Lifeless, soulless movie about a subject that isn't shown the respect and reverence it deserves. Bullock, who would go on to make more dramatic films with awful scripts, is the shining light in the midst of the darkness, as per usual. Though her performance varies between the girl next door personality she achieves so
well in her romantic comedies and the dramatic, which she struggles with in some of her other films, here she grasps it easily enough. The beginning was well structured, had emotional depth, and resonated. The character was sloppy yet superficial, and very mean tempered. Her attitude was that of an addict, and Bullock really captured the persona of someone in rehab. Then she makes a U-turn, pretty much out of the blue, and all of sudden it's about stupid comedy, over the top drama, a love interest that feels out of place, and some really strange plot choices altogether. The minor character of Gearhardt, played by Alan Tudyk of all people, was possibly the worst character I have ever seen onscreen. He is duplicitous about his role as the comedic relief, and it was just painful all the way through. Bullock has to maneuver through so much inaccuracies, melodrama, and heartless froth in order to show any emotional response to Viggo Mortensen's character, the lives of her friends in rehab, and her own fate. Another great role came from Steve Buscemi who is the only realistic character in this entire thing. It's entirely made of fluff, but amusing, heartfelt fluff. More like insulation riddled with asbestos. The film does not show addicts to their true potential, and tries to make light of something that is actually a serious disease, and though it is addressed, it is also belittled by the plot and characters themselves, and nothing can make up for Gearhardt....nothing!
July 29, 2010
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