Review of Still Alice (2014) by Morgan S — 16 Feb 2016

Prepare to fall in love with Julianne Moore for she does the most outstanding job portraying the tragedy her character is faced with in the film Still Alice. Moore's heart-wrenching performance phenomenally dramatizes what Alzheimer's does to the mind and spirit, and her determination to make the most of her situation is delivered with the utmost power and grace. This movie's incredibly beautiful and touching plot is sure to move you to tears as you find yourself feeling the frustration and pain Moore's character feels as she watches her memories and all she's achieved in life slowly slip away from her.

Alice Howland is a successful linguistics professor at Columbia University who is at the top of her field. She seems to have it all going for her: a career she loves, the support of her husband (Alex Baldwin) and the admiration of her three grown children. When Alice suddenly finds herself repeatedly forgetting things in her daily routine she decides to consult a neurologist and is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Relationships are put to the test in this film as the characters struggle to cope with the unfortunate situation at hand, and we are reminded to make every day in life meaningful, for we never know how long we will have to enjoy it.

Julianne has received a Best Actress Academy Award for her magnificent role in this film and it is definitely well earned. As for the rest of the cast, Baldwin does a decent job portraying a concerning husband, genuine and supportive of his wife's condition. The siblings Tom and Anna had little impact overall on the quality of the film with mediocre performances lacking the emotional distress this movie needed. However the youngest daughter, Lydia, played by Kristen Stewart shared several heart-felt scenes with Moore as they form a touching bond after the diagnosis.

The directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland somehow managed to portray all of the terrible sides of Alzheimer's while still keeping the film overall light-hearted and melancholy. Although I wouldn't recommend bringing younger children to see this movie for its mature plot and mild language, this film is the perfect life-affirming story to see with your spouse and is guaranteed to leave you both with a warm feeling. Although sometimes life deals us a bad hand of cards, this movie affirms that life is too short and too beautiful to waste a moment.