CheshireCatsGrin

Not a fan of The director since Unbreakable. It was slightly above average but no whee near the quality of The Sixth Sense. I don't know why I keep watching his movies, probably hoping one will be the same extraordinary quality. With all the pre-release buzz I thought this was finally that movie.

I was so disappointed. I rated it slightly lower than Unbreakable. I don't know exactly where it where it went off the rails, but it never held my attention (and I'm not ADHD- I sit though three hours of a good bio pic.

A good part of this was the girls trying asinine ways to escape; at other time we see McAvoy play several personalities half heartily. After all the award talk I expected a much better and diverse McAvoy. Sadly, just like the majority of Night's films he has his actors perform methodically. It actually felt McAlvoy was pushing his talents against the brick wall of what the director wanted.

He wasn't the only actor who underplayed the role. So did the doctor and the three teenage girls. First, after all these late night calls for extra appointment why didn't she get upset earlier or pull a personality up (which she has stated she can do) to discover the emergency instead of A casual bye--you-leave when another dominant personality shows up to the appointment.

I rate this in the same category of Nights's films except the quality Sisth Sense and Devil, which he did not direct and only wrote the original story,

As for,the ending, I felt it was a cheap shot. If the point was they are in the same time, the message came across far too,strong. If it is a hint to an Unbreakable 2 I'll pass and see another big screen feature.

First, I want to make it clear many people do receive help from the twelve steps. That said scientific studies prove it is no more effective than Congitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and less effective than the two combined and much less effective than simply quitting. I am all for multiple options being available to a person seeking help from an addiction.

When I first saw this title I declined to view it as the subject can be upsetting. Having had a parent who was one of the majority that was not successful in concurring her addiction (although she later naturally aged out and had several years of sobriety before her unrelated early death.) Another close friend I lost after two stays at Betty Ford didn't notice he was a manic depressive. So with trepidation I sat down expecting a lot of 12 step cheerleading. How wrong I was.

This factual documentary interviews addicts who have and have not been helped in their addictions along with caring family, professionals with vested interests in rehabs, the President of an alternative non-profit recovery method SMART Recovery founded by the psychologist and founder of CBT Albert Ellis.

I was shocked at what I saw the "help" these rehabs offer for their expensive price tags. I firmly believe this documentary would help many families as they struggle to find help for their or a family member receive the help they need for addiction.

As I sat down to write this review I was going to give this a 9. I started my mental list of issues with this film. I couldn't find one issue against this film and not one. It's very hard for me to score a ten (except Gone With the Wind), I rate on the low end generally. So here's what I was thinking

Cinematography- Check Costumes-check Casting- check, Plot- check, direction-check, Acting-check Strong emotions without being manipulative - check

When I go to the cinema I have a choice - a movie or a film. With this I expected a movie, I ended up seeing a film. This should be shown in film courses. It reminds me of Chinatown. It transports you to the place where the screen takes you, and when characters cry their makeup runs.