I Smile Back

In the curiously titled I Smile Back, Sarah Silverman pulls out all the stops to portray a seemingly privileged, middle-class, high maintenance woman's struggles with mental health issues. It is bravura acting by a comedic talent whose performance must been an exhausting assignment. The story leaves us with many unanswered questions, eg, what was Lainie really like before she fell into the deep abyss of depression and self-destructive behavior? We watch with despair and sympathy as Lainie goes from one excess to another. Josh Charles as her long-suffering husband is also very good. He initially appears to be some sort of jerk who has written a book which he describes as a sort of Bible for the modern world of commercial transactions. But he emerges as an empathetic figure who tries his damnedest to keep his family together. The ending is an ambiguous one which frustrates me but is satisfactory to those who prefer a denouement that is not neatly tied-up. In the final analysis, Silverman deserves award recognition for one of the year's most powerful and heart-rending performances.