I Smile Back (2015)

Such a frustrating disappointment

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Sarah Silverman the comedian is always, as are most of today's performers, using comedy as a drug, a treatment for existential dread. "If I can make them laugh, I'm alive, I'm part of something that's vibrant, no matter how I may feel deep inside." This is why we are transfixed by comedy, which is why "I Smile Back" was absolutely entrancing for me. Her character, Laney, was treading water, dealing with her desires, fears, disappointments in a way that, if played for the release of laughter, could have been very close to the Sarah persona. In this film we saw Sara's nude body, but no more so than we see her uncovered in her comedy persona. This short film, an hour and a half, is built on this person we know, had there been a slight variation, such as abandonment by her father when she was nine years old. Laney, never had a father, or the sense of unconditional love that would allow her to be with a crowd of friends sharing the contradictions of existence, and turning the moment, by wit and wisdom, into loving laughter. Laney, could never get over her hurt by the Dad she had loved, and then he was gone, never to contact her again. She sought the love in raw unfeeling sex, reproducing the rejection and loss of her father, with the men who had just given her sexual pleasure. Sorry for the dissection of this film, one that went beyond entertainment, to the sense of sharing a life, that tragic as it was, was how things are for more people than we can imagine.

The film is about a small family of two little kids and their parents, but all the focus was on the mother who is a drug addict and struggling with mental illness, yet care a lot for her children. But how long this happy family stays that way is the film going to reveal in its entire narration.Based on the book of the same name, half a million budget film, has a decent cast who have given their best for it. This is not a film you watch to enjoy, but a film about the families around us. This is a depiction of the real world story, like not all the families are happier as we see them from the outside. There are some secrets in them, which sets a bad example for their own children once they come to know the true nature of their parents. But some would decide to fight hard to make everything come back to the normal and some won't. That is where film derives, how it all ends makes this film unique from the other similar ones.I think this film was decent with an important topic. Not everyone would end up happy with their watch, because the story won't end up as they thought. The novel was written by a woman, so this is a woman's perspective tale and quite neatly told story. Not a bad direction or the screenplay, surprising the production quality was too good. Seems it is a quite family type film for involving kids, certainly the theme was very strong, so definitely for adults only. It is neither worth nor a waste of time, only if you come across to it and has no other choice, you can give it try.6.5/10

I Smile Back sits firmly within the territory of "unwatchable" films.Lacking any sense of purpose, I Smile Back lost me about two minutes into the film. Director Adam Salky and editor Tamara Meem have no idea how to construct a film, because I Smile Back has no central story whatsoever. It is just an arrangement of scenes that all involve Sarah Silverman's characters being put through the ringer. It is aided in being the worst film of the year by Paige Dylan and Amy Koppelman's turd of a screenplay, which averages one good line of dialogue per writer. All through this turd's 88 minute run time I was looking at my watch, pleading for the agony to end. Who'd have thought that there was fat in an 88 minute movie, but there are lots of scenes where Laney just walks around on drugs looking vacantly at things.The film only exists to create indie Oscar-bait for comedy actress Silverman. It has every scene that Oscar-baiting tripe has for lead actress pushes. Scene where the female protagonist stares at her naked body in the mirror? Check. Generic anecdotes from father/husband about what that female was like when she was younger? Check. Family drama? Check. Bunch of scenes where she gets nailed by guys (who aren't her husband of course). Check. Drug scene? Check. Near-death experience scene? Check. It only serves to highlight the injustice that big studios get blamed for producing Oscar bait. Small studios can do it too, and frequently do it worse.Each character is lazily written with terrible character decisions. Each "plot point" (to denigrate that phrase in value) passes while the writers and director lazily swat at it in some attempt at cohesive story. It makes no effort to delve into her depression, marriage, drug addiction or father issues, instead preferring to show yet another sex scene with some stupid new twist.Silverman's performance is the only reason I watched this film, and she's serviceable. Nothing to keep my attention and certainly nothing deserving of awards attention. Josh Charles works really hard when he's on screen, and manages to elevate Silverman's sleepwalking role. Oona Laurence, who proved herself extremely worthy in Southpaw, is wasted in a tiny part. I Smile Back is ultimately a less effective version of Rachel Getting Married. Silverman can't light a candle to Hathaway, the film lacks any semblance of cohesion and it is excruciatingly boring. In a year where I'll See You In My Dreams, Spy, Carol, Brooklyn and Grandma are proving to be solid and interesting character studies for strong female characters, its disappointing that I Smile Back is such a spectacular waste of time.

This, although slow at times is a powerful insight into the devastation of mental illness and addiction. I thought the acting was powerful and true to life. The film shows how devastating a childhood loss or event can be and that it scars for life. What may seem like something one can move on from, can take hold of your life due to childhood scars being so deeply embedded. As I watched I couldn't help but think she was the girl who had everything. The beautiful family, the loving husband, the beautiful house and car etc. Never judge a book by its cover. I have experienced this disease in person and found this to shake me right through as it was so true to life. Someone with experience of this disease will find this film rather upsetting and a stark reminder of how important it is to tell your kids you love them and that you will always have their back. If the devastation of addiction doesn't interest you, you may want to skip this one. If you are in recovery...this is a must see!