Marcas de Um Passado

Michael Keaton is fantastic in "Clean and Sober". What a great performance. The film itself is a fairly good analysis of the drug rehab process--the process of denial to acceptance. The first half of the film is particularly good, but it gets a bit uneven toward the latter half when it strays from its original premise into a romantic entanglement. All in all, Keaton really delivers in this one--Daryl is at times pathetic, funny, sympathetic, and just a plain sleaze. However, "Clean and Sober" shows quite well what lengths the addict will go to, and the "multiple personalities" he will take on, in order to get that next snort or the next drink.

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.

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

I have been in AA for 21 years. Over that time there have been many films I've seen that try to capture the alcoholic's fight with the disease. Clean and Sober is on the money. Though a minor error here and there, if you want to see and feel the travail, see Clean And Sober. Magnificent performances, by the way.

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.