[Kaitlyn McCarren]

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>The movie “Georgia” is a raw take on not only addiction but also on trying to succeed. Sadie is a character who may not have talent but has so much passion, while living in the shadow of her talented sister with little passion. This is even stated by Georgia herself while talking with Sadie in the kitchen as she says Sadie had all the ambition and Georgia didn’t really care. This proving a major point in the film of what happens when someone has so much passion for something yet doesn’t have the talent needed to succeed in that field. In Sadi’s case it was music, but her passion for music is what had people captivated with her performances rather her ability to sing.</span>

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>However, I found Jennifer Jason Leigh performance as Sadie to be compelling and raw with depicting addiction and how that affects not only herself but her family. Her addictions I feel are being dependent on drugs but also her addiction to being like her sister. I can only wonder how having so much passion for something and failing can do to the soul of a person. One thing I found interesting was how the two prominent male characters in this movie viewed Sadie compared to her sister. First it striked me that Jake, Georgia’s husband finds Sadie to be unique and overall feels empathetic for her situation. Even going as far as telling Georgia, “I couldn’t imagine what it’s like being your sister.” Then there is also Axel, who is captivated by Sadie’s voice and her performance, doing anything he can to take care of her until he had enough with her addiction. Thus, these two characters shined a light on Sadie’s differences in a positive way which I thought was a necessary element to have within the film because so many other characters put Sadie down.</span>

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Also after watching this film, the movie title strikes me as no coincidence that it is “Georgia.” Sadie clearly feels always in her sister’s shadow and that her sister is embarrassed of her. Personally, I feel that there is no hero within this film. I personally feel like with addiction there is no heroes just people trying their absolute best to do what they can and get through. I can see arguments for Sadie being the hero as in addiction a person must want help themselves. However, I can also see the argument for Georgia being the hero as she always is there for Sadie with anything she needs but in my opinion ultimately fails at the end due to the fact that Sadie takes a drink.</span>

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>I would be open to what your thoughts were on if there was a hero in this film and why?</span>

[Jessica Drechsler]

I completely agree with you that Jennifer Jason Leigh’s performance  in this film absolutely blew me away. Her ability to convey these themes of addiction and passion in such a compelling way was absolutely amazing. I also agree with you in the fact that I do not see a hero in this film even though I desperately want to. I believe it is obvious to think of Georgia as the hero in this film for being the one that constantly is saving her sister however, I strongly believe she is not the hero. In the end of the film Sadie is shown with a drink in her hand, this shows that Sadie truly was not saved by her sister and that addiction has a power over her that is stronger than her passion in which she has for music. Sadie was not even able to save herself in this film from addiction therefore she is also not the hero. I am not however, denouncing Sadie’s struggle and her journey through drug addiction and how she was able to overcome it. Sadie is a strong willed person but in the end she begins and ends the film in very similar ways, in a deserted bar doing what she loves to do which is perform. She has not made any true progress in improving herself as far as her vocal ability but she has improved in the fact that she presumably isn’t doing drugs anymore? But then again she is still drinking so it is hard to say if Sadie has truly improved or not as a character. One thing I admire about Sadie is that even with her sisters criticism she still sings in the exact same way and doesn’t try to change herself. Sadie is brutally and authentically herself until the very end and I find this admirable. I absolutely loved this film and I am glad to see you did as well!

[Jason Whelehan]

I’m inclined to agree. Yet, Sadie is such a wonderfully flawed character. I offer no critical argument for her heroism. Rather, I have adjusted, to some degree, how I believe a character can be viewed. I feel hopeful at the end of this film. And so, perhaps Sadie can be a hero. Is she drinking still? Yes. IS it a stronger argument that she fails over and over for the rest of her life? Yes. But I am hopeful, I am rooting for her. Sadie says twice about Georgia, “The singular  person I will miss when I leave this place.” Well, she has not chosen to leave this place by the end of the film. Maybe, the standard for our hero should be different when our hero is so wonderfully flawed like so many of us are.

 

P.S. The was just the best film of the semester.

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