LiveWire Film Critic Shaquille Silva reviews Still Alice…
What is it like to lose everything you’ve worked so hard to become? Still Alice is a story about a woman and her struggle with the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The film explores how this terrible disease affects Alice’s (Julianne Moore) life but also those around her as her impairment begins to cause conflicts with those closest to her. Not only that, but for a character that prides herself so much on her articulation and ability to use words as an acclaimed linguistics lecturer, this struggle is amplified.
First and foremost, Julianne Moore is superb, particularly in how she portrays the emotional distress this condition causes her. Every motion in her face, whether it is her parting lips or darting eyes, translates a sense of that feeling of helplessness she feels. Her dialogue, especially in describing what she feels like, is very powerful and paints a very vivid picture. Denis Lenoir’s cinematography is interesting too, particularly his use of focus, again emphasising Alice’s deteriorating experience.
However an aspect of the film I did find slightly lacking was Alice’s children and their presence in the film. I forgot that Alice even had a son as he was so absent, whilst feeling rather underwhelmed by the acting of her daughters. In comparison to Moore’s performance, Kristen Stewart’s felt a little amateur and unexciting. In some instances, what should have felt like a tense and dramatic sequence of events, felt like Stewart struggling to remember her script.
Ultimately, I did appreciate the fact that the film ends on an alleviating and uplifting tone and not only that, but makes us value seemingly simple things we truly take for granted and think of those who are unfortunate enough not to even have these basic blessings. Most will know what Alzheimer’s disease is but won’t necessarily empathise with people who have it and in that, Still Alice is an enlightening piece of drama with a stand-out performance from Julianne Moore and notably effective cinematography.
Still Alice (12A) is currently screening at Cornerhouse. Book your tickets here.