If you were to read a short synopsis of Still Alice, an adaptation of Lisa Genovas 2007 novel, you might find yourself slightly worried. The film tells the story of Alice, a Columbia cognitive psychologist who has balanced a successful career with a happy marriage and three grown children. Shes just turned 50, but notices that shes starting to forget things at a semi-alarming rate. Eventually she goes to a neurologist who reveals that she has early onset Alzheimers. Its rare for her age, but its a familial condition she likely inherited from her father. Rapidly deteriorating, Alice has to decide how shell live out the rest of her life knowing shell be a burden to the rest of her family. In the hands of the wrong filmmakers, Still alice could easily have been overly melodramatic and laced with sappy moments that would be better suited for a Lifetime movie. However, played by Julianne Moore, Alices descent is as terrifying as it is ironic; a professor of linguistics whos studied language acquisition all her life is now unable to find the right words, but aware enough to track her downfall. Most movies about Alzheimers - Iris, The Notebook, Away From Her, etc - illustrate the effect of the disease on the sufferers spouses and relatives. This film sees Alzheimers from the victim itself. It affords Moore the chance to inhabit a personality that doesn't grow and learn but sadly diminishes, agonisingly forgets; and the actress seizes that opportunity to create the years most extraordinary, sharp and poignant movie portrait. Who was your favorite female movie character of 2014? Are you upset that your favorite Marvel character didn't make the list? Let us know in the comment section below.
Jesse Gumbarge is editor and chief blogger at JarvisCity.com - He loves old-school horror films and starting pointless debates. You can reach out at: JesseGumbarge@JarvisCity.com
