What was once one of 2016's early Oscar contenders with frequent comparisons to David Fincher's Gone Girl, has had critics divided since it's October 7th release. Aside from the low reviews, has nearly doubled it's modest 45 million budget and continues to do well. While many critics have stated that the twist can be seen from early on, I'd argue that that's one of the least interesting hands at work in this film. Emily Blunt, who play's Rachel, a divorcee with an more than minor alcohol problem, is superb. Not only cycling through the range of emotions (or sometimes, lack there of), an alcoholic would go through, but supported with some exception camera angles that may seem sluggish to some. The intentional blurring in and out of focus in the background through many of Rachel's scenes, were enough to immerse viewers in the sense of her inebriation, whilst never getting too carried away. Other scenes were a bit 'choppy,' but manageable and those few problems were non-existent through the last leg of the film. The perils, exploitation, manipulation, fear and sadness of alcohol abuse shone through Blunt's performance. To me, this film feels more about the effects of alcoholism and the behavior of people around you more so than a simple "who don' it," film presented from the trailer. Predicable plot alone, nearly every member of the cast performed spectacularly well. Coupled with Blunt's magnificent performance and the interesting take on alcohol and abuse, this is a movie you'll want to catch while it's still in theaters and might still be a contender for award season.
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