Still Alice Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A smart lady forgets things and her family gets sad, but not *too* sad, because Hollywood.

🍿 Still Alice: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to Alice Howland

Alice Howland, a renowned linguistics professor at Columbia University, celebrates her 50th birthday with her family. However, subtle signs of memory loss begin to surface, causing concern for Alice and those around her. These initial incidents include forgetting words during lectures and becoming disoriented during her routine jogs.

Diagnosis and Family Impact

Alice seeks medical advice and is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. This devasting news profoundly impacts her family, including her husband, John, and their three children: Anna, Tom, and Lydia. The film explores the emotional and practical challenges they face as Alice’s condition progresses.

Coping Mechanisms and Deterioration

As Alice’s memory deteriorates, she attempts various coping mechanisms, such as using her phone to remind herself of important information and recording a video message for her future self. However, the disease continues to take its toll, leading to significant challenges in her professional and personal life. The film portrays the heartbreaking reality of her losing her ability to communicate effectively and recognize familiar faces.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Alice Howland (Julianne Moore): A brilliant linguistics professor whose life is upended by a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
• John Howland (Alec Baldwin): Alice’s husband, a successful doctor, struggles to balance his career and his role as her caregiver.
• Lydia Howland (Kristen Stewart): Alice’s youngest daughter, an aspiring actress, steps up to support her mother as her condition worsens.
• Anna Howland-Jones (Kate Bosworth): Alice’s eldest daughter, a lawyer, deals with the possibility of inheriting the Alzheimer’s gene while trying to start a family.
• Tom Howland (Hunter Parrish): Alice’s son, a medical student, grapples with the impact of his mother’s diagnosis on his family and future.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Alice: “I wish I had cancer.” – Alice expresses this sentiment to her husband, highlighting that she is not pitied and respected as someone with Alzheimer’s would be if she had cancer.
• Alice: “I am learning to live in the moment. I tell myself, I will not think about tomorrow.” – Alice says this at the Alzheimer’s conference, trying to convey how she copes with her disease.
• Alice: “Sometimes I can see the words hanging in front of me and I can’t reach them, and I don’t know what I’m going to lose next.” – Alice explains her frustration with the disease and the fear of losing her memories and abilities during an emotional conversation.
• Lydia: “What is it about?” – Lydia asks Alice this after reading a monologue, seeking connection and understanding in the film’s poignant final scene.
• Alice: “Love.” – Alice replies with this single word, after struggling to comprehend and answer what the monologue was about, summarizing the most important thing in life.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $5,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $18,754,371
• Worldwide Gross: $44,779,195

💥 Still Alice Reviews

Personal Review

Still Alice is a tough movie to watch, but I think it’s important. Julianne Moore’s performance is just incredible; she really makes you feel Alice’s fear and confusion. There’s a scene where she’s trying to remember simple things, and it just broke my heart. It made me think about my own loved ones and how precious our memories are. Definitely a movie that will stay with me.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Viewers interested in dramas about family relationships”
  • “Those seeking stories about resilience in the face of illness”
  • “Fans of Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, and Kristen Stewart”
  • “Individuals interested in films that raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Themes of illness and memory loss”
  • “Mature themes related to end-of-life decisions”
  • “Emotional distress and potentially upsetting scenes”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Julianne Moore delivers a devastatingly real performance, capturing the gradual erosion of Alice’s mind with heartbreaking nuance. While the film treads familiar territory for disease dramas, Moore’s performance elevates it beyond simple sentimentality.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Still Alice benefits from strong performances, particularly from Julianne Moore and Kristen Stewart. The movie gracefully handles a difficult subject, offering an empathetic look at a family facing a harrowing diagnosis. It’s a sensitive and moving portrayal that avoids exploitative melodrama.
• The New York Times: “Julianne Moore is superb as Alice Howland, a linguistics professor battling early-onset Alzheimer’s. The film charts her decline with a measured pace, allowing the audience to fully grasp the devastating impact of the disease. While sometimes predictable, Still Alice resonates due to its honesty and Moore’s exceptional portrayal.

Audience Reactions

Julianne Moore’s acting was so real it felt like watching someone’s actual life unfold.: Viewers praised Moore’s performance, citing her authentic portrayal of a woman battling Alzheimer’s as the film’s strongest point.

Kristen Stewart proved her acting chops in her role, really enjoyed the dynamic between mother and daughter!: Many audience members were pleasantly surprised by Kristen Stewart’s performance and noted the realistic family dynamic.

Overall Consensus: A powerfully acted drama, ‘Still Alice’ offers an empathetic portrayal of early-onset Alzheimer’s, led by a career-defining performance from Julianne Moore.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Actress)- 2015
2. Golden Globe Award (Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama)- 2015
3. BAFTA Award (Best Leading Actress)- 2015

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Co-director Richard Glatzer directed the film while battling ALS, using a text-to-speech app on an iPad to communicate with the cast and crew.”
• “Julianne Moore won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in this film, marking her first Oscar win after five nominations.”
• “The film is based on the novel ‘Still Alice’ by Lisa Genova, a neuroscientist who wanted to depict the impact of Alzheimer’s disease in a realistic and sensitive manner.”

🖥️ How to Watch Still Alice?

Still Alice is currently available for streaming on various platforms. You can find it for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable and satellite options. Availability may vary depending on your region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Still Alice, you might like these similar films:

• Away from Her (2006): Deals with Alzheimer’s from the perspective of both the sufferer and her spouse, offering a similarly intimate and emotional portrayal.
• The Father (2020): Presents Alzheimer’s disease through the disoriented perspective of the affected individual, creating a uniquely immersive and unsettling viewing experience.
• Amour (2012): While focusing on the broader topic of aging and loss of independence, it explores the challenges and emotional toll on a couple as one partner declines.
• Iris (2001): It offers a raw and unflinching portrayal of a brilliant mind succumbing to Alzheimer’s, much like Alice’s character as a linguistics professor.

🛒 Still Alice Related Products

• Still Alice [Blu-ray]: Own the critically acclaimed movie on Blu-ray and relive the story of Alice Howland and her family’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. Includes behind-the-scenes featurettes and interviews.
• Inside the Alzheimer’s Brain: A Neurologist’s Guide to Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment: A comprehensive guide to Alzheimer’s from a leading neurologist, providing insights into prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. A must-read for anyone affected by or interested in understanding the disease.
• The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementias, and Memory Loss: This guide provides practical advice and support for families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s, offering valuable strategies and resources.
• Words With Friends 2: The popular word game featured in the film, allows you to challenge friends and family with your vocabulary skills. A fun way to stay mentally sharp.

🎧 Soundtrack

Still Alice features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Ode to Cannonball” – performed by Guy Barker
• “If I Had a Boat” – performed by Lyle Lovett

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Julianne Moore Winning Best Actress | 87th Oscars (2015)

Check out this memorable moment when Julianne Moore won the Oscar for Best Actress for her powerful performance in ‘Still Alice’. It’s a testament to her incredible talent and the film’s emotional impact.

Kristen Stewart, Julianne Moore Tackle Alzheimer’s In ‘Still Alice’ | TODAY

In this insightful interview, Julianne Moore and Kristen Stewart discuss their experiences filming ‘Still Alice’ and the importance of raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease. Their perspectives are both moving and informative.

Kristen Stewart’s Preparation For ‘Still Alice’ | TODAY

Curious about how Kristen Stewart prepared for her role in ‘Still Alice’? This interview reveals her research and techniques, giving us a deeper understanding of her performance and the film’s message about Alzheimer’s.

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