Cake-2014

Director Daniel Barnz

Starring Jennifer Aniston

Scott’s Review #257

Reviewed July 14, 2015

Grade: B+

Cake (2014) is a film about a woman suffering from chronic physical pain and depression that she constantly battles after a terrible accident that she was involved in.

Jennifer Aniston gives a wonderful performance as Claire Simmons, a grumpy, sarcastic, bitter victim of unimaginable loss. Aniston’s performance is the best part by far.

It is interesting to note that Aniston Executive produced this film.

Similarly, and somewhat sadly, Reese Witherspoon had to produce her own 2014 film (Wild) centered on a female role for both women to showcase their powerful acting chops.

Too few films about women are made these days unless they use female star power, which is too bad.

Claire has been through hell and back.

As the story opens, Claire sits angrily in a support group filled with other women with problems. One of the women, Nina, (played by Anna Kendrick) has just jumped off of a freeway overpass to her death—a giant photo of her glares jarringly at the other women.

When Claire probes the details of the death and uses a sarcastic tone, the lead counselor, Annette (played by Felicity Huffman), politely asks her not to return to the group.

Claire returns to her well-maintained Los Angeles home, where the audience meets her well-meaning housekeeper and confidant, Silvana, played by Adriana Barraza. Barraza herself gives a powerful performance.

Nina appears throughout the remainder of the film in visions as Claire debates suicide.

Let me discuss Jennifer Aniston’s performance in particular. I thought it was amazing and she was shamefully overlooked for an Oscar nomination.

She was superior to at least a couple of the other Best Actress nominees from 2014 (Felicity Jones immediately comes to mind).

Her character, Claire, starts as a bit of a shrew but gradually becomes sympathetic as the story layers out and the audience learns what makes her tick.

We don’t know how she ended up in her predicament at first. We know she was in a terrible accident, but it slowly takes time for all of the details to emerge. We only know she is in pain and angry.

Claire’s relationship with Silvana is interesting.

They spar; Claire takes Silvana for granted at times, but throughout the film, a close friendship emerges between the women. In a touching scene, they hold hands as they sleep.

Two scenes in particular are heartbreaking and honest. A man played by William H. Macy emerges on the doorstep of Claire’s house, and she is engulfed in rage at his appearance.

The power that Aniston emits in this scene is unrivaled. In another scene, she sees a portrait hanging on her living room fireplace mantel, given to her by a friend; she bursts into tears and sobs.

At this point, the plot makes more sense, and we feel Claire’s raw pain.

The subject matter of depression and suicide is not a cheery one, and Cake delves deeply into this territory.

The film is a bit of a downer, slow, and, at moments, drags a bit, and teeters on the verge of a lifetime television movie (yikes!), but MUCH better than that thanks to Aniston’s compelling portrayal.

With a lesser actress, the film might have felt watered down and safe.

Some light moments fail. For instance, when Claire “blackmails” Annette and bribes her with vodka for Nina’s address, it feels trivial and silly.

Thanks in large part to a gripping performance by one of Hollywood’s underrated talents, Cake (2014) takes a film on the border of being one-dimensional to a more dynamic level through its leading lady.

A supporting cast of similar talents helps the film rise above the mediocrity it might have been with lesser casting choices.