User reviews

While maybe not always completely successful in conveying its important message, this work wears its heart on its sleeve. At times it's a hard watch, with some slightly over the top details but offers important considerations to all those booked in for serious detox treatment; A: Think seriously about all the challenges, regardless of your biased beliefs.

B: Remember, others before you, have overcome their petty and physical opposition towards the cures outlined stages, and gone on to win the battle - give up and you're lost.

Good performances manage to keep it on target and it's always interesting to see Australian Odessa Young on screen (even though here quite bleak) The co-writing and direction by the co-writer/lead performer's wife is competent and the two eventually manage to make us feel for the subject. Between the above-average cinematography, there's also a hard-working soundtrack helping to move it along. A couple of early, overindulged scenes finally give way to serious outcomes - even if not all as fully desired.

Note: Heavy Language, nudity, drug use.

I wanted to like this, it opens with some pretty nice slomo film work, and looks dark & impressive. I didnt make it to the end however. The characters were a little undercooked and their motivations werent always clear. The romance the lead has didnt seem that convincing. Plus I was really looking forward to seeing Giovanni Ribisi, however he also either had trouble portraying that character, or the writing wasnt right for him. The interactions between him & the lead also seemed forced and these characters seemed to "get" close all of a sudden, without real development of how this occurred. Billy Bob did shine in his role however, and (partially) redeemed this film to me. Its not a bad portrayal of drug issues, ie: it doesnt force the "drugs are bad" rhetoric down your throat - however there are better films out there dealing with these issues

I don't undestand why they decided to make a movie adaptation out of the book instead of the controversy surrounding its publication. That would have been far more interesting. This movie is the poor man's Xavier Dolan film - and even his "artsy" shots are obnoxious enough. I assume they expected this movie to be an award winning project: nudity, check; tears, check; redemption arc, check; artsy shots out of nowhere, check. They even throw a couple of scientologists to the mix! Overall its plot is as basic and predictable as you would expect it to be had it been made during the 90s.

A strong central performance about a film that dances around the edges of the grim reality at times and at times was poorly paced sometimes rushing sections and dragging other parts out. Still does a good job making you care about most the characters unlike some similar films. Unfortunately however it doesn't quite all come together and falls just short of being anything more than reasonably good.

This was really a great movie about real life addiction and rehab and life. I was very surprised in the story. The min character I did not know but he was great. Everyone else in the movie I knew and they were outstanding. Billy Bob was great Juliette Lewis was was great. The whole cast was good. A must see drama.

Like a glass of whiskey or brandy, the taste that reminds me of being drilled by the dentist in my younger teenage years. its really a rollercoaster of high but mostly lows in the addicted lifes of addicts during a stay at a anonymous ''addicts'' center in the early 1990's usa. in fact its a very angry story narrated from the main characters standpoint, a pityfilled story, with dashes of crazyness so great that it starts clutching in the stomach.

for a story comparission i will mention the concept marillion album ''clutching at straws'', that rang in my ears in the early 90's, about a late 20's guy out-of-work whose life is a mess. He seeks comfort mostly in alcohol to numb himself. He is trying, but failing, to forget what lies at his feet-a failed marriage, being a deadbeat father while clutching the straws of a sugar mice in the rain.

the actors really do a good performance, and the cinematography are at the top level, but the drawback is the fast shifting moves and lack of introduction and development of the caracters

the grumpy old man recommends if your an post addict or if your having a sunshining day.because its a flick thats hard to swallow after all.

If seeing how drugs/alcohol can destroy a person then this movie seems to do the job well. As to treatment centers it was a bit more theatrical, but somewhat useful anyway.

Movie started great... dark, gritty. But Billy Bob looked uncomfortable with his part as did Giovanni. The character Lily just seemed thrown in. If there had been no full frontal male nudity, it seemed like another Made For TV movie. Not good....too bad with such great actors in it.

Aside from the fabrications and embellishments, the core of this story rings true to someone who has known people who have fought (and continue to fight) for their recovery.

This movie was evocatively directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. I give immense kudos to her skills. I was brought to the point of tears more than once. And the movie left me with a feeling of realistic hope.

I'd also like to heap praise on all the cast whose performances made this an honor to experience.

(Flash Review)

This kicks off with a junky hitting rock bottom and his brother sends him to a serious rehab center. It then dives deep into a realistic portrayal of the world of rehab. There is good character development, assorted relationships form and emotional struggles flare up. Certainly not as crazy and creepy as Trainspotting drug scenes. A solid and color in the box movie.

Usually i like movies like this but this one was incredibly boring. I had to force myself to finish it. Not worth the four bucks i paid to rent it.

I read this book because it was supposed to be a true story and then later found out that it was mostly lies and the author made most of it up. As a work of fiction it is a great book and hopefully the movie will follow the book.

A well crafted, well directed and acted dramatization of the misery of addiction. Excellent acting by Aaron Taylor-John and Billy Bob Thornton.

As long as we remember that this is a work of fiction, then it isn't a bad little runner. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and an extremely dapper Billy Bob Thornton engender some interest in their characters and as such, you do find yourself starting to care for them. ATJ plays an out-of-control druggie with little, he thinks, to live for; is sent to a rehab centre and meets Lilly (Odessa Young). The film develops sensitively - if, at times, angrily - and does offer us a little considered insight into the worlds of the carers and the cared-for. Nothing you won't have seen (or, likely, read) before and it is maybe just a bit too long, but it does deserve a viewing.

Firstly, I haven't read the book and couldn't care less about all the supposed "fabrications" because - let's face it - no good story is ever quite true.

Secondly, I loved the film.

Ignore the snooty attitude of some reviewers, this film carried a message:

Don't give up hope...learn and heal.

It was a good watch (if not great), the acting was superb, and the storyline unwound itself perfectly. There were some desperately heart-breaking moments and equally challenging scenes but the main feeling I came away with after watching it was...just don't give up.

This film oddly seemed to be the life story of one of the secondary actors in the film; David Dastmalchian. I wonder why he was not given any credits other than his brief appearance in the film.

I lived through all this stuff in the late 60s (with the Vietnam War to boot), so none of this stuff is new or surprising to me personally, however, it did have some very good moments, and for those, I gave it a 6. The segments with the Tao Te Ching were excellent, and I wish they had done more with them; but a few scenes is better than nothing.

The Taylor-Johnson brothers do a fairly good job of direction and film production in this tale of rehab. But it was hard to work up too much sympathy for the protagonist, who, of course, brought most of what happened in his life upon himself. I felt a bit more sympathy for Billy Bob Thorton's character, since he was already an old man of 60 or so. Tough to go through that at that age. Interesting to watch if you are considering hanging out with the wrong crowd.

I paid $5.99 to watch this movie on demand.wush I had saved my money to wait for it to come out on cable. Parts of the movie were just ok but I found the movie to be very boring at times and I almost didn't watch to the end. Left a lot to be desired! Thumbs down!

Anyone who gives this movie less than an 8 is obviously an Addict in complete denial, or you have no idea what real addiction is. That's all I have to say.

So for those who don't know, this was one of Oprah's first book of the month. And this was when a little no name book could become a million seller. So the author sold this book to be a true story which it is not. Those of you old enough to remember well recall Oprah bringing the author James Frey back to the Oprah show and gave him a classic tongue lashing. It was epic oh, she made him cry on National Television.

This tells an a remarkable struggle against substances. His transformation in the rehab is remarkable and pleasing. The number of familiar faces in the film adds to the viewing pleasure as well.