Jennifer Aniston stars in a new drama “Cake” as a person who suffers from chronic pain. Our film critic Neil Rosen filed this review.
Jennifer Aniston's dramatic turn in her latest film earned her a Golden Globe nomination. That movie recently opened in theaters and it is called "Cake."
Aniston plays Claire Bennett, a wealthy former attorney living in L.A. who now suffers from chronic pain. Claire is depressed and her insulting demeanor has alienated almost everyone around her. She has been kicked out of her support group for vocalizing her brutally honest feelings about a fellow member's suicide, her husband has left her and her physical therapist has dumped her as well. The only person who sticks by her side - who she is also quite mean to - is her housekeeper Silvana. The film follows Claire through her day-to-day life as she struggles with her pain. Addicted to prescription meds, she crosses the border to Mexico to obtain them illegally, after she exhausts all legitimate means back home.
Also in the mix is Nina, the ghost of the dead support group member who periodically appears as a hallucination of Claire's. Played by Anna Kendrick, she initially encourages Claire to join her by ending it all. Later, Nina the ghost gets on Claire's case for striking up a friendship with her widowed husband, played by Sam Worthington.
Writer Patrick Tobin and director Daniel Barnz have a made a movie that, despite the clichéd template, manages to hold your interest. The main reason for that are the fine performances, mainly by Aniston who pilots this thing. Deglamorizing herself, she does a great job and even manages to bring some dark humor into the proceedings.
Also first rate, as her housekeeper, is Adriana Barraza, who gives a finely nuanced performance as she evokes sympathy and a sense of genuine caring for her dour employer. Overall, it is predictable and there are some holes in the storyline, but it is Jennifer Aniston that makes it worth a look.
Neil Rosen's Big Apple Rating: Two and a Half Apples