Smashed

An alcoholic schoolteacher (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) finally realizes, after too many blackout nights and hungover mornings, that she must dry out—but her newfound sobriety only emphasizes the fact that her relationship with her husband (Aaron Paul) depends entirely on both of them being constantly drunk, and he doesn't want to quit. The script by Susan Burke and director James Ponsoldt avoids over-the-top melodrama, but in its low-key naturalism it neglects to develop a strong dramatic arc, always promising more than it ultimately delivers. Still, there are many things to admire: Winstead's breakthrough performance chief among them, but also strong support from Paul, Octavia Spencer as Winstead's Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, Nick Offerman as a co-worker and Megan Mullally as the principal at Winstead's school.