MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Smashed’ takes a sobering look at alcohol
addiction    2 and 1/2 out of 4 stars  Being released in the
same seven day period as two other higher-profile films that
feature examples of even heavier drinking ("Flight" and
"Skyfall"), the low-budget indie "Smashed" still manages to shed
slightly more light on the disease while not so much adding
anything new to the addiction genre.  Not even yet 30 years old,
Mary Elizabeth Winstead is a verifiable veteran of schlock
horror flicks, which includes an appearance in a Tarantino
venture ("Death Proof") and as Mary Todd in "Abraham Lincoln:
Vampire Hunter." For Winstead taking on a role as an adult
alcoholic in a "serious" movie was a no-brainer. Even if the
movie does no business (which is likely), she'll at least get
notice and credit for trying something few women (compared to
men at least) have done before.  Winstead stars as Kate, an
elementary school teacher who is both a binge and maintenance
drinker for when the adage "one drink is too many and