Smashed

Name: Smashed
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: October 12, 2012
Duration: 81 min
Rating: 71

2012

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 57 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 57 Ratings

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Smashed

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: October 12, 2012 | R

Summary: A married couple whose bond is built on a mutual love of alcohol gets their relationship put to the test when the wife decides to get sober. [Sony Pictures Classics]

Director: James Ponsoldt

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 81 min

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Critic Reviews

100

The Playlist James Rocchi

Sep 29, 2012

Ponsoldt, Paul and Winstead make a remarkably effective team for this film's points and purposes, and Smashed burns long after it goes down smoothly. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Sep 29, 2012

Its sharp writing and essential credibility make this small, intimate tale fresh and involving. Read full review

Empire James White

Dec 10, 2012

The sharp ends in Smashed are here for all to see, and Ponsoldt never shies away from their spiky, thought-provoking effect. Yet he also finds grace and warmth in the story. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Oct 11, 2012

Winstead's performance provides a trenchant wakeup call even when the movie can't keep pace. Read full review

Claudia Puig

Oct 12, 2012

Smashed is quietly affecting, though sometimes difficult to sit through. The saving grace is Winstead's smashing performance. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Oct 18, 2012

Feels different from most recovering-train-wreck stories. The movie is a tidy relaying of a messy situation involving two reasonably functional middle-class LA alcoholics, one of whom gets serious about cleaning up a lot sooner than the other. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Oct 11, 2012

There needs to be a 12-step program for movie people to stop sharing their "deeply personal" yet insight-free stories of addiction. Read full review

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User Reviews

lufflyness

Oct 19, 2012

Smashed is a small but powerful film that goes through both the highs and lows of alcoholism and sobering up. I was fascinated at how realistic the lead characters of Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Charlie (Aaron Paul) were on the surface as just a pair of fun loving people who like toSmashed is a small but powerful film that goes through both the highs and lows of alcoholism and sobering up. I was fascinated at how realistic the lead characters of Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Charlie (Aaron Paul) were on the surface as just a pair of fun loving people who like to drink to have a good time, maybe occasionally going overboard. As someone who rarely drinks myself, I have observed similar behavior far too often and never thought much of it, but Smashed explores the deeper issues beneath the surface masked by the funny and entertaining antics performed while under the influence. As the film unfolds some of these scenes that seemed hilarious become tainted in a sense with the darkness of Kate's situation, highlighting the complexities of identifying and dealing with alcohol addiction.

On paper, there is nothing truly groundbreaking about the film. We've seen tons of films about alcoholics, AA, young struggling couples, etc., but for me this film approaches these issues in such an easily accessible and realstic way. Often times I feel substance abuse issues tend to be a bit sensationalized in modern media where there isn't an interesting or important story unless someone gets arrested or there needs to be an intervention. That is not the case here, Kate is not quite at rock bottom when she makes the decision to sober up, yet the film (mainly in part to a show-stopping lead performance by Winstead and a charismatic supporting performance from Paul) manages to create a set of compelling characters the viewer can embrace as if they had just been hanging out and laughing with them the night before, and sympathize and cry for by the end of the film.

Again as someone who doesn't drink, I found the film relevant to me whether it be as a retrospective look at people I know personally or even at myself in need of a lifestyle change by breaking a bad cycle and confronting my problems with honesty. The film does this while remaining grounded and never seeming overly preachy or becoming an school special.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jhep

Nov 15, 2012

Smashed" is excellent.... it deals with addiction issues and dysfunctional family system and alcoholism issues.... but it's far from being a "downer", it's very positive and intelligent in its take on this material ....great cast !....great direction....great script.....a very MATURE,Smashed" is excellent.... it deals with addiction issues and dysfunctional family system and alcoholism issues.... but it's far from being a "downer", it's very positive and intelligent in its take on this material ....great cast !....great direction....great script.....a very MATURE, INSIGHTFUL and THOUGHTFUL film....and God knows we could these qualities a lot more these days !! Go see it !!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

inaneswine

Nov 14, 2017

Finally, after all the B-movies and weak horror flicks, Mary Elizabeth Winstead has a real shot at showing us what she's really capable of. She's the shining star in this, a well made, even handed and realistic insight into addiction. Aaron Paul supports her brilliantly, though he is inFinally, after all the B-movies and weak horror flicks, Mary Elizabeth Winstead has a real shot at showing us what she's really capable of. She's the shining star in this, a well made, even handed and realistic insight into addiction. Aaron Paul supports her brilliantly, though he is in danger of being typecast as the partying substance abuser.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NavQ

