---
title: "Still Alice"
year: 2014
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/still-alice"
fi1m_id: "still-alice"
imdb_id: "tt3316960"
tmdb_id: 284293
wikidata_id: "Q16354843"
fi1m_score: 77
critics_score: 71
critics_reviews: 26
published: "2026-10-01T23:15:45.183154+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-01T23:15:46.490268+00:00"
region: "HK"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Still Alice (2014)

Directed by Wash Westmoreland, Richard Glatzer · 1h 41m · Drama

## Identity

Still Alice

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/still-alice
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** still-alice
- **IMDb ID:** tt3316960
- **TMDB ID:** 284293
- **Wikidata ID:** Q16354843
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3316960/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/284293, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16354843

**Fi1m score: 77** · Critics 71 from 26 reviews

*In a sentence:* Julianne Moore needs less help from the music than the music seems to think

> Julianne Moore makes *Still Alice* painfully convincing, even when the filmmaking settles for the familiar. Her scenes with Kristen Stewart give this restrained Alzheimer’s drama enough emotional force to overcome its cautious storytelling.

## Synopsis

Alice Howland (Julianne Moore) begins to experience disorientation. An Alzheimer’s diagnosis threatens the abilities on which her sense of herself depends, and she tries to understand what is happening to her mind. John Howland (Alec Baldwin) is among those responding to the diagnosis, while Alice’s relationship with her daughter, Lydia Howland (Kristen Stewart), comes under new pressure. Their existing difficulties do not disappear because Alice is ill. She wants to keep thinking and communicating as she always has, but the symptoms make that harder for her and force the family to consider what will change.

## Review

*Still Alice* is a moving drama with a conventional script and an unusually attentive central performance. Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland adapt Lisa Genova’s novel with a clear concern for Alice’s experience of Alzheimer’s, keeping her intelligence central to our understanding of what the illness threatens. That matters in a genre which can too easily turn a person into an occasion for everyone else to learn compassion. Here, Alice remains worth listening to when listening becomes difficult.

Julianne Moore makes the first signs of confusion hard to dismiss without making them look like a performance of symptoms. Her face and voice register the work involved in trying to remain composed, and we can sense how much being able to think clearly means to Alice. We were frightened by that early disorientation. The effort to understand what is happening is still there, plainly visible, even as Alice struggles to trust her own mind.

Kristen Stewart helps keep the scenes between mother and daughter from becoming another account of Alice’s symptoms. As Lydia Howland, her exchanges with her mother have the unsettled closeness of people whose relationship did not begin with a diagnosis. Affection does not clear away every difficulty, and the performances allow both women to have feelings that are inconvenient to the other. We would have welcomed more of these exchanges; some of the other characters are too lightly drawn to make the same impression.

Denis Lenoir’s cinematography helps us share Alice’s disorientation, but the visual approach is otherwise rather staid. The images seldom seem as alert to Alice’s changing thoughts as her face does, and the film can look too settled for what she is experiencing. Tommaso Ortino’s production design is similarly discreet, leaving Alice’s surroundings with less character than the people occupying them. Keeping attention on the performances works, but it also makes the film depend on them for almost every moment of interest.

Nicolas Chaudeurge’s editing keeps the progression legible, at some cost to the time we spend with each change. We sometimes need longer to absorb what has happened before the film moves on. Ilan Eshkeri’s score has the opposite problem: it presses the sadness beyond what the acting requires. The added emphasis makes some passages feel more conventional than the performances deserve.

The 101-minute running time should not be mistaken for an easy evening. There is real pleasure in watching acting this attentive, even when the subject is painful. Accept the conventional storytelling, and the exchanges between Alice and Lydia are reason enough to stay. Leave a little quiet afterwards rather than asking the next programme to cheer things up.

