Featured Audience Ratings

• Dan S

  
  A well-intentioned, though heavily flawed drama concerning an alcoholic young teacher (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who must comes to terms with her life after a series of horrible decisions under the influence of alcohol. While Winstead is utterly phenomenal in a performance that should… More
  A well-intentioned, though heavily flawed drama concerning an alcoholic young teacher (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who must comes to terms with her life after a series of horrible decisions under the influence of alcohol. While Winstead is utterly phenomenal in a performance that should have got her nominated for an Oscar, she's unfortunately trapped in a film that suffers from a case of inexcusably awful writing at one crucial point in the story that the film builds on. The "pregnant" lie she tells is handled horribly (anyone in the world would have said "I'm feeling sick today" instead of make up some inescapable lie), and if it weren't for Winstead being so unbelievably terrific here, the film would be near unwatchable. But she is outstanding, as is her supporting cast, and the way the writers detail their characters is actually surprisingly well-done given most indie films sometimes kick character development to the curb except for the lead character. With all that said, it's not a bad movie. It is flawed, but it is well-paced, well-acted, and as said it has a good heart at showing just how dangerous the life of an alcoholic can be, while still giving us hope that all is not lost. Not a total recommendation given it's obvious flaws. "Flight" still crushes this film given the subject material, but it's certainly not anywhere close to a bad movie.

• Everett J

  
  "Smashed" is the story of an alcoholic school teacher(Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who realizes her life is going downhill and attempts to get sober. The only problem is her husband(Aaron Paul) continues to drink and plays as an enabler instead of actually helping her. This is… More
  "Smashed" is the story of an alcoholic school teacher(Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who realizes her life is going downhill and attempts to get sober. The only problem is her husband(Aaron Paul) continues to drink and plays as an enabler instead of actually helping her. This is a pretty low budget independent movie, which is fine, but it's very slow. Other than the scenes where she is spinning out of control, the movie plays more like a "lifetime tv" movie. Aaron Paul does a good job, but Winstead to me wasn't that good. She seemed more like someone who pretends to be drunk and does it way over the top, rather than someone who actually has a problem. Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart" or Denzel Washington in "Flight" played it perfectly, here she plays it the opposite. Now, those are completely different in tone, but still, it's almost like she is a parody. If she had more emotional scenes about her past and what makes her want to drink so much, this could have been a very strong drama. It's ok for a one time watch, but I'd say most likely just skip it.

• Matt G

  
  Mary Elizabeth Winstead deserved more award recognition for this.

• Sam B

  
  Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who definitely proves her talent here, can only carry 'Smashed' so far - about half way to be exact. After that point, the contrived and unintuitive plot hinders what starts out as a lively and honest look at alcoholism. For a recent film that… More
  Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who definitely proves her talent here, can only carry 'Smashed' so far - about half way to be exact. After that point, the contrived and unintuitive plot hinders what starts out as a lively and honest look at alcoholism. For a recent film that tackles the same issue in a much more sophisticated way, watch 'Flight' instead.

• Caesar M

  
  Smashed by it description sounds like a romance film, but is actually a look on what alcohol consumption does to a person and their relationship. The plot is very thin even at a running time of 1 hour and 21 minutes which is only saved by brilliant acting. Smashed is about a married… More
  Smashed by it description sounds like a romance film, but is actually a look on what alcohol consumption does to a person and their relationship. The plot is very thin even at a running time of 1 hour and 21 minutes which is only saved by brilliant acting. Smashed is about a married couple whose bond is built on a mutual love of alcohol that gets their relationship put to the test when the wife decides to get sober. The film has no conclusive end, instead leaving up to the viewer to decide what happened. The ending does not work since what proceeded it tells us the character won't change their behavior. To be honest not much happens besides Mary Elizabeth Winstead attempting to remain sober and facing the problems she once ignored. It never explains why she started drinking in the first place, but it does explain why Winstead wants to become sober. At times seems to promote the Alcoholics Anonymous. No other option is mentioned in the entire film to help Winstead coped with her drinking problem. It does somewhat redeem itself by not glorifying AA. It doesn't say that going to AA meetings will immediately fix your problems. It's a slow process and one that takes time to make a lifestyle over a habit. Smashed in terms of storytelling is basic stuff done that could have benefited if it dared to branch out to other topics. Mary Elizabeth Winstead in previous roles has never been able to show her true potential as an actress until now. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is a capable dramatic actress. She could act drunk convincingly, she evokes the right amount of energy in her more emotional scenes, and knows how to build her character. Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad is good here. Unlike the t.v. series Breaking Bad Aaron Paul character doesn't change much or has much of an importance to the story. His unimpressive performance is the fault of the material which limits Aaron Paul capabilities. The supporting cast is fine, but they never really standout as much. The supporting cast does help ease us to the end without annoying us. The cast of actors elevate the material enough to make something of it. Smashed basic plot has been done before, but the actors involve makes this one of the better films that explores the hardship of alcoholism and breaking a bad habit in your life. It's a good film, but the lack of ambition will hold some of checking it out.

