julianne moore - i'm looking for an act of redemption
the last film seen of hers - maps to the stars - what a stinker
lots of rave reviews though - me - na - she ok but hated the film
we are in new york - a family dinner for alice's (moore) 50th birthday
alec baldwin back in his revolving door role of the husband and father
eldest daughter anna and husband charlie talking about ivf treatments
son tom late to the dinner and some ribbing about a lack of girlfriend
all very cosy and happy-family-ish - ms moore looking very comfy
she then seen in los angeles presenting a paper to a large class at ucla
she introduced as a world famous professor and author on linguistics
superb acting as she confidently demonstrates her expert knowledge
this film is about the early onset of alzheimers so we expect a trip-up
sure enough - one word lost - the in-flight glass of champagne blamed
then another one dropped in a taxi as she is playing a word-game app
a visit to daughter lydia (kristen stewart) struggling to get acting work
but her smart mother not happy - 'go to college - you need a backup plan'
back in new york alice is out for a run and through the columbia campus
looking quite regal too in the autumn weather - but - then she loses it again
completely dis-oriented for a few minutes in this place she knows so well
back home and hubby john (baldwin) routinely asks about her run, trip, etc
rushing out - he very busy too as a successful and ambitious research doctor
so far so good - all the main players introduced with alice (moore) dominating
pre-screening reading advising she is a constant and appearing in every scene
one cynic suggesting also this film is a big oscar-grab - yep - i can see that
alice knows something is wrong with herself so a neurologist is consulted
a probing of her background revealing some sad facts of alice's childhood
her mother and sister killed in a car accident when she was only 18
some grainy footage then screened of the 3 of them on a sunlit beach
not entirely sure of the context of this though some emotional baggage?
dr benjamin continues to fine-tune tests and asks alice to bring in john
eventually confirming the early onset of familial (hereditary) alzheimers
a 50/50 chance of her children also having the disease and are informed
this the turning point in the film as alice's mental decline then kicks in
a gradual and very convincing portrayal of the effect of the nasty disease
tearing at alice and her family who mostly provide the essential support
alice is no martyr though and is seen addressing an alzheimers convention
she also has the wherewithal to record a video to herself for a future suicide
revolving around a simple daily test - if she fails then take the hidden pills
the delibitating effect of the disease demonstrated well in a theatre scene
the family watching lydia in a play and alice talking to her backstage later
not as her mother though - she congratulates her as though a stranger
one plot development sees john wanting to relocate to milwaukee
the cad (baldwin - as usual) considers his career over his ailing wife
it is all so believable - and i'm looking for holes - ms moore is so good
she stumbles on the video which cleverly provides a then/now contrast
aware that film time is nearly up this seems to be a logical conclusion
a happy ending was never going to happen - but she is interrupted
no suicide - unexpected - instead a suggestion of a long life ahead
for she is in top condition physically - the cruelty of the disease
the film then closing with a vacuous look on alice's face
as she stares into the eyes of her daughter lydia
who has recited a beautiful excerpt of a play
what's it about mum - it's about love
yes it is mum - yes it is - weep...
(give that lady an oscar)
