You're Not You

Based on the novel by Michelle Wildgen, the timing for Hilary Swank's latest Oscar bid couldn't be better. "You're Not You" focuses on the deterioration of a former classical pianist's health due to ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). As any Facebook user will tell you, it was near impossible not to become a participant or observer of the massively popular "Ice Bucket Challenge" campaign that clogged newsfeeds all around the globe. Whether it was annoying to you or inspiring, it was effective in bringing to light a disease that doesn't get a lot of attention.

Kate (Hilary Swank) is a business executive who gave up her career as a pianist years ago. She is married to Evan (Josh Duhamel), a high-powered lawyer. They have a spotlessly beautiful modern house and a handful of pretty, well-to-do friends. But one night when Kate is impressing her friends with her skills on the ivory keys, she fumbles a bit and notices a tremor in her right hand.

Cut to 18 months later, and Kate is smack in the middle of ALS. She uses a walker to move, can't grasp anything with her hands, and her speech is slightly slurred. She needs help showering, going to the bathroom, and getting changed. With Evan working endless days, they hire someone to aid Kate, but she hasn't been happy with the options -- one of which was her mother, who has been absent for some time. So she decides to interview potential candidates.

Enter Bec (Emmy Rossum), a wild-child who smokes, drinks heavily, sleeps around, and has dreams of being a singer. She is in desperate need of a job, so she applies, seemingly having had no experience. But something about her bluntness and inexperience impresses Kate, mostly when Bec reveals she used to take care of her grandmother, who was stuck in a convalescent facility for years before she died. Against Evan's better judgment, Kate hires the girl and, of course, chaos sort-of ensues.

There is no surprise where the overall character arc for Bec will go. We know she will overcome her issues and feel like a worthwhile human being. But the film isn't really about the endgame; it's about how she gets there. Similarly, we know ALS is a terminal disease, so the journey for Kate is how she handles her challenges. Will she give up? Or will she rise above? This brings the focus to the relationship between Kate and Bec. Again, we already know the two are going to learn and grow from each other, just like we know that if we see a movie about a sports team, they are probably going to win. We just want to see how they buck up and rise to the occasion.

The screenplay by Shana Feste ("Country Strong") and Jordan Roberts ("Big Hero 6") is well-constructed and hits all the right beats. There are no hanging threads, and it satisfies emotionally. That said, a few plot points are heavy-handed and the characters of the parents (both Kate's and Bec's) are a bit histrionic and unbelievable. Thankfully, they aren't the focus. The focus is on Kate and Bec, who are played beautifully by Swank and Rossum.

Swank always seems to be choosing Oscar-bait material, and sometimes it seems she gets a bit of flak for that. But what actress wouldn't want to sink her teeth into roles that are challenging, and open them up to new experiences? While we know she's done the disabled role before, with "Million Dollar Baby," this is a bit different. Swank allows us into the mind of a character whose body has become a prison and is quickly betraying her. By the end of the film, we can barely understand what she's saying, because her speech is so affected by the disease. This is stunning, and very technical, work that Swank tackles with professionalism and a surprising ease on screen. I believed everything that was happening to her, which is something that Swank does so well. She never seems like she's acting. She just seems like she's living inside a character. It's a heart-breaking and fearless performance that never slides into self-pity.

Rossum, on the other hand, has the less "showy" role. While aspects of the character seem taken from her role on the Showtime series "Shameless," Rossum expertly gives Bec enough layers that she constantly draws us into her. She isn't just the unlikeable screw-up that slowly learns to get over her issues. She's relatable because she shows us her vulnerability shortly after we meet her. Sure, she's rough around the edges, but we see how she got there. Some may argue "Oh, she's just a badass with a heart of gold," but I think they wouldn't be giving her enough credit. Her character was consistently engaging, and in that we root for her.

Director George C. Wolfe ("Nights in Rodanthe") doesn't give the film a ton of visual flair, but it's not necessary here. It also doesn't have a generic TV-movie of the week look either. It looks nice and his coverage is great, cutting to things that make some of the smaller moments more affecting.

Truth be told, there are a few times where I think the film could have ended - before the inevitable tragedy. But the best directed scene of the film is the culmination that we expect yet still dread. It works beautifully, even if you are recognizing that through eyes full of tears. Which brings me to my last point. Yes, this film is sad, and yes it might remind you of a Disease-of-the Week Lifetime movie, but that would do the film a disservice. You will definitely be reaching for the tissues during this film, but there is a lot of humor there as well - even in the end. But the real gift here is in watching two amazing actresses give two of the best performances of their careers.