Frankie and Alice is a touching film based on the true story of a woman with multiple personality disorder. Frankie Murdoch (Halle Berry) is a stripper in 1970s Los Angeles. She is beautiful, street smart, and known to be a little crazy. On multiple occasions, she has blacked out and ended up in jail or the hospital with bumps and bruises she cannot explain. After running out half naked into an open roadway, she is taken to the hospital and is reluctantly treated by Dr. Oz (Stellan Skarsgård, Mamma Mia!), a medical professor who left clinical work long ago, but just happens to be the only doctor on duty. Oz is immediately intrigued by her case and takes the time to understand her needs when the other doctors don’t want to spend the time and resources. Together, Oz and Frankie unlock her personalities and the past events that could have created them.

In addition to her Golden Globe-nominated performance, Berry also served as a producer, working for 12 years to bring the film to the screen. Geoffrey Sax (White Noise) directed the film, which centers on Frankie and Dr. Oz in 1970s Los Angeles, but incorporates Frankie’s fractured memories of the 1950s South. Overall, the film is enjoyable, although the production value hovers dangerously close to a Lifetime movie. Berry delivers her best performance since Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, particularly because of the scenes when she transforms between alternate personalities.

Phylicia Rashad plays Frankie’s mother, a woman who chooses to remain blind to Frankie’s problems. Chandra Wilson (Grey’s Anatomy) plays Frankie’s neglected sister who is often at odds with her sister and mother. These and the other supporting players are strong, but sparse in the narrative. After a limited release in Los Angeles in December, the film will be in limited release beginning February 4^th.

Limité Rating: 4/5

Director: Geoffrey Sax

Writers: Cheryl Edwards and Marko King & Mary King & Jonathan Watters and Joe Shrapnel & Anna Waterhouse

Cast: Halle Berry, Stellan Skarsgård, Chandra Wilson, Phylicia Rashad

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 110 min.

Release Date: February 4 (limited)