Clean and Sober

CLEAN AND SOBER (1988) ***1/2 Michael Keaton, Kathy Baker, Morgan Freeman, M. Emmett Walsh, Tate Donovan, Claudia Christian, Brian Benben. Keaton gives a tour de force performance as chemical addict businessman facing big troubles and decides to cool off in a detox/rehab center run by a no-nonsense counselor (excellent Foreman). Great acting and tight, realistic direction from Glenn Gordon Caron (creator of tv's "Moonlighting" in this his feature film debut) and Baker's scenes with Keaton recall the desperation of Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick in "The Days of Wine and Roses". Watch Keaton's modulated reaction on learning of a tragic event. Heart-wrenching at times.

Clean and sober maybe the movie that gives the most honest look at addictions ever made. An absolute must see for anyone who has ever suffered from an addiction-as well as friends and family members of addicts.The character build up moves very slowly(not a criticism at ALL) But a certain level of maturity IS definetly needed to watch this. A very realistic well acted movie. Why don't more people know about this?

Keaton is excellent as a cocaine junkie who joins an ex-junkie's recovery group, facing the battles that lie ahead when the dependency for drugs is no more. Touching and often bittersweet, Keaton soars onto the screen in a performance that astounds, shocks and amazes.

This is easily Keaton's best movie ever. He play a slick addict that is only looking to hide from life's problems at a drug rehab clinic run by the ever wise, and tough-minded Freeman. Even if there are minor flaws in the film, they don't matter. There are moments of truth and clarity that are rarely seen in a movie now days. There is a scene when Keaton's sponsor, played extremely well by Walsh, tells Keaton's character, that he cannot be responsible for someone else's addiction. He asks him, could anyone have made you stop? It so silly, but no matter what, we as human beings continually look to take responsibility for others, when we can barely "control" ourselves! The supporting cast is terrific. Morgan Freeman as the clinic's counselor is just perfect. Kathy Baker is also memorable as a person who is lacking self esteem and cannot see the forest for the trees. A recovering addict herself, Keaton attempts to help her, while he is also romantically interested in her. Definitely a four star movie. I have watched this over and over & never tire of the performances.

Michael Keaton delivers such an intense, realistic and powerful performance in this movie, he should have AT LEAST been awarded an Academy Award nomination. This stands as his best dramatic performance ever, in a career filled with many fine dramatic and comedic roles. As Darryl Poynter, Keaton shows us a character that starts out as a total heel and a user, but is slowly transformed by his stay in a drug and alcohol rehab center (and his interactions with others there)into someone who genuinely begins to see the errors of his life and makes a concerted effort to change.

A fine ensemble cast adds to the drama, including Morgan Freeman, M. Emmet Walsh, Kathy Baker and Tate Donovan. The script by former National Lampoon writer Tod Carroll is filled with memorable characters and realistic situations and is further enhanced by the solid no-nonsense direction by Glen Gordon Caron.

An excellent and WAY under-appreciated movie that was thrown away by Warner Bros., "Clean And Sober is a riveting drama of rehabilitation and redemption that will stick with you long after you see it. True-life drama doesn't come much better than this. **** 4 stars