Cake: Jennifer Aniston's Performance Lacks Conviction [REVIEW]

DETROIT (WWJ) - It's highly likely that anyone suffering from chronic pain will be able to relate to the role Jennifer Aniston plays in "Cake." Aniston stars as Claire Simmons, a woman on the verge of self-destruction. She's angry at everyone, it seems, and she has no problem showing it.
To help her deal with the pain, Claire attends a chronic pain support group. She also has enlisted a housekeeper/caretaker, who's just about the only person who can stand to be in the same room with her.

In the role of Claire, this is a major departure from the comedic and romantic roles that propelled Aniston to TV and movie stardom. In "Cake," she strips off the fancy clothes and makeup. Instead, Aniston is makeup free and her wardrobe consists mainly of sweat pants and long sweaters.

While the movie offers hope that life doesn't end for people suffering with chronic pain, Aniston's performance needs to go deeper to demonstrate that pain. She lies back in the car to avoid sitting up straight, spends just about all day in bed and when she's not in bed, she holds her back and leans to one side while walking. But, her performance is lacking the necessary conviction for someone in so much pain that she drinks and pops pills constantly to help make the pain go away.

See you at the movies!

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