay Place, who plays Kate’s mother. In one scene, Place wonderfully contextualizes the problems Kate struggles with throughout the rest of the film; this scene is essential for framing Kate’s journey.

Without taking itself too seriously, “Smashed” still works. An upbeat indie score and
plenty of laughs anchor this story of alcoholism in the real world, acknowledging both its greatest moments and the hangovers that follow.

A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, Oct. 11 print edition. Drew Gregory is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.