*Fi1m score 77, published 1 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Still Alice moving and humane, with praise centred on Julianne Moore’s restrained portrayal of Alzheimer’s and its effect on Alice’s sense of herself. The reviews repeatedly credit her face, voice and small shifts in behaviour with making the illness feel immediate rather than merely explained. Kristen Stewart also draws praise, particularly for the intimacy and unease of the mother-daughter relationship, while supporters value the film’s quiet attention to Alice’s experience.

The spread is wide, though even detractors generally admire Moore. Reservations cluster around familiar plotting, thin supporting characters and filmmaking that some find too cautious or visually plain to match the performances. Empire praises the visual techniques used to convey Alice’s worsening condition, whereas Slant Magazine objects to melodramatic storytelling and an intrusive score. The central division is over whether the film’s restraint gives its subject dignity or softens material that needs a less conventional treatment.

## Straight answers

**Is Still Alice worth watching?**

*Still Alice* is worth watching for Julianne Moore’s painfully convincing performance and her scenes with Kristen Stewart; we score it 77 out of 100. We recommend it to viewers who value attentive acting, with the caveat that the storytelling is conventional and the music sometimes pushes sadness the performances already convey.

**How long is Still Alice, and what is it rated?**

*Still Alice* runs 1h 41m. It is a drama film.

**Where can I watch Still Alice in Hong Kong?**

*Still Alice* is not on any streaming or rental service in Hong Kong at the moment. It is available in 36 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Still Alice, and is it suitable for children?**

*Still Alice* has a UK 12A certificate, and its portrayal of Alzheimer’s makes it an emotionally difficult choice for children. We find Alice’s early disorientation frightening because Moore makes her struggle to trust her own mind so convincing. The subject calls for care with younger viewers, particularly those affected by dementia in their family.

**How does Still Alice compare to Away from Her?**

*Still Alice* stays close to a woman experiencing Alzheimer’s, while [*Away from Her*](https://film.one/film/away-from-her) follows a husband facing his wife’s illness and the limits of what love can preserve. We favour *Away from Her* for its emotional restraint, though its structure fidgets; *Still Alice* offers affecting mother-and-daughter scenes but presses the sadness harder through music.

**Is Still Alice based on a true story or a book?**

*Still Alice* is adapted from Lisa Genova’s novel, rather than presented as a true story. Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland keep Alice’s intelligence and experience of Alzheimer’s central to the film. We find that focus clear enough for viewers unfamiliar with the book, though the storytelling follows a conventional path.

**What should I watch after Still Alice?**

After *Still Alice*, try [*Away from Her*](https://film.one/film/away-from-her) (2006, Fi1m 82): A spouse faces dementia and the limits of what love can preserve. Then [*Poetry*](https://film.one/film/poetry) (2010, Fi1m 87): An ageing woman faces memory loss while discovering an exacting creative purpose; and [*Ikiru*](https://film.one/film/ikiru) (1952, Fi1m 92): A terminal diagnosis prompts a quiet, stubborn search for something worth doing.

