Still
Alice
(2014/Sony Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: C+ Extras: A Film: B+
Alice
Howland (Julianne Moore) was a successful, happily married woman with
3 successful children. Renowned as a famous linguistics college
professor and lecturer, she begins to forget and lose everything she
had worked her entire life, when she discovers she has early onset of
Alzheimer's disease. As she struggles to retain her memories and a
normal life she is supported fortunately by her family, but as her
memories fade one by one, will she even be able to remain Alice?
Alice
is a strong independent working wife, mother and teacher. Everything
she is, is because of she is smart and intelligent, and then some.
She loves her life's work and thrives under pressure and stress
...and is respected and admired for it, but all that comes to a
sudden stop with Alzheimer. As she attempts to use science,
medicine, and memory techniques it only hides the symptoms, she must
decide how to plan for the future and the last thing she wants to
become a burden on others.
Co-directors
Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland's Still
Alice
(2014, based on the Lisa Genova novel) was and is a sad and tragic
story and my heart goes out to all those who's family members have
Alzheimer's disease. No matter how successful, smart, rich or
powerful you are it mean very little if you begin to lose your
memories... For modern medicine and incurable diseases the best they
can do is try to make it painless as possible. For family members
they must eventually endure the lost of the love one and tend to
their care. Moore more than earns her Oscar and the solid supporting
cast includes Alec Baldwin, Kate Bosworth, Hunter Parrish, Kristen
Stewart and Shane McRae.
The
1080p, 1.85 X 1, digitally shot HD image is good, if limited in its
color (consistently shot by Director of Photography Denis Lenoir),
while the lossless DTS-HD NA (Master Audio) 5.1 mix is dialogue-based
and though articulate, a bit more lad back than I would have liked
despite this being a drama. Extras include deleted scenes,
Directors' Journey in Making the Film, interview with composer,
Finding Alice featurette and trailers.
-
Ricky Chiang
