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Smashed

R Released Oct 12, 2012 1h 21m Drama List
83% Tomatometer 107 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Los Angeles schoolteacher Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and her husband, Charlie (Aaron Paul), each have a drinking problem. Up to now, her life seems like one big, boozy party, but her latest drinking binge catches up to her at work, and she later spends the night alone on the street. Kate now realizes that she has hit rock bottom. She agrees to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings with the school's vice principal (Nick Offerman) and takes her first step on the challenging road to sobriety.
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Smashed

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Critics Consensus

Smashed resists the temptation to play up its serious subject matter for high theatrics, opting instead to let its gentle tone and Mary Elizabeth Winstead's marvelous performance carry the day.

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Critics Reviews

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Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com Smashed tells a familiar story with subtle simplicity, never beating the audience over the head with its themes or ideas. Rated: 3/4 May 16, 2022 Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online While writer/director James Ponsoldt's screenplay tends to saunter along at times as it seeps further into starkness, Winstead and Paul's performances will keep you engaged until the end. Rated: B Sep 7, 2017 Full Review Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard A film that's good on general atmosphere, totally sincere and not too sentimental. Rated: 3/5 Dec 14, 2012 Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row This may be Winstead's show, but Ponsoldt displays a remarkable restraint that demonstrates a keen directorial instinct. Rated: 3/4 Aug 6, 2019 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com There's nothing completely astonishing or shocking that goes on in Smashed, but that's not to say it isn't captivating and completely worth your time. Aug 5, 2019 Full Review Eve Tushnet Patheos Smashed is wall-to-wall good intentions from the moment Kate decides to go to a meeting. Jan 3, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Руслан Г чудовий приклад мотивації для людей які мають алкогольну залежність або вже позбулися її. Мені як колишньому алкоголіку було корисно переглянути і впевнитися в черговий раз, що алкоголь це лише про погане. Відмінний фільм Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/12/24 Full Review Georgan G 3.25 stars. This film was good, but has been done so many times before. If you are looking for an mostly uplifting plot, this could be it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/10/24 Full Review j F The acting was superb, and the story slowly, painfully told. For those of us who have dealed with the issue, it's a disturbing, compelling film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/04/24 Full Review Audience Member Director James Ponsoldt and Mary Elizabeth Winstead create a black comedy/drama about life smashing us when we least expect it and having it smash other things I remember watching it at my second house and liking it but it also hit pretty hard considering my own father was an alcoholic that needed help A simple story of a woman Kate deciding to quit drinking alcohol as its been nothing but her every day lifestyle The script hits all the familiar things we know from alcoholism like being drunk in public, being immensely hungover and waking up in a place we don't know or remember But during the recovery process at AA Kate's new decision starts to strain the relationship with her husband she hits rock bottom Such a tour de force by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, a standout performance that has her truly feel like a broken antagonist I like Aaron Paul, Octavia Spencer, and Nick Offerman too Never beats the audience over the head with its ideas and themes It's all about breaking away from an unbreakable addiction, trying to shake that bad habit, and having it leak onto other people in the process messing up the social structure Sooner or later it catches up with that person in public or work, things go from embarrassing to scary real fast Super short but very lifelike appealing to anyone who's ever had a drinking problem Gets dark in many spots and not being too comedic Plus it's sad because we the viewers actually know people that have a problem like this in real-life, it's like a disease that's just waiting to come back once they stop Director James Ponsoldt's insightful drama doesn't feel artificial but very honest And this is Winstead at her finest when it comes to the drama department Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/13/23 Full Review Audience Member The kind of articulate, personal film whose story transcends its scale to become universal. Terrific performances by the main cast and welcome cameos. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member Another fantastic performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Smashed

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Movie Info

Synopsis Los Angeles schoolteacher Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and her husband, Charlie (Aaron Paul), each have a drinking problem. Up to now, her life seems like one big, boozy party, but her latest drinking binge catches up to her at work, and she later spends the night alone on the street. Kate now realizes that she has hit rock bottom. She agrees to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings with the school's vice principal (Nick Offerman) and takes her first step on the challenging road to sobriety.
Director
James Ponsoldt
Producer
Jonathan Schwartz, Andrea Sperling, Jennifer Cochis
Screenwriter
James Ponsoldt, Susan Burke
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Super Crispy Entertainment
Rating
R (Brief Drug Use|Alcohol Abuse|Language|Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 12, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 25, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$376.0K
Runtime
1h 21m
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