STILL ALICE

Delivering bad news in a medical setting is never easy. The Docs (not criticism, physicians want to heal and when they can't, they often don't know how to handle it) were notoriously inept in talking to patients and giving them the "word" if it was bad. Most, even older physicians, struggled with their bedside manner in this arena. 

I am in the early thought processes of putting together a book of my time in an Army Medical Center and was reminded of the "bad news" delivery when I recently saw the movie, "Still Alice." Julianne Moore received an Oscar for portraying Dr. Alice Howland, a linquistics professor with early on Alzheimer's (50). Although a hard movie to watch, a wonderful one in terms of facing a difficult subject. In fact, my wife would not see it, too sad. 

Julianne Moore began to have little lapses in memory and when she got lost while running, she knew something was happening. As the movie portrayed it, without hesitation, she checks it out. The actor who played the Doc was great. Unlike many I've known where delivering less than good news was tough, the Doc in the movie said to Julianne Moore's character something like, "You have early on-set of Alzheimer's and it is only going to get worse." 

In "Still Alice," it does; denial starts and the drama of dealing with the disease in everyday activities begins. Lots of lessons to take from the movie. Her character, Dr.Alice Howland makes this wonderful speech, where she acknowledges what is happening to her.  She says something like, I am still Alice but struggling.  

The family mostly comes around with the exception of Alec Baldwin who plays the husband. I thought he was good. Most of the critics weren't all that kind to him, however. 

Without a doubt, the best scene is where she has planned to end her life. It is one of the best positively contrived I've ever seen. There are so many good points in this movie, one among many are the lines she delivers, "I had rather have cancer. " And, the Doc's suggestion, something like, "we can't turn this around but there are little tricks you can do."

 Force yourself, however painful, to see this movie. I have been totally unsuccessful in getting family/friends to see it. This is one of those movies that could truly do something for you, other than entertain you.