Product Description

A hotshot real-estate broker with a substance abuse problem finds himself in trouble after borrowing money from his company, so he \hides" in a 21-day detox program.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: 1-JUN-2004
Media Type: DVD"""

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17077 in DVD
• Brand: KEATON,MICHAEL
• Released on: 2004-06-01
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 124 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
After making his mark in several hit comedies including Beetlejuice, Michael Keaton startled critics and audiences alike with his acclaimed performance in this 1988 drama about one man's struggle against cocaine addiction. Keaton's comedic energy is transformed here into the kind of jittery intensity that's perfect for his role, suggesting a driven personality who can maintain the appearance of self-control for only so long before he crashes and burns. After a series of setbacks, Keaton's character seeks refuge in a drug rehabilitation program and must confront the truth of his own addiction at the urging of a counselor (Morgan Freeman) who's heard every lame excuse in the book from addicts struggling to quit. Kathy Baker leads a superb supporting cast as a recovering alcoholic and battered wife whose flagging self-esteem is boosted by Keaton's attention. Under the careful direction of Glenn Gordon Caron (of TV's Moonlighting fame), Keaton and Baker handle this delicate material with consummate skill and grace, turning a potentially depressing story into a moving portrait of people who must battle their inner demons step by tentative step. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Sobering, Thought-Provoking Film
One of the toughest things about drug and alcohol addiction is owning up to the fact of that addiction; being able to say, "I'm an addict." Because until that happens, the addiction will continue and the prospect of getting any help will lessen with each passing day. And the important thing is getting that help before it's too late, regardless of how it comes about. It's being able to recognize the opportunity and having the gumption to take advantage of it, which is what happens to a young man on the brink of disaster in "Clean and Sober," directed by Glenn Gordon Caron. Michael Keaton stars as Daryl Poynter, a high power real estate broker with a couple of problems: He's appropriated some $90,000 from an escrow account to play the stock market (which quickly took a nose-dive on him, leaving him about $52,000 short), but that's not even his biggest problem; his biggest problem is that he's a cocaine addict, as well as an alcoholic-- and he doesn't even know it. All he knows is that his life is in turmoil and he can't fathom why. And when a girl picks up at a mall ODs in his bed one morning, his life really begins to fall apart. He needs some time to sort things out and he needs to get away-- to hide for awhile-- and he comes up with a brilliant idea; he'll hide out in a rehab center where they guarantee anonymity and confidentiality.

He checks in, and it works. Nobody knows where he is, and the rules of the house prevent him from having any contact with the outside world. But Daryl-- a born hustler-- has hustled himself into a corner this time. Because he can't stay in if he doesn't play the game, which precipitates taking a long, hard look at himself. So for the first time in his life he gets caught up in his own scam; and it just may be his salvation. But before he can come back, he's going to have to hit rock bottom first, which he does-- in a pivotal scene involving a phone call to his mother. And it's only when he's faced with total collapse that he finally begins to look inward, and to take stock of how he measures up against the others he meets at the facility; when he starts to realize that he's not the only person on the planet.

Working from a tightly written screenplay by Tod Carroll, director Caron delivers a hard-hitting film that takes an uncompromising look at the effects of addiction, without relying or dwelling upon the physical aspects of the problem to illustrate the depths of despair to which it can lead. To be sure, Daryl looks strung out; but that aside, the story relentlessly chronicles how swiftly drugs and alcohol can wreck a life in all regards. It's a powerful statement, unflinchingly delivered in a concise and straightforward manner. Caron approaches the subject head-on, avoiding any melodramatics while keeping it grounded in reality, which enhances the impact of the drama as it plays out. And it clearly demonstrates how far-reaching the problem is, in that it touches so many others-- friends and family-- any and all who come into contact with Daryl. It gives a personal perspective on the issue that is even more pronounced, in fact, than that of Sandra Bullock's "28 Days" or the more recent "Blow," and is more emotionally involving as well, on the level of Steven Soderbergh's affecting drama, "Traffic." This is an Oscar-worthy film on any number of levels, but 1988 was the year of "Rain Man," and the Academy was clearly looking in another direction, leaving this film without even a nomination. And it's a shame.

As Daryl, Michael Keaton gives a performance that had Oscar written all over it; that he failed to receive even a nomination for his work here is a travesty, as this is without question the best he's ever done and on a par with any of the best of that year, including Hoffman's Oscar-winner. Whenever an actor can disappear within a character so completely-- as Keaton does here-- it speaks volumes about the performance and the believability of that character; and there's no sign of Keaton when Daryl is on screen. Keaton has a very definitive persona, but as you watch Daryl, there's not so much as a fleeting glimpse of Billy Blaze in "Night Shift," Carter Hayes in "Pacific Heights," Jack in "Mr. Mom," or even "Beetlejuice" or "Batman." With Daryl, Keaton has created a unique character, so real and presented with such intensity, that even a passing thought that this is an actor playing a role is impossible. And that's a performance that deserves much more than a passing nod of acknowledgement.

Also turning in an extremely affecting performance is Kathy Baker, as Charlie Standers, a fellow addict Daryl meets in rehab. Baker has an alluring quality that works perfectly for the blue-collar character of Charlie, whose vulnerability quickly gains the sympathy of the audience and helps to draw you into the story emotionally. There's an obvious softness beneath Charlie's rough-hewn exterior that is becoming, a down-to-earth aspect of the character that Baker conveys quite nicely. This is a very real person she puts up on the screen, and it's easy to believe that she operates a crane in a steel mill, because there's nothing in the way Charlie is presented that is false or pretentious. It's a solid performance, and one of the strengths of the film.

The supporting cast includes Morgan Freeman, who gives an understated, impressive performance as Craig, Daryl's counselor; Claudia Christian (Iris); M. Emmet Walsh (Richard), Tate Donovan (Donald), Brian Benben (Martin) and Henry Judd Baker (Xavier). A realistic examination of a problem that affects virtually everyone either directly or indirectly, "Clean and Sober" is a sobering film that, while at times is emotionally draining, is nevertheless a worthwhile and entirely satisfying experience.

A Perfect Film
There is no other way to say it. The acting is perfect, with Michael Keaton giving us a performance that calling wonderful would be an understatement. He gives of radiance. He takes us deep into the world of a coke addict, showing us every level of a man trying to run from his personal demons only to discover he has nowhere to hide. The script is brilliant, leaving no stone unturned in the quest to conquer addiction. The characters are sharply defined and deep in inner turmoil, with their every nook and cranny of their monumental personal struggles brought out for all to see. The direction is swift and sure, and the tone is gritty and real without being oppressive. It's an utterly brilliant, deeply haunting, character driven, emotional roller caoster ride that makes you weep for these poor souls from beginning to end. It's perfect. It deserved every oscar in existance (it received none, which serves as further proof that awards shows are a joke). Forget "Traffic". Ignore "Less than Zero". This is simply the greatest addiction film ever made. Enjoy.

A decent movie with some weaknesses
This was an entertaining movie with some strong performances. However, something about it is lacking an air of realism. I've attended many AA and NA meetings myself, and the portrayal here is somewhat cliched and not completely accurate. I've also been through several treatments, and the portrayal here is also "off" somehow. Modern treatment centers don't really operate in the way things are portrayed here. If you want to know what most AA meetings are really like, find an "open" meeting in your area and attend it. However, this movie was entertaining and the performances are good. It was a bit over-long, and there was too much focus on the romance between Keaton and Baker. More realism, less sentimentality and a little more cutting-room time, and this movie could have been better. But I enjoyed it.

Note - The DVD version is offered only in pan-and-scan, and there are literally no features on the disc.