Cake

For millions of people there is a line through their lives of an incident that changes e erything. In the case of Claire Bennett (Aniston) it is both physical full body trauma and posttraumatic stress dissorder. Many films have been made depicting this tragedy. Sophie's Choice, The Accused, Before And After, The Brave One, Taxi Driver, terms of Endearment, Born on the 4th of July. Yet there is something very special about "Cake." It is subtle and honest. It does not utilize shock value, sympathy, horror or even manipulate sadness. Everything about "Cake" is purely honest. And so, stripped of the Hollywood hype, "Cake" is a powerful and remarkable film.The script is brilliant and to the point. But it is Jennifer Aniston that puts this film in a class with those listed above. Her performance is so reall-so HONEST- that we forget she's acting. So much of the power of this film comes from her bare, un-made up eyes, still as blue as a June sky, but lit and filmed to show sorrow. In fact, the color blue is subtly used throughout. Anniston has taken her place among the great actors of all time with this film. Streep. Foster. Roberts. Hepburn. Kidman. Goldberg. Not at any time does one think of "rachel" and more than once we think, "Where have they been hiding her?"If you have suffered a life changing tragedy: loss of leg, GBS, PTSD, head injury, death of child, paralysis-anything that leaves a chasm of before and after in your life-do not shy away from it. Many films and books are triggers, but this one is not. It has to be the honesty and the lack of blame.This is one of the finest films made since the mid 90's.

I have to say that this movie changed my mind about Jennifer Aniston . She acted in this film brilliantly. I could almost feel all the physical and emotional pain her character Claire felt from her chronic pain. I myself have used humor and and inappropriate remarks to deflect feelings and physical maladies away from me. I certainly did not go as far as this character but I can sure understand why she did. Without giving anything away I was surprised and sympathetic after I saw and heard what Miss Aniston's character went through in her life. Her performance was brilliant and heartfelt. Claire is one of those people you cannot help but love even if she is a shrew. I am also am giving kudos to the woman who played her maid and caretaker Adriana Barraza. Her character Silvana was tolerant, kind, and full of nothing but heart for her employer who suffering from chronic pain made her job almost intolerable. She did loose control in one scene and ranted in Spanish. I was feeling this woman's plight. I also thought that even though Felicity Huffman's part was small as the therapist she was great. That woman can play all kinds of parts and do a wonderful job. I hardly recognized her just like when she played in the movie "Transamerica." I have to admit the relationship between the Claire and Silvana stole the show. If I had seen this with just them in the film I would have enjoyed it just that much more. this is a much see movie!

A downer, depressing movie for a while, but the story is good enough and Jennifer Aniston as Claire Bennett is good enough to keep you watching. I wanted to find out why Claire has the facial scars she does and why she is in chronic pain. Why is she borderline suicidal and just what is the story behind her relationship with Nina Collins (Anna Kendrick), a 31-year-old married mother of a 5-year-old boy who has just committed suicide as the movie begins?At one point Claire calls Nina, "St.Nina", to which Nina responds, "Saints don't jump off bridges."Maybe they do, though. A woman once came to St. John Vianney, worried about the eternal destiny her husband's soul. He had jumped from a bridge to his death in a suicide. And the Cure d'Ars, St. John Vianney, who could read souls, responded to her, "He repented before he hit the water."As St. Faustina (1905-1938) says, "Let our judgment of souls cease, for God's mercy upon them is extraordinary. ... Oh, how beyond comprehension is God's mercy! ... God's mercy sometimes touches the sinner at the last moment in a wondrous and mysterious way."I was surprised by the good deal of religious imagery in "Cake". Though Claire is an atheist, the Virgin of Guadalupe, "St. Jude, the saint-patron of lost and desperate causes", and the Rosary come up during the movie.Spoiler Alert*******************************************************************In one of the movie "Extras", Director Daniel Barnz said "Cake" is about "becoming unstuck in your life." Producer Kristin Hahn says it is about "pulling yourself up and healing." Viewers find out at the end that Claire has lost a young son and been in a traumatic accident. She proceeds to destroy her marriage and live in substance abuse. I've read that many marriages, it might have even been a majority, break up after the death of a child."Cake" might prove a cathartic experience for people who have lost a child, have chronic pain, or who suffer morbid guilt, regret, depression, or temptations to suicide or who have made suicide attempts. Maybe the movie might also be helpful to the families of suicides.