I Smile Back

Broad Green Pictures | Release Date: October 23, 2015

6.8	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Ratings

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annbdMar 20, 2019

Mental Illness in its beauty. If you are interested in that matter or want to feel better about yourself - go for it. The movie is really hard to watch. Like someone in the reviews described it as 'brutal'. It is, because of the capturedMental Illness in its beauty. If you are interested in that matter or want to feel better about yourself - go for it. The movie is really hard to watch. Like someone in the reviews described it as 'brutal'. It is, because of the captured helplessness of people who had a problem with living and staying alive every day, and in that sense - are also crazy. I cried from the beginning to the end, so I guess it's not a popcorn movie or netflix and chill.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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bfoore90Oct 1, 2016

A brutally honest take on mental illness and addiction, Sarah Silverman delivers on a knockout performance. Unfortunately, Silverman's performance couldn't save this movie from a script lacking depth. I felt it was as if the audience neverA brutally honest take on mental illness and addiction, Sarah Silverman delivers on a knockout performance. Unfortunately, Silverman's performance couldn't save this movie from a script lacking depth. I felt it was as if the audience never gets a full look into the respective iminds the Brooks family, though we feel like we do because of some devoted performances from its leads. We see Laney struggle with the past and the present, we see some hints of insight in an otherwise weak plotline but it stops there. If you see this movie, see it for Sarah Silverman's damn near Knockout portrayal but if you're looking for something other than that is remotely redeeming, you may want to pass on this film.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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Sidd_Movie_BuffOct 26, 2015

I Smile Back is directed Adam Salky and is written by Piage Dylan. It stars Sarah Silverman, Josh Charles, Shayne Coleman,and Skyler Gaertner.

Laney Brooks(Sarah Silverman) does bad things. Married with kids, she takes the drugs she wants,I Smile Back is directed Adam Salky and is written by Piage Dylan. It stars Sarah Silverman, Josh Charles, Shayne Coleman,and Skyler Gaertner.

Laney Brooks(Sarah Silverman) does bad things. Married with kids, she takes the drugs she wants, sleeps with the men she wants, disappears when she wants. Now, with the destruction of her family looming, and temptation everywhere, Laney makes one last desperate attempt at redemption.

This movie leaves you sore and rather agitated. Partly because that's the point of the movie and partly, just partly, because we didn't ever really care enough to keep watching to the end.

This was not the case with me. I soldiered through till the very, predictable end for a few reasons. Well really one reason actually now that I think about it. But that one reason makes a definite snooze fest into a spectacle to see.

I am of course referring to none other than Sarah Silverman. 2015 has been a year which yielded many surprises in breaking type cast, but Sarah Silverman's transformation into Laney, a narcissistic home wrecker, might be the most surprising. I usually don't have too much doubt when it comes to Best Actresses so it pains me to say this, Sarah isn't going to win. Though she is the best female performer of the year, its unlikely that the Oscars would give any awards to an actors first type cast break. With that being said, she was revoltingly engaging to watch, casting a disgusting yet thought provoking shadow of an average American housewife's misdeeds. It was painful to watch at times but is ultimately rewarding on a character level. More than able to inject a few snips of humor to lighten the dreary mood, Silverman shines!

In terms of the other actors Josh Charles plays a sympathetic lead but I would prefer him in a courtroom. The kids were very good and churned out some great performances. Basically the Brooks family is brilliant and the rest of the cast pails in comparison. Shame but not entirely their fault.

The writer is to blame for most of this movie. Paige Dylan's intentions, though noble, are rather misguided. She mistakes tears and bad deeds for character development. Though this works to some extent, offering hints of insight, the audience never gets a full perspective into the minds of Laney and the Brooks family, though we feel like we do because of some devoted performances from its leads. Another aspect that I didn't enjoy much was the sheer predictability of the whole ordeal coupled with the poor direction makes this movie a Plodding and Uninteresting mess on a behind the scenes level.

I Smile Back is amiable, albeit shallow, fair with a standout performance by Silverman. it gets a C+ or a 5/10.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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smiyamotFeb 26, 2016

A film about a person with mental problems. We see her past, made her problems worse, we see her present, she doesn't seem to want to get better. Oh well. The movie story line is very hard to sit and watch. There are so many poor people,A film about a person with mental problems. We see her past, made her problems worse, we see her present, she doesn't seem to want to get better. Oh well. The movie story line is very hard to sit and watch. There are so many poor people, homeless people, who need help but can't afford it. She can and just blows it off. So why did the producers make this movie? What is it telling me? Let's feel sorry for the 1%? I don't think so.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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StevieGJDNov 6, 2015

Sarah Silverman does a very good job in this film. Her character is in pretty much every scene and she credibly portrays a woman battling mental illness, substance abuse and promiscuity issues. The script is the real problem here. While itSarah Silverman does a very good job in this film. Her character is in pretty much every scene and she credibly portrays a woman battling mental illness, substance abuse and promiscuity issues. The script is the real problem here. While it covers ground, it does not do so in any way that is novel. The complaints from people about how awful or terrible the content is are both pollyannish and naive. There are people who have these issues. They exist. They are not evil. They are broken. Nobody could have done better in this part. I may be biased because I love Sarah Silverman as a comic. But that does not make it a good movie. Because it is simply an ok movie with a very good performance.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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beingryanjudeOct 28, 2015

Sarah Silverman immersing herself in a dark and mentally un-easing role is unusual, but she's every bit convincing. You'll be left swollen and wounded - by Silverman's devastating performance. The rest would be nothing without her.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Brent_MarchantApr 16, 2016

While sometimes painful to watch, "I Smile Back" is nevertheless compelling for its breakthrough dramatic performance by Sarah Silverman as an upscale housewife whose life is slipping away from her, partly due to circumstances and partly dueWhile sometimes painful to watch, "I Smile Back" is nevertheless compelling for its breakthrough dramatic performance by Sarah Silverman as an upscale housewife whose life is slipping away from her, partly due to circumstances and partly due to her own making. Some elements of the narrative don't feel fully fleshed out, but then maybe that's the point -- Sliding over the edge isn't something we always understand or for which we can pinpoint a definitive cause. Still, despite these shortcomings, the film is a tremendous showcase for an actress who has a lot more in the tank than she's typically been given credit for.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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markvantparkDec 7, 2015

Movie that has good equilibry and is interesting to watch.
However when I read the synopsis afterwards
I think the main story line is not worked out well and the highlights are not strong enough. Bassically it is a housewife who is aMovie that has good equilibry and is interesting to watch.
However when I read the synopsis afterwards
I think the main story line is not worked out well
and the highlights are not strong enough.
Bassically it is a housewife who is a coke addict
and is sexually left unsatisfied by her husband , as so many wives.
So she looks for another life, adventure and man.
In the end she ends up as a prostitute, and leaves her home.
But as I said, the storyline as proposed by the movie director
is slightly different and poorly worked out.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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