So you think you know Jennifer Aniston, huh? Well, be prepared for what is a true revelation in a Career which has seem multiple reinventions – some more memorable than others, of course. Through it all, the World still is very much in love with Aniston and her presence throughout this current Awards Season is proof. America’s Sweetheart absolutely shatters any preconceived notions about her range of talent, devastating us in the performance of a lifetime in CAKE.
Director Daniel Barnz like Aniston, also reaches a career pinnacle in this Drama about a Woman named Claire (Aniston), whom after the loss of her Son in a fatal accident is left herself grappling with crippling pain. Obsessed with the thought of suicide after a fellow Support Group Member in Nina (Anna Kendrick) ends her life, Claire finds herself trying to fit together the pieces surrounding Nina‘s death. Claire befriends her Husband Roy (Sam Worthington) and his Son Casey (Evan O’Toole), finding comfort in the least likely of places. Confronted by visions of Nina and haunted by some unresolved post-trauma, she finds herself in a cycle of chronic psychological and physical hurt, leading to a prescription pill addiction, which could well destroy her.
CAKE dwells a bit much in melodrama and suffers from some illogical movements due to some thin writing by Patrick Tobin in Supporting Characters such as Nina, Roy and Claire‘s Ex-Husband Jason (Chris Messina). We realize the Story ultimately is all about Claire‘s troubled world and psyche with Characters weaving in and out of her headspace, rather than us truly getting a Story about these Characters’ individual journeys and growths.
This aside, one thing is certain – Aniston‘s performance alone is enough to carry the weight of the Film. She is compelling in this unflinchingly-honest transformation and you will not be able to keep your eyes off of her. She’s nasty and deplorable at times, yet we still find ourselves always rooting for her. This if left in any less capable hands could have gone any other way. Yes, she’s that good.
D Films release CAKE on Friday, January 23, 2015.
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