### Reviews we read (26)

- **Time Out**, David Ehrlich (5/5): The review presents Alzheimer’s as a cruel, tragic progression. Its description emphasizes the devastating inevitability of the disease. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/still-alice)
- **Empire**, David Hughes (85/100, inferred): Hughes finds the film stirring, thought-provoking and deeply humane. He especially praises Julianne Moore’s heartfelt performance and the visual techniques used to convey Alice’s worsening condition. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/still-alice-review/)
- **Evening Standard**, David Sexton (85/100, inferred): Sexton finds the film deeply moving and life-affirming. He singles out Julianne Moore’s harrowing performance as Alice for praise. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/toronto-film-festival-still-alice-starring-julianne-moore-film-review-deeply-moving-9723047.html)
- **Little White Lies**, Simran Hans (2/4/4): Hans finds the film an absorbing, intimate portrait that avoids becoming manipulative despite its bleak subject. She especially praises Kristen Stewart and Julianne Moore’s onscreen chemistry and the film’s focus on Alice’s intellectual identity. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/still-alice)
- **Total Film**, Kevin Harley (4/5): The review praises the film as a sensitive, controlled portrayal of Alzheimer’s, led by Julianne Moore’s quietly heartbreaking performance. It singles out Moore’s restrained depiction of Alice’s gradual decline as the film’s strength. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/still-alice-review/)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (80/100, inferred): Debruge finds the film sensitive, dignified, and devastating, with a powerful perspective on living with Alzheimer’s. He especially praises Julianne Moore’s restrained performance and the filmmakers’ quiet, emotionally focused approach. [Read](https://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/toronto-film-review-julianne-moore-in-still-alice-1201301421/)
- **The AV Club**, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky (B): The review finds the film compelling and unsentimental despite its stolid visual style. It especially praises Julianne Moore’s nuanced performance as Alice’s illness progressively narrows her world. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/julianne-moore-faces-an-alzheimer-s-diagnosis-in-the-nu-1798182113)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (75/100, inferred): Turan finds the film emotionally effective despite familiar, contrived plot elements. He singles out Julianne Moore and Kristen Stewart’s performances for making Alice’s decline feel honest and affecting. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-still-alice-movie-review-20141205-column.html)
- **The Guardian**, Mark Kermode (75/100, inferred): Kermode finds the film ultimately uplifting, though somewhat televisual, and says Moore’s performance overcomes its potential pitfalls. He especially praises her expressive portrayal of Alice’s disorientation and the ensemble’s reactions to her diagnosis. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/mar/08/still-alice-review-julianne-moore-superb-alzheimers)
- **Vulture**, David Edelstein (70/100, inferred): Edelstein calls the film good but somewhat thin, with Julianne Moore’s performance carrying it. He especially praises how Moore’s face and voice convey Alice’s changing thoughts and identity. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2014/12/movie-review-still-alice.html)
- **Screen Daily**, Tim Grierson (65/100, inferred): The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It also does not show what the critic singles out for praise or complaint. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/still-alice/5077342.article)
- **Film Comment**, Dennis Lim (64/100, inferred): The available page text does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It also gives no detail about what the review praises or criticizes. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/still-alice-julianne-moore/)
- **Radio Times**, Andrew Collins (3/5): Collins finds the adaptation somewhat coy, despite its effective early scenes. He praises the chilling staging of Alice’s first symptoms. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-jpdu36/still-alice/)
- **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (55/100, inferred): Lane finds the film too cautious and emotionally softened, but still worth watching. He singles out Julianne Moore’s radiant, steel-edged performance as its chief strength. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/01/19/losing-way)
- **Slant Magazine**, Ed Gonzalez (1.5/4): Gonzalez finds the film’s execution banal, despite its occasional emotional depth. He praises Moore and Stewart’s nuanced, unsettled mother-daughter relationship, while criticizing the melodramatic storytelling and intrusive score. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/still-alice/)
- **Den of Geek**, Patrick Sproull (5/5): The critic calls the film a must-see, praising its authenticity and emotional force. Julianne Moore’s subtle, deeply convincing performance is singled out as the film’s central strength. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/still-alice-review/)
- **The Wrap** (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a superb drama and highlights Julianne Moore’s performance as one of the year’s best. They also praise the film’s delicate writing and visual approach to Alice’s confusion and loss. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/still-alice-review-julianne-moore-alec-baldwin-kristen-stewart/)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (85/100, inferred): Hammond gives the film a strongly positive verdict, calling it fine and heartbreaking. He singles out Julianne Moore’s portrayal as one of her finest performances. [Read](https://deadline.com/2014/12/still-alice-review-julianne-moore-oscar-buzz-1201310981/)
- **Eye for Film**, Anne-Katrin Titze (85/100, inferred): The review is strongly positive, presenting the film as an entrancing portrait of a family confronting Alzheimer’s. It especially praises Julianne Moore’s precise, mesmerising performance and her ability to convey Alice’s changing sense of identity. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/still-alice-2014-film-review-by-anne-katrin-titze)
- **NME** (80/100, inferred): The review is strongly positive, centring on Julianne Moore’s vivid performance as Alice’s illness progresses. It finds some other characters underdeveloped but praises the affecting scene between Alice and her daughter. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-various-artists-15960-317927)
- **Digital Spy**, Stella Papamichael (65/100, inferred): The review finds the film affecting but limited by its linear direction, with Moore carrying much of its emotional weight. It especially praises her nuanced performance and the poignancy of Alice’s evolving relationship with Lydia. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a632059/still-alice-review-julianne-moores-oscar-winning-performance/)
- **Paste**, Ross Bonaime (65/100, inferred): Bonaime finds the film a fine but somewhat underweight drama, despite its familiar subject matter. He praises Julianne Moore’s expressive performance and singles out Kristen Stewart’s understated, compassionate work. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/still-alice)
- **HeyUGuys**, Stefan Pape (60/100, inferred): Pape finds the film moving and admirable, but criticizes its rushed progression and abrupt, unsatisfying ending. He singles out Julianne Moore’s empathetic, remarkably convincing portrayal of Alice’s decline. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/still-alice-review/)
- **The Skinny**, Josh Slater-Williams (★★★): The review finds the film moving but not great, largely because its surrounding filmmaking is insufficiently distinctive. It singles out Julianne Moore’s quietly devastating and subtly controlled performance for praise. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/festivals/uk-festivals/film/still-alice-julianne-moore-glasgow-film-festival)
- **The Playlist** (40/100, inferred): The headline characterizes the film as well-meaning and respectful but ultimately bland. The review’s stated complaint is its blandness, though the blocked page provides no further detail. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-well-meaning-respectful-but-bland-still-alice-starring-julianne-moore-kristen-stewart-more-20150116/)
- **Consequence**, Blake Goble (30/100, inferred): Goble finds the film formulaic and overly awards-conscious, despite its capable lead performance. He singles out Julianne Moore’s compelling portrayal of Alice for praise, while criticizing the film’s familiar, heavy-handed scenes. [Read](https://consequence.net/2014/12/film-review-still-alice/)

