WITH the Academy Awards being presented on Monday central Victoria film audiences will only have a few days to see was is most likely to be an Oscar-winning performance.
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Julianne Moore has put in a career-best effort as a woman diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease in Still Alice.
Alice Howland (Moore) is a happily married renowned linguistic professor who begins to forget words.
When she is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease, the film follows her determined struggle to continue living a normal life as well as the affects on her husband and family.
As Alice’s condition worsens, it puts strain on her family as well as Alice herself who struggles to remember personal details and members of her family.
Directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland have done an excellent job in delivering a confronting plot with subtle rather than drama.
Lens focus plays an important part in the cinematography with early scenes shot in a more clear fashion while moments where Alice’s mind is deteriorating are shot with a more blurred effect and muffled noise.
The camera work coupled with Moore’s acting efforts make Still Alice a very compelling watch.
Supporting Alice are her husband John (Alec Baldwin) and her three adult children – hopeful actress Lydia (Kristen Stewart), lawyer Anna (Kate Bosworth) and medical student Tom (Hunter Parrish).
Baldwin is good as a passionate and driven medical researcher who thrives on his wife’s talent and passion for education.
As his wife suffers more from Alzheimer’s, John tries to remain as patient and as caring as he can.
The surprise performance comes from Kristen Stewart as Alice’s youngest daughter.
Stewart plays a hopeful actress who bickers with her mother but provides the strongest support for Alice at the most trying times. It is one of Stewarts most likeable performances, particularly at the moments when Alice and her daughter are at the closest.
Still Alice may be confronting for some people who have seen Alzheimer’s Disease first hand but it is a wonderfully crafted film.
Moore is almost a certainty to pick up a best actress Oscar and it will be an upset if the result doesn’t go her way.
Still Alice (M) is now showing at Bendigo Cinemas. See page 3 of the Bendigo Advertiser for details.
Follow film review Chris Pedler on Twitter @FilmNerdChris