Extra Cinema: Cake (15)
Life is pain cocooned within extended periods of contentment and the mundane.
The embittered protagonist of Cake has been so deeply scarred — physically and emotionally by a devastating car crash — by her pain that she is toxic to everyone who orbits her.
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Hide AdIn Daniel Barnz’ film, this font of bile and foul-mouthed misery is portrayed with bedraggled hair and make-up disfigurements by Jennifer Aniston.
It’s a compelling dramatic performance, which reminds us that the Los Angeles-born actress is much more than the romcom girl next door.
Unfortunately, Aniston’s eye-catching work is the glistening cherry on top of a half-baked drama that proves increasingly hard to swallow.
Cake is an uneven bake, distinguished by Aniston’s committed performance and a warm, empathetic supporting turn from Barraza.
Even when the rest of Barnz’ film crumbles, which it does frequently, their sisterly solidarity holds our interest.
Rating: 6/10