## Details

- **Director:** Wash Westmoreland, Richard Glatzer
- **Director:** Wash Westmoreland, Richard Glatzer
- **Screenplay:** Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland
- **Novel:** Lisa Genova
- **Cinematography:** Denis Lenoir
- **Editor:** Nicolas Chaudeurge
- **Music:** Ilan Eshkeri
- **Production design:** Tommaso Ortino
- **Costume design:** Stacey Battat
- **Producer:** Pamela Koffler, James Brown, Lex Lutzus
- **Cast:** Julianne Moore as Alice Howland; Kate Bosworth as Anna Howland-Jones; Shane McRae as Charlie Howland-Jones; Hunter Parrish as Tom Howland; Alec Baldwin as John Howland; Seth Gilliam as Frederic Johnson; Kristen Stewart as Lydia Howland; Stephen Kunken as Dr. Benjamin
- **Runtime:** 1h 41m
- **Release (Hong Kong):** 5 February 2015
- **Genres:** Drama
- **Budget:** $5 million
- **Box office:** $45 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGN9b_KJb_8

## Where to watch in Hong Kong

Not streaming, renting or buying in Hong Kong at the last check.

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, FI, FR, GB, HU, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PL, PT, SE, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2015: Best Actress (won)

## If you liked this

- *Away from Her* (2006), Fi1m 82: A spouse faces dementia and the limits of what love can preserve. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/away-from-her.md)
- *Poetry* (2010), Fi1m 87: An ageing woman faces memory loss while discovering an exacting creative purpose. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/poetry.md)
- *Ikiru* (1952), Fi1m 92: A terminal diagnosis prompts a quiet, stubborn search for something worth doing. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ikiru.md)
- *A Separation* (2011), Fi1m 93: Care for an ailing parent becomes tangled in a family’s competing needs. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/a-separation.md)
- *The Father* (2020), Fi1m 89: Another account of dementia, with confusion built into the rooms themselves. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-father.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/still-alice