Alcoholics Anonymous
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: What are some good movies that deal with alcoholism?


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 925
Date:
What are some good movies that deal with alcoholism?
Permalink  
 


Ive seen clean and  sober with Michael Keaton, really liked it, also seen Leaving Las Vegas with Nicolas Cage...Im sure theres a lot more, any recomendations? Thanks...

__________________
 

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

 

 



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 714
Date:
Permalink  
 

I loved "My Name is Bill W." Can't think of the guy who plays Bill, but he's so good. Gary Sinese plays Ebby, and James Garner is Dr. Bob. The significance of the moment when Bill and Bob meet was played well in my opinion. Oh yeah, it was James Woods. When he's fumbling desperately in the house to find just that one more drop of ANY alcoholic something, rumaging through every possible place, I thought he acted that so well, I related to the moment of knowing in your heart that what you're doing is totally insane, but the disease is demanding MORE, NOW! Get that one. The extras with the actor's interviews were interesting too.

The new one where the story of the founding days of AA is told from Lois' point of view, that was pretty good too. Probably not out on DVD yet. The picture of the alcoholic from the partner's view, ouch, that was hard to watch.

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 925
Date:
Permalink  
 

wonder if my local Blockbuster has it, thanks!

__________________
 

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

 

 



Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 362
Date:
Permalink  
 

I have been recommended "The Days of Wine and Roses," although I haven't seen it yet.

GG

__________________


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 284
Date:
Permalink  
 

A couple of other classics are "Days of Wine and Roses" (Jack Lemon) and "The Lost Weekend" (Ray Milland). 

They are a bit dated, but emotionally powerful.

__________________
Lexie
   
~ one breath at a time


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 487
Date:
Permalink  
 

BARFLY.

__________________


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 450
Date:
Permalink  
 

I've got a bunch that deal with alcoholism and addiction. "My name is Bill W." is a classic, as well as "Day's of Wine and Roses" and "The Lost Weekend". Then there's "Drunks", "Clean and Sober", "Barfly", "When a Man Loves a Woman", and one of my Favorite, "16 Years of Alcohol". Another good one that came out recently is "Crazy Heart"... definitely worth watching.

Brian

__________________

Ruadh gu brath



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 1683
Date:
Permalink  
 

Leaving Las Vegas with Nicholas Cage? How about The Grapes of Wrath? There's an oldie....

__________________
~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do
that which you have no ability to do.


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 284
Date:
Permalink  
 

Actually, Grapes of Wrath has nothing to do with drinking. The title's a reference to the Battle Hymn of the Republic--the story is about a family during the Dust Bowl days of the Great Depression.

__________________
Lexie
   
~ one breath at a time


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 1683
Date:
Permalink  
 

Ahhhh!! "Days of Wine and Roses"......... thanks Lexie!!!

__________________
~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do
that which you have no ability to do.


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 212
Date:
Permalink  
 

That's about all I could think of.......easy to identify with those movies eh?!  Some better than others.......good list!!

__________________
There but for the grace of God go I.


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 6464
Date:
Permalink  
 

I feel ill after I watch most of them and have drunk dreams.  no


__________________

 Gratitude = Happiness!







MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 2385
Date:
Permalink  
 

Yes I saw Days of wine and roses with jack lemmon at an early age with my mom's,,she was a closet alcoholic,before i knew it,,wasnt long after I was sneaking it.....and off to the races..old but powerful............................

__________________
Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 714
Date:
Permalink  
 

That reminds me, I have a movie related question for the board:  So many people seemed to recommend "The Hangover" when it came out. 

I wasn't sure the script shared any principles that I value and in that case I might not appreciate the humor.  I do love a good comedy so I went back and forth on renting that one.  Anybody here see that?  Many said it was anti-booze binging, but none of those that said that are sober.

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 1683
Date:
Permalink  
 

UGH HATE it. My ex immediately bopught it, and let his 10 year old son watch it!!! AAAAAACCCKK!!! b@$#%^&%*&^*

Stupid stupid stupid stupid.... please don't waste a moment's time or one molecule of oxygen on that movie. It rates up there with "Dude, Where's my Car?" and other trifling stupid movies...

__________________
~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do
that which you have no ability to do.


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 450
Date:
Permalink  
 

I wouldn't necessarily consider "The Hangover" a recovery based movie, but I really enjoyed it. I guess to each his own. Best I can say is watch it and be your own judge. I'm glad I learned how to do that...If I hadn't I would have missed out on allot of good (imo) movies.

I'm finding that open minedeness works for more than just sobriety!!!

Brian

__________________

Ruadh gu brath



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 925
Date:
Permalink  
 

The Hangover is funny and the drinking just happens the firs night, the rest of the movie is mainly about them trying to figure what happened the night before in Vegas...

__________________
 

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

 

 



Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 146
Date:
Permalink  
 

James Woods played Bill W. Great movie. When a Man Loves a Woman was really powerful for me because of the impact of Meg Ryan's disease on the children, -- I've got two (now 22 and 19) so it hit home.

I actually enjoyed The Hangover. While silly, I found it very entertaining.

__________________


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 3809
Date:
Permalink  
 

28 days is good. With Sandra Bullock. It does do justice to recovery for the most part and captures her demoralization pretty well....it's a little bit cutesy for what is life and death for us but that's okay...

Many of those movies hurt too much to watch for a while. I didn't even watch TV for the first 6 months of sobriety...



__________________
Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 450
Date:
Permalink  
 

Steve and ferrisdp...Glad to hear I wasn't the only one that found humor in that movie. I actually found myself feeling sorry for the poor fools, and could relate to some of it.  I still get a big laugh from the "Not you fat jesus" line LMAO.

Brian

-- Edited by Reffner on Saturday 17th of July 2010 06:22:44 PM

__________________

Ruadh gu brath



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 525
Date:
Permalink  
 

Days of Wine and Roses is a classic far as Im concerned . I bought the dvd and watch it occasionally for that little reminder ....

__________________

 



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 1683
Date:
Permalink  
 

Just for the record, not really "offended" by Hangover, it is just very stupid, in my opinion.... and that is ALL it is, an opinion. To each our own, right!? :o)

__________________
~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do
that which you have no ability to do.


MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 6464
Date:
Permalink  
 

pinkchip wrote:

28 days is good. With Sandra Bullock. It does do justice to recovery for the most part and captures her demoralization pretty well....it's a little bit cutesy for what is life and death for us but that's okay...

Many of those movies hurt too much to watch for a while. I didn't even watch TV for the first 6 months of sobriety...



Agreed, that was painful to watch. 

" I didn't even watch TV for the first 6 months of sobriety..."

It was more like a year for me.  And about a year afer that, I saw an advertisment to buy pieces of the Berlin wall and I said to someone ~  "What are the Russians going to say about that?"  and the person replied  "Did you not know that the Berlin wall was torn down 2 years ago?"   imslow.gif

 



__________________

 Gratitude = Happiness!







MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 925
Date:
Permalink  
 

Anymore? I watched half of crazy heart but started getting urges after he was puking on stage..weird I know but didnt want to trigger anything..

__________________
 

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

 

 



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 925
Date:
Permalink  
 

Any more to recommend?

__________________
 

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

 

 



MIP Old Timer

Status: Offline
Posts: 925
Date:
Permalink  
 

bump an old thread :)

__________________
 

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

 

 

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.