20 minutes with minimal dialogue could seem pretentious, or, with the wrong talents in front of the camera, like a form of torture. Fortunately, Bottle does not suffer this fate. Joe Absolom is superb in the central role, and Ophelia Lovibond, as the long-suffering wife we all know too well from these works, is also wonderful. You care about the relationship between husband and wife without feeling manipulated. The climax of the film is incredibly moving thanks to them, and the writing which takes just the right turn into melodrama. I think trimming a moment or two from the detox scenes would have increased the tension and emotional impact, but that's a minor complaint. Absolom first became known to the British public through his work on EastEnders, where his haunted face told the story in a way nothing else could. There's something perfect in knowing that he closed out the decade starring in another project which lets him showcase those gifts so expertly.
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