Smashed

James Ponsoldt's Smashed (US, 2012) - A terrific performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead as a rock-bottom alcoholic is only one reason to appreciate "Smashed," an affecting and immersive addiction drama about the unforeseen pitfalls along the road to recovery. Scribe-helmer James Ponsoldt's sad, funny and strangely exuberant second feature weaves a few plot strands too many as it pushes its protag toward her big moment of cathartic self-reckoning, but is enhanced by a rich, offbeat sense of life teeming in the margins. Distribs would do well to emphasize the picture's engaging, non-depressive approach to admittedly hard-sell material that will need critical support to get anywhere commercially. 2012SUN, 2012TOR. RATING:7