Four Good Days

This is a great attempt and Kunis , Close, and Root are magnificent.

BUT, it still does not go far enough in depicting the true horrors of detoxing. All the sweat, emesis and excreta are missing. All that crap that addicts families go through..This film just isn't ugly enough to frighten and shock everyone as they should be.

Coming from someone who has worked in the addiction field in just about every capacity as well as dealt with it in my personal life I feel this is a very accurate depiction of addiction. From the conflicted mother trying not to enable her kid but not being able to trust a word that comes out of her mouth. To the addict who wants to get clean but continues to struggle despite the disgust she has for her addiction. It's so accurate it makes me cringe. Phenomenal acting. The mother trying to control every aspect of the addicts life and just falling short is just way too accurate.

The previous reviewer complained that Rodrigo García's "Four Good Days" didn't go far enough in depicting its subject matter.

Of course it didn't. It's a movie, for crying out loud. "Schindler's List" couldn't fully depict the horrors of the Nazis' actions, and "12 Years a Slave" couldn't fully depict the brutality of slavery. The point is to give the viewer an idea of the misery that addicts and their families experience. It certainly gave me an idea of that. I recommend it.

My Review - Four Good Days My Rating 6.5

Superb performances by Glenn Close as Deb a mother in crisis and confusion due to her daughter's addicted to heroine who returns home pleading for shelter and money while only a whisker away from total self destruction.

Deb has experienced this scenario with her daughter before with all the broken promises deception lies and thieving that a desperate addict puts a family though. She loves her daughter Molly but hates the addict she has become so is conflicted as to whether to give her another chance at recovery.

Mila Kunos is equally brilliant as the daughter Molly she must have suffered for this role she looks emaciated her eyes are hollow and vacant as a drug addicts eyes would her make up even the rotting teeth convince you this is the look that causes heartbreak to so many families.

Mila Kunos born in Ukrainian was also brilliant as Lily the evil character in the 2010 movie "Black Swan" .

A simple synopsis of the story is that a mother helps her daughter work through four crucial days of recovery from substance abuse.

The reason my Rating is a bit low not too low just average is that I've seen this storyline before and with much better or convincing scriptwriting.

I'm thinking of two similar films that outshine "Four Good Days ." the 2018 movie "Beautiful Boy ." starring Tim Carell and Timothée Chalamet as Nic Cheff .

Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, Beautiful Boy chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years.

The other film on the same subject that I want to mention is the 2018 movie "Ben is Back." Starring Lucas Hedges and Julia Roberts it also has a similar plot of a drug addicted teenage who boy shows up unexpectedly at his family's home on Christmas Eve.

My Rating no way reflects a negative view of Glenn Close or Mila Kunos or their performances with a better script they could be award winning roles.

The script lost me when in a Supermarket scene mother Deb and Molly her daughter who is only 2 days off a heroine binge meet an acquaintance who incredibly says Molly looks well and invites her to speak next day to a class of high school students to tell them about her experience,strength and hope.

The scene seemed totally ridiculous to me because A- Molly looks like death warmed up and B what School would allow a heroine addict only 2 days clean anywhere near High School students.

Also the horrific drug dealers house scene where Deb follows her daughter in an attempt to stop her using again is so over the top it was like a horror scene from "Seven" it seemed to me a vain attempt to over sensationalise the seriousness of drug addiction. It is of course one of most serious problems of the modern age but in my view this scene just didn't fit the story I doubt anyone would leave that house alive.

Summing up for me "Four Good Days "an average movie with above average performances.

The story of "Four Good Days ." is based on true characters and I was pleased to read that as of 2021, Amanda Wendler (on whom this film was based) has been clean for 4 years. She and her mother Libby Andler now advocate for addicts and their families their picture appears just at the start of the credits.

I can tell you think brings to light, very accurately, the balance between an addict trying to get clean and needing support, and not having any trust from those that can provide it. It's so accurate, so balanced, and ultimately demonstrates the broad impact that addiction has on everyone in the addict's universe. And....shut up MEG! 😉