A Drug Addict and An Alcholic Go For a Drive
The set-up for "Aberdeen" is contrived. A mother dying of cancer asks her spunky professional daughter (Lena Headey) to retrieve her estranged alcholic father (Stellan Skarsgård) and bring him to her death bed for a final visit. When they are booted from their intended airplane because of public intoxication, the unlikely pair is forced to take the drive. Nick Cage won an Oscar for his dying drunk performance in "Leaving Las Vegas," but Skarsgård could teach him a few things about the depths of an alcoholic's despair.

But the most compelling reason to watch "Aberdeen" is Lena Headey as Kaisa. A successful lawyer, with crisp expensive business suits to prove it, Kaisa has her own chemical needs, and when it's time for meltdown, she surpasses the alcoholic father (a true accomplisment). Headly's face is sharp and angular; her performance is crisp and tough and moving. I had never been aware of Headly's work before (though she has a long resume including roles in "Remains of the Day" and "Mrs. Dalloway") but I will try to catch everything she appears in. Unfortunately, the wonderful Charlotte Rampling does not have much to do but die. Ian Hart does an excellent job as the trucker with a heart of gold.