SOBRIETY (Ryan C. of Nashville, TN)
Directed by Alexander Payne
Written by Alexander Payne
Music by Bjork
Film Editing by Kevin Tent
Cinematography by Phedon Papamichael
PRINCIPAL CAST:
Jim Carrey as Walter Phillips
Frances McDormand as Tracy Phillips
Willem Dafoe as Buck
Julianne Moore as Lindsay Price
And Albert Finney as Sam Allen
Tagline: “Who knew being sober could be so funny”
Synopsis: This uproarious comedy starts with Walter Phillips on yet another drinking bender. He’s out to paint the town red, literally. Armed with a paint can of red paint he sets off drinking and painting the local shops red. When he wakes up he is covered in red paint and is on the park bench in his underwear. Walter is charged with vandalism and is ordered to go to rehab and pay for the damage done. After his brief stint in rehab Walter is forced to deal with his wife, Tracy. Tracy has had to deal with Walter’s drunken escapades all during their ten-year marriage and is showing signs of cracking under the pressure. She tells him that it’s either AA and sober or she leaves. In order to save his marriage, Walter attends AA, but it isn’t to his liking so he sets out to put some fun into the program, much to the chagrin of the meetings leader, Sam Allen. Walter becomes buddies with another alcoholic, Buck. Buck is a strange man who keeps trying to stay sober, but always falls of the wagon. A new, quiet woman, Lindsay Price, attends the meetings and is less than forthcoming with her story. Walter tries his hardest to kill her with kindness, until Lindsay unleashes her story on him. Lindsay ends up changing Walter’s life forever.
Press Section: Who would think a movie about being sober could be so funny and yet have glimpses into the most heart breaking situations ever? “Sobriety” does just that with a perfect blend of highbrow humor and devastating dramatic events. Alexander Payne turns in his best film to date. Jim Carrey gives a career defining turn as Walter Phillips, who doesn’t take life serious at all until he comes face to face with a woman who’s life has been all too serious. Frances McDormand is hilarious as Walter’s put upon wife, Tracy. Only McDormand could take phrases such as, “I feel like I’m Miss Daisy, except in my film I’m being chauffeured around by a drunk lunatic.” McDormand shines in her lead role and delivers so many layers to a character that is often forgotten in the real world. Willem Dafoe is fantastic as Buck, the drunken AA attendee. Dafoe knows how to milk a drunken scene for all it’s worth. Albert Finney turns in a comedic performance for the ages as the all too serious AA leader trying to maintain the group’s seriousness when faced with change. The heart of the film though belongs to Julianne Moore, who is achingly heartbreaking as the woman trying to make amends. Moore’s scene where she reveals that she had a daughter and what happened to her is a knock out tour de-force performance by Miss. Moore.
Awards Consideration:
Best Picture
Best Director-Alexander Payne
Best Original Screenplay-Alexander Payne
Best Actor-Jim Carrey
Best Actress-Frances McDormand
Best Supporting Actor-Willem Dafoe
Best Supporting Actor-Albert Finney
Best Supporting Actress-Julianne Moore
Written by Alexander Payne
Music by Bjork
Film Editing by Kevin Tent
Cinematography by Phedon Papamichael
PRINCIPAL CAST:
Jim Carrey as Walter Phillips
Frances McDormand as Tracy Phillips
Willem Dafoe as Buck
Julianne Moore as Lindsay Price
And Albert Finney as Sam Allen
Tagline: “Who knew being sober could be so funny”
Synopsis: This uproarious comedy starts with Walter Phillips on yet another drinking bender. He’s out to paint the town red, literally. Armed with a paint can of red paint he sets off drinking and painting the local shops red. When he wakes up he is covered in red paint and is on the park bench in his underwear. Walter is charged with vandalism and is ordered to go to rehab and pay for the damage done. After his brief stint in rehab Walter is forced to deal with his wife, Tracy. Tracy has had to deal with Walter’s drunken escapades all during their ten-year marriage and is showing signs of cracking under the pressure. She tells him that it’s either AA and sober or she leaves. In order to save his marriage, Walter attends AA, but it isn’t to his liking so he sets out to put some fun into the program, much to the chagrin of the meetings leader, Sam Allen. Walter becomes buddies with another alcoholic, Buck. Buck is a strange man who keeps trying to stay sober, but always falls of the wagon. A new, quiet woman, Lindsay Price, attends the meetings and is less than forthcoming with her story. Walter tries his hardest to kill her with kindness, until Lindsay unleashes her story on him. Lindsay ends up changing Walter’s life forever.
Press Section: Who would think a movie about being sober could be so funny and yet have glimpses into the most heart breaking situations ever? “Sobriety” does just that with a perfect blend of highbrow humor and devastating dramatic events. Alexander Payne turns in his best film to date. Jim Carrey gives a career defining turn as Walter Phillips, who doesn’t take life serious at all until he comes face to face with a woman who’s life has been all too serious. Frances McDormand is hilarious as Walter’s put upon wife, Tracy. Only McDormand could take phrases such as, “I feel like I’m Miss Daisy, except in my film I’m being chauffeured around by a drunk lunatic.” McDormand shines in her lead role and delivers so many layers to a character that is often forgotten in the real world. Willem Dafoe is fantastic as Buck, the drunken AA attendee. Dafoe knows how to milk a drunken scene for all it’s worth. Albert Finney turns in a comedic performance for the ages as the all too serious AA leader trying to maintain the group’s seriousness when faced with change. The heart of the film though belongs to Julianne Moore, who is achingly heartbreaking as the woman trying to make amends. Moore’s scene where she reveals that she had a daughter and what happened to her is a knock out tour de-force performance by Miss. Moore.
Awards Consideration:
Best Picture
Best Director-Alexander Payne
Best Original Screenplay-Alexander Payne
Best Actor-Jim Carrey
Best Actress-Frances McDormand
Best Supporting Actor-Willem Dafoe
Best Supporting Actor-Albert Finney
Best Supporting Actress-Julianne Moore