• The Movie W

  
  When we first meet Winstead she's enjoying a night out with her husband, Paul, an L.A music critic. The next morning she vomits in front of her young pupils, claiming to be pregnant to cover it up. That night, while intoxicated, she smokes crack and spends the night with a bunch… More
  When we first meet Winstead she's enjoying a night out with her husband, Paul, an L.A music critic. The next morning she vomits in front of her young pupils, claiming to be pregnant to cover it up. That night, while intoxicated, she smokes crack and spends the night with a bunch of homeless men. Waking up in some wasteground the following morning, she decides to quit drinking. The vice-principal at her school (Offerman) invites her to his Alcoholics Anonymous meeting where she gets the help she requires. Her new found sobriety is at odds with her husband's partying lifestyle however and the relationship proves increasingly strained. For all it's indie sensibilities and Cassavettes handheld drama, 'Smashed' is little more than a hip version of those 'After-School Specials' which aired on American TV through the seventies. The version of alcoholism on show here is wildly unrealistic and over-dramatic. Before the opening title card has even hit, Winstead has gone from having a pint of beer to smoking crack with street bums. I haven't seen such a rapid descent since Sue Ellen found solace in the bottle on 'Dallas'. Crazy as it sounds, that show's portrayal of alcoholism was more grounded in reality than the one presented here. No pun intended but the film seems to be sponsored by AA. Winstead only has to attend one meeting and she's immediately off the sauce. As portrayed here, AA is a wonderful place where everyone accepts you despite your faults. The reality of course couldn't be further from the truth. AA is one of the most despicable institutions we have today. If you're unwilling to accept the Christian God into your life, they're not going to lift a finger to help you. In the U.S it's particularly scandalous that the organisation is sponsored by the state; this in a nation that claims to have a separation of church and state. Never once is religion mentioned here, instead we get a white-washed dishonest portrayal of an organisation more interested in recruiting church members than providing help to those who need it. In a year full of impressive performances by young actresses, Winstead gives yet another. Despite the weak material, she's an electric presence in a film that doesn't deserve such a good performance. Like a drunk who can't decide whether to party or sleep, the film finds itself torn between serious drama and light comedy. For the most part it's played straight but whenever Offerman and Mullaly appear it bizarrely veers into sitcom territory. Cinema has given us many riveting portrayals of alcoholism, this isn't one of them.

• Philip P

  
  Mary Elizabeth Winstead seems to have been around a good while. I remember seeing her plat the baddie in the wonderfully underrated Sky High in 2005 only to return the next year in that fun and fresh spin with the third entry in the Final Destination franchise. Since, she has had some… More
  Mary Elizabeth Winstead seems to have been around a good while. I remember seeing her plat the baddie in the wonderfully underrated Sky High in 2005 only to return the next year in that fun and fresh spin with the third entry in the Final Destination franchise. Since, she has had some high profile supporting roles (John McClanes daughter in Die Hard 4 and 5) as well as some great acting pieces in movies that flopped (Scott Pilgrim, Death Proof) while also creating a stigma around her by starring in generic horror flicks (Black Christmas, The Thing, Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter). Alas, she has finally seemed to arrive at a place in her career where she will be able to show why she's picked up so many roles in the first place: because she can act! In Smashed, a small intimate indie project, Winstead plays Kate a first grade school teacher who has always drank, always surrounded herself with people who drink and never found it to be that big of a deal. That is, until she throws up in front of her room full of children due to the fact she is so hungover. It is cause for an awakening within Kate, but she has trouble finding success in quitting because her husband Charlie (Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul) is a spoiled rich kid who writes music reviews of and does little during the day but play video games and drink just so he can go out at night to see a band and drink some more. She finds solace in a co-worker played with surprising empathy by Nick Offerman and a support system in fellow recovery alcoholic Octavia Spencer. The authenticity of everything that happens in the film is almost startling as their is no glam to any of it and helps to paint an honest picture of the struggles in dealing with a problem most people will dismiss with derogatory thoughts. Everything contributes to make this an effective film, but it is Winstead's performance that allows it to rise above the typical.

• Christopher H

  
  A perfect vehicle to launch Mary Elizabeth Winstead and her future successes as a dramatic actress, "Smashed" proves itself a viable Indie with a close-to-the-chest demeanor and dead-on, ethereal performances, not just from Winstead, but from co-star Aaron Paul as well, who… More
  A perfect vehicle to launch Mary Elizabeth Winstead and her future successes as a dramatic actress, "Smashed" proves itself a viable Indie with a close-to-the-chest demeanor and dead-on, ethereal performances, not just from Winstead, but from co-star Aaron Paul as well, who gives a glimpse of the headlining actor he will certainly become. James Ponsoldt is unafraid to delve into the truth of addiction and all that comes with turning your life around, allowing his gorgeous lead actress to be dirtied and without make-up throughout most of the film.

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