Still Alice

Still Alice
Name	Still Alice
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Wash Westmoreland
Producer	Lisa Bruce
Writer	Lisa Genova
Based on	Novel by Lisa Genova
Starring	Julianne Moore
Music	Ilan Eshkeri
Cinematography	Denis Lenoir
Editing	Nick Emerson
Studio	Foresight Features
Distributor	Sony Pictures Classics
Released	2014
Runtime	101 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Still Alice

Still Alice is a 2014 American drama film adapted from a novel by Lisa Genova about a linguistics professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. The film was directed by Wash Westmoreland and stars Julianne Moore as the protagonist, supported by an ensemble that includes Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth, Alec Baldwin, and Hunter Parrish. The film examines identity, memory, and family dynamics through intimate performances and a restrained visual style.

Plot

The narrative follows Alice Howland, a renowned Harvard University linguistics professor, whose career intersects with academic institutions like Columbia University, Stanford University, and professional conferences often held in cities such as New York City and Boston. After experiencing disorientation during a lecture in front of colleagues from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and students from programs tied to Yale University, Alice undergoes medical evaluation at clinics affiliated with Mayo Clinic and specialists trained in neurology related to Alzheimer's disease, a condition discussed in research centers such as National Institutes of Health and foundation efforts by groups like Alzheimer's Association. The diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's anchors scenes set in domestic locations near suburbs of Chicago and travel sequences involving airports like John F. Kennedy International Airport. Family members—spouses and children whose lives touch professional and cultural institutions including BBC, The New York Times, and National Public Radio—grapple with caregiving responsibilities, legal decisions reminiscent of cases in family law recorded in courts like Supreme Court of the United States, and ethical considerations debated at forums such as TED Conferences and panels hosted by United Nations-affiliated health initiatives.

Cast

The principal cast features actors with credits across film and television, many linked to notable projects and organizations: Julianne Moore, whose career includes roles in films screened at Cannes Film Festival and awards from ceremonies like the Academy Awards and British Academy of Film and Television Arts; Alec Baldwin, known for work on 30 Rock and advocacy involving Screen Actors Guild; Kristen Stewart, associated with franchises such as The Twilight Saga and festivals including the Sundance Film Festival; Kate Bosworth, with credits connected to studios like Warner Bros. and directors who premiered at Venice Film Festival; Hunter Parrish, who has appeared on productions for networks such as HBO and NBC; and supporting performers whose resumes include stage work at Broadway and television series on Showtime. The ensemble’s experience spans collaborations with filmmakers from production companies such as A24, Focus Features, and distributors like Sony Pictures Classics.

Production

Adaptation rights were acquired following the novel’s publication, with the screenplay written by Lisa Genova and production overseen by Lisa Bruce and teams linked to independent financiers and companies resembling Participant Media and Plan B Entertainment. Principal photography employed cinematographers who have worked on projects showcased at festivals such as Telluride Film Festival and used editing techniques developed in post-production houses collaborating with studios like MGM and Paramount Pictures. Filming locations included urban and academic settings evocative of campuses like University of California, Berkeley and municipal districts reminiscent of Los Angeles and Seattle. Music composed by Ilan Eshkeri aligns with scoring practices found in films distributed by companies including Lionsgate and mixed in facilities used by industry players such as Dolby Laboratories.

Themes and analysis

The film explores themes of identity and memory in ways that invoke scholarship from institutions like Johns Hopkins University, University College London, and publications such as Nature and The Lancet that disseminate neuroscientific research. Ethical questions in the narrative connect to debates at forums like World Health Organization assemblies and conferences held by organizations such as Alzheimer's Association. Character studies in the film echo dramatic traditions presented at venues including Royal Shakespeare Company and are analyzed in journals affiliated with American Psychological Association. The portrayal of caregiving resonates with advocacy groups like Caregiver Action Network and policy discussions in legislative bodies such as the United States Congress.

Reception

Critics from outlets with histories at media institutions including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Variety (magazine), and The Hollywood Reporter praised Julianne Moore's performance, prompting discourse across broadcast platforms like PBS and CNN. Film festival audiences at events like Sundance Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival responded to the film’s intimacy, while box office reporting tracked releases by distributors such as Sony Pictures Classics and competitors including Focus Features. Academic and medical communities, including researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and advocacy by Alzheimer's Association, referenced the film in outreach and educational programming.

Awards and nominations

The film received recognition from major award bodies: Julianne Moore won the Academy Award for Best Actress and the film garnered nominations and awards from institutions such as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, and critics’ circles including the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Circle. Festival honors and acknowledgments included mentions at festivals like Sundance Film Festival and industry associations such as the Independent Spirit Awards.

Category:2014 films Category:Films about Alzheimer's disease