Review of Cake (2014) by Jason K — 24 Jun 2015

I completely understand why Jennifer Anniston was nominated for the Oscar. All I can say is Julianne's performance must have been one for the ages to beat out Jennifer. The scars go a lot deeper than those on Claire's face, and we got to see the raw emotional pain of a woman just barely hanging on to life by the thinnest of threads.

Yet, even in her darkest moments, the spark of life still burned. What a courageous performance, as there was nothing of cute, effervescent Rachel about this woman. This was agony, honestly and vividly portrayed.

I am not a fan of Ms Anniston. Or. more accurately, I haven't been, up to now. But my opinion has been forever altered here. This was a tour de force. In spite of her pain, her anger, her seeming intention to push anyone and everyone away, there was something about her that made me just want to wrap my arms around her and say, "Things will never be the same again, but they can get better.

" Sam Worthington, as a man trying to come to terms with the suicide of his wife, a woman who was in Claire's support group and whose death put a burr in Claire's saddle, took a different route with his grief and in so doing may have been the one that blew the embers in Claire to give her the strength to go on.

His performance was noteworthy as well. And the third standout has to be Adriana Barraza, as Claire's caretaker, Silvana. Silvana's daughter at one point asked her mother why she continues to work for "that bitch".

And Claire is over-the-top in her attempts to get Silvana to give up on her. We don't fully understand the devotion, but it is tangible. The picture I have of their relationship is that Claire is like a wildcat that has caught its leg in a trap.

Silvana is determined to see that wildcat go free, even though she knows she is going to sustain deep wounds. Yet she is compelled. Yes, the tale is dark, but this eternal optimist saw reason to hope for all concerned.

This gets five stars from me on the strength of the performances of the three main characters.