Feb 27, 2013

Wow, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, I really liked her in 'Scott Pilgrim', 'The Thing' and the new 'Die Hard' movie and even though she was good in them she was brilliant in this. I imagine the writing and directing team had first hand knowledge of alcoholism to give Mary Elizabeth Winstead suchWow, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, I really liked her in 'Scott Pilgrim', 'The Thing' and the new 'Die Hard' movie and even though she was good in them she was brilliant in this. I imagine the writing and directing team had first hand knowledge of alcoholism to give Mary Elizabeth Winstead such spot on direction. I have seen this exact behaviour before as I'm sure everyone has so I knew what I was seeing was an accurate portrayal. This wasn't an easy film to watch but it was rewarding. It's far from a new story but it's always nice when an old idea is given a facelift with excellent performances. Aaron Paul plays the husband really well but I watch 'Breaking Bad' so I can't quite see him as anyone other than Jesse, lol. The brilliant Octavia Spencer has little to do but it rounds this great cast off nicely. This is a very good film.

Highly Recommended Score: 7.5/10 N∆V navq@ymail.com… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarcDoyle

Oct 14, 2012

I was fortunate enough to have seen the film with the director and cast (less Aaron Paul) in attendance. VERY talented group, and really good chemistry for a team that had worked together for such a short period of time. After the first 20 minutes, when the film is establishing MaryI was fortunate enough to have seen the film with the director and cast (less Aaron Paul) in attendance. VERY talented group, and really good chemistry for a team that had worked together for such a short period of time. After the first 20 minutes, when the film is establishing Mary Elizabeth and Aaron's drinking behavior and how it affects their lives, I thought I was going to loathe the film. Yes, let's observe a couple of alcoholics making bad decisions! But the film becomes much more about the relationship between someone in recovery and her partner who is not, which is intriguing. Her support system (colleagues at her school, sponsor ,mother) is well fleshed-out. Offerman, Spencer, and Mullaly are all terrific in their supporting roles, and it's amazing that they shot this film in only 19 days considering how well they related to one another.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

amheretojudge

May 2, 2018

that cake was really moist..

Smashed The feature doesn't flinch to go into dark places and takes bold decisions throughout the course of it that helps the audience stick to the seats even though it has a familiar premise with predictable twists and turns. Susan Burke and James Ponsoldt;that cake was really moist..

Smashed

The feature doesn't flinch to go into dark places and takes bold decisions throughout the course of it that helps the audience stick to the seats even though it has a familiar premise with predictable twists and turns. Susan Burke and James Ponsoldt; the co-writers are in their A game doing some of their best work in here within a limited span and still offering enough range and room to each individual character. James Ponsoldt has done a decent job on executing it where its short and smart editing works in its favor even though it is not his best work till date. Mary Elizabeth Winstead; at the heart of it, is surprisingly amazing in her portrayal of an alcoholic and unlike the premise, is supported thoroughly by a great cast like Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman and Octavia Spencer. Smashed is your typical "alcoholic" feature with all the familiar ingredients installed by the writers to make the equation interesting and spicy as much as possible which works for the most part of it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

pdw123

Sep 19, 2016

Some people saying "Days of Wine and Roses", yes, and I'd add also... "Clean and Sober" was definitely the modern gold standard, for this type of film, as much abuse and fury is involved in AA and ACA (which can affect generations of family underneath, I should know!) ! This makes AA orSome people saying "Days of Wine and Roses", yes, and I'd add also... "Clean and Sober" was definitely the modern gold standard, for this type of film, as much abuse and fury is involved in AA and ACA (which can affect generations of family underneath, I should know!) ! This makes AA or family dysfunction just too too easy, or the Bohemian/Oregonian granola hipster form applied to alcoholism, gimme a break here, the characters are much too "cleaned up well" for this!! Any of the addicts out of THE WIRE would do nicely over these ones! or the stereotypical nerd male teacher in a Cosby sweater who also is a sheltered pervert, proof that Sundance is starting to sadly become a parody of itself like all the other multiplex lamestream films (It's white people too, I swear! and I should know since I am one!)! Seriously, even Don Draper offers more of a character study, even if I have to put up with all the lame commercials on AMC...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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