Jennifer Aniston may not have gotten the Oscar nomination that might have seemed certain when she took on playing this physically, emotionally scarred and suicidal pill-popper, but that's of little consequence. The work is good enough to stand on its own, to stand with the best acting she's done since graduating from TV sitcoms. From the opening scene of her annoyingly syrupy support group for sufferers of chronic pain, Claire Simmons (Aniston) has the audience firmly on her side. While everyone else expresses shock and sadness over the loss of one of their own, Nina (Anna Kendrick), who recently jumped to her death from a freeway overpass, Claire responds with ruthless, refreshing sarcasm (Way to go, Nina!). You almost have to wonder if shes considered the suicide option herself, given the acute intensity of her physical agony - something she nurses constantly with painkillers that are in constant need of replenishing, and rarely through legal means. Directed by Daniel Barnz, Cake is rather smart about the seriousness of grief without being oppressive itself. Aniston gives a terrific performance, and makes Cake well worth seeing, even if she won't get an Oscar for it. Are there any other films that you'd like to add to 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
