Directors: Richard Glatzner and Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart
‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’
Not many actresses in Hollywood have made movies audiences adore as much as Julianne Moore. Ever since her rise to recognition in the 1990’s, Moore has become a celebrated icon. Whether it’s pornographic actors, depressed daughters or powerful feminist writers, Moore has portrayed strong characters. Arguably, her strength as an actor is emotional vulnerability. Moore is one of those rare actresses that has often poured both her heart and soul in every single role. She has never been afraid taking on risky roles that require a certain degree of commitment. A celebrated actress, Moore is an accomplished icon that has earned great success. Shining bright light in darkness, the actress has turned into a commemorated icon in the modern-day entertainment business. Through abilities to play strong women which are fascinating, Moore has created an enduring legacy which is lasting. Throughout her commemorated career, Moore has produced several unforgettable movies which are definitely without a single doubt definitely worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of the actress and adore all the movies she has made in her career. However, “Still Alice” is my favourite. Since its release in 2014, Julianne Moore’s movie has become a celebrated masterpiece about memory loss. Packed with bold production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the greatest movies ever made about memory loss. At the cente of it all is an extraordinary performance by Julianne Moore, capturing the deteriorating mind of a woman which suffers from dangerous memory loss. Ultimately, what makes “Still Alice” a masterpiece is its strong appeal. Unlike most films about the process of memory loss, it discusses strong themes which everyone will relate to. It delivers a meaningful message about disabilities which will resonate with everyone. A heartbreaking masterpiece about memory loss, there are several strong reasons why “Still Alice” is a film that’s worth watching.
“Still Alice” tells the story of a professor which suffers from declining memory loss. Julianne Moore portrays Alice Howland, a celebrated linguistics professor which has always had a great memory. Alice has never had troubles remembering things in her life that matter to her. Alice has always shared a strong bond with daughter Lydia (Kristen Stewart), whom she loves dearly. However, Alice’s life forever changes when she is given a dire diagnosis. Alice’s dreams are crushed with she is given the heartbreaking diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Becoming forgetful, Alice begins to have a hard time remembering things in life which are essential. Faced with the painful realities of Dementia, Alice questions whether she can recover from a heartbreaking disease causing trauma. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Alice questions whether it’s possible for her to cope with a painful disorder causing terror.
Wash Westmoreland is a newcomer towards the theme of memory loss. Before he directed “Still Alice”, Westmoreland has never made a movie about memory impairment in his career. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the barriers faced by women suffering painful memory loss, but he succeeded tremendously. Through bold cinematography, Westmoreland captures a woman’s journey to confront issues of memory loss inciting tragedy. Westmoreland effectively uses point of view shots to capture deteriorating mind of a woman suffering from memory loss. For instance, point of view shots elevate the running scene. During this intense scene, Alice becomes lost when she’s running on her university’s campus struggling to find where she is. Through these engaging point-of-view shots, Westmoreland captures grim hardships women with Alzheimer’s diseases go through. Point-of-view shots are complex techniques to use in most movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” suggested, point-of-view shots enhance commemroated horror movies about sharks. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Through breathtaking visuals, Westmoreland captures frightening hardships which women with grim memory loss are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Still Alice” which merits appreciation is the production-design. From a technical perspective, the film is very well-made. Westmoreland successfully uses settings of hospitals to capture the hardships women with Alzheimer’s Disease are enduring. For instance, the settings of hospitals elevate the diagnosis scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Alice is devastated when she is given the painful news that she suffers from a severe form of Alzheimer’s. One appreciates settings of hospitals capturing the tensions that women with memory loss are facing. Hospitals are not easy settings to use in films. As Milos Forman’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” suggested, hospitals suit movies about mental institutions. Nevertheless, it worked immensely in this film. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Ilan Eshkeri’s music is integral toward the film’s success. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that women with memory loss bear. Through strong production design, Westmoreland captures women which face memory decline.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Still Alice” is a captivating movie about memory loss that is compelling. The film is extremely well-written, and effectively uses silence to capture experience of women with memory loss. Throughout the movie, Westmoreland successfully uses silence to capture lives of women with declining memory. For instance, silence elevates the bathroom scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Alice experiences tension as she forgets where the bathroom is located in her home. One appreciates scenes of silence capturing grim challenges women with memory loss are enduring. Silence is a complex technique to use in movies. As Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” suggested, silences enhance classic films about trauma. Stephen Daldry’s “The Hours” demonstrated silence elevates commemorated movies about female writers. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Through a superb screenplay, Westmoreland captures the lives of frightening women with memory loss enduring a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Julianne Moore delivers one of her greatest career performances as Alice. Moore gained appreciation for playing emotional women in period pieces. With “Still Alice”, however, she took up on her most challenging role. It isn’t simple to portray the mind of a woman with declining memory loss but Moore succeeded tremendously. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charming and emotional in her most memorable role. It’s a role that gave the actress a chance to show strong emotional range she hadn’t shown in her career before. With riveting expressions, she embodies the angst, determination and trauma of a woman with severe memory loss. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the greatest actresses working in the industry today.
While the film is mainly a stunning showcase for Julianne Moore, the supporting cast is also spectacular and worthy of appreciation. Alec Baldwin is brilliant, capturing compassionate of a husband struggling to take care of a wife with severe memory loss that causes tension. Kristen Stewart is spectacular, capturing the concerned nature of a daughter struggling to come to terms with the fact that her mother has a disorder. Lastly, Stephen Kunken merits appreciation. As a dedicated neurologist, he brings heartbreaking emotions towards the movie.
Finally, “Still Alice” would earn appreciation of everyone for capturing tensions women with memory loss are facing. Unlike most movies about memory loss, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. The film discusses strong themes including identity, desperation and trauma which would definitely resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be familiar with Alzheimer’s disease to appreciate it. Jr delivers a meaningful message about memory which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Still Alice” is one of those rare commemorated movies about memory loss everyone would adore.
Fans of Julianne Moore would definitely enjoy “Still Alice” and so will movie-goers seeking meaningful entertainment. A mesmerizing masterpiece about memory loss, it honours an access that has built a legacy which is iconic.
A devastating depiction of the challenging barriers that women suffering from frightening memory loss of Alzheimer’s disease are facing, it’s a dazzling reminder of a commemorated actress that has gained a massive following accomplishing worldwide recognition for her abilities to portray larger-than-life characters which are compelling in captivating movies which are definitely without a single doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 