DVD of the Week: Down to the Bone

Vera Farmiga gives a searing performance in this low budget feature about a mother coping with drug addiction. It’s a thinly plotted gem that’s bolstered by the truthful performances and unglamorous camera work. The film really takes its viewers into the unpleasant world of drug addiction and eventually into the less than perfect rehabilitation system. It’s a very modestly tragic and honest film that follows the quiet unraveling of its vulnerable lead. Much like this year’s Sherrybaby, the story tells of a woman who simply cannot seem to fix her life despite her best efforts. In the end, it comes down to simply closing the door on bad influences.