Smashed (2012)

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.

Director:

James Ponsoldt

Writers:

Susan Burke, James Ponsoldt

Stars:

Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mary Elizabeth Winstead	...	Kate Hannah
Aaron Paul	...	Charlie Hannah
Nick Offerman	...	Dave Davies
Megan Mullally	...	Principal Barnes
Octavia Spencer	...	Jenny
Mary Kay Place	...	Rochelle
Kyle Gallner	...	Owen Hannah
Mackenzie Davis	...	Millie
Bree Turner	...	Freda
Brad Carter	...	Felix
Barrett Shuler	...	Greg
Rene Rivera	...	Rico
Richmond Arquette	...	Arlo
David Grammer	...	Junior
Ron Lynch	...	Chuck

Storyline

Kate and Charlie Hannah have a relationship well lubricated with alcohol, but Kate finally finds her chemical appetites have gotten completely out of control. With the help of an ex-addict friend at work, Kate finds a support group that helps her begin to conquer her addictions. However, that recovery proves just part of a larger personal challenge to rebuild her life even as her marriage with her drunken husband deteriorates.

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Plot Keywords:

support group | addiction | marital separation | profanity | mother daughter relationship | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for alcohol abuse, language, some sexual content and brief drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 December 2012 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Lioma

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$26,943 (USA) (12 October 2012)

Gross:

$375,981 (USA) (4 January 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Super Crispy Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was filmed in a total of 19 days.

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Quotes

Kate Hannah: Why is the coffee so much better when you make it?
Charlie Hannah: Because I make it with love, and I also make it with bacon.

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Connections

Featured in The 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards (2013)

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Soundtracks

"When The Shelter Came"
Written by James McHugh
Performed by Dark Meat

User Reviews

Down to earth drama about a woman fighting to stay sober.

Pretty teacher Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and husband Charlie (Aaron Paul) are a young married couple who are also alcoholics. When Kate gets sick of waking up in strange places and peeing herself, she decides to quit drinking and get help. But, Kate faces an uphill battle as she gets resentment, not support, from her husband and to gain sobriety she may loose everything. What I liked most about this indie drama was that co-writer/ director James Ponsoldt avoids the melodramatics that usually come with films of this nature and guides his cast trough a real life situation and has them play real life people complete with quirks and all. And as for his cast, they all give good down to earth performances but, it is Winstead who owns the movie as the troubled young woman who wants to change the downward spiral of her life. She effectively portrays the frustration of her own behavior and then then hurt and anger when she tries to change her life and doesn't get the support she needs from those she cares about. Winstead shows chops that she hasn't yet had the opportunity to show and she gives a very real and effecting performance. True, I would like to have seen more of the relationship between Kate and her AA sponsor, Jenny (Octavia Spencer) and a subplot involving her vice principal, Dave (Nick Offerman), who has a crush on her and introduces her to his AA group, doesn't quite click but, this are minor points. Overall Smashed is a solid and heartfelt drama that doesn't preach yet, doesn't make light of it subject matter and gives a talented young actress a role she can really shine in. Recommended for those who are looking for a drama that's refreshingly un-Hollywood and want to see Winstead prove she's more then a pretty face.