Clean and Sober Review
Hello, everyone. This is Mr. Birdwell with his first ever review of Rebooted Reviews. I am looking forward to writing many more blogs to come. I hope this is an insightful process and gives some movies and shows out there that have been overlooked new attention. So let’s get started. The pilot blog if you will. Today, I am going to be discussing the 1988 drama “Clean and Sober.”
“Clean and Sober” is a 1988 drama starring Michael Keaton, Morgan Freeman, Kathy Baker, and M. Emmett Walsh. In the film Keaton plays Daryl Poynter, a man with a drug addiction who enters a rehabilitation center to escape his problems of the world and hide out in anonymity.
Now when it comes to substance abuse in movies, they tend to go in two different directions. The first is the comedic aspect. It’s the kind of movie where characters abuse either drugs or alcohol, and there are no consequences for their actions. The second is the over dramatic type. This is the kind of film where the message that drugs are bad is too preachy and the film glossies the person getting help.
“Clean and Sober” does a good job at portraying someone with an addiction. The first to talk about is Michael Keaton. He’s always been one of my favorite actors. I believe this was his first dramatic role and he just nails it. He’s believable in the role and you buy his character. Up until this point, he was known for comedies such as “Night Shift” and “Mr. Mom”.
My favorite scene he is in is when he breaks into his office at work looking for some money. He calls his mother in the middle of the night asking for a large sum of money. Judging by the circumstances, you can tell his mother is freaking out. Keaton tries to calm her down, but to no avail. All the while, there is a maintenance person who is watching him trashing his office and turning it upside down.
The supporting cast is great too. Morgan Freeman does an excellent as the drug counselor. He delivers my favorite line in the film. “The best way to break old habits is to make new ones.” Kathy Baker is superb as Charlie, a fellow drug addict in the rehab clinic. Keaton’s character becomes infatuated with her, but she is in a lot more trouble than he is. M. Emmett Walsh’s performance is overlooked too. He plays Keaton’s sponsor, who helps him sees the error of his ways because his character has been down that terrible road.
If I had any issues with the film, it is the way the movie was marketed. First, it was released in the late summer of 1988. In the summer, no one wants to see a heavy filled drama. They want to see big budget action films. Second, there hardly any trailers out there. The one I was able to find pretty much spoils the movie. I could tell it was for a home video release.
Overall, “Clean and Sober” is an excellent drama that focuses on the effects of drug abuse, and the steps one takes to go on a better path in life. It is a film that deserves another look, for the performances especially. If you haven’t seen it, I strongly recommend it. For my overall rating, I’m going to give “Clean and Sober” a 4.5/5.
Thank you so much for reading my first review. If you have seen this film, what are your thoughts? Let me know. I’m looking forward to reviewing more things that deserve a second look. This is Mr. Birdwell saying, “Keep Reading and Watching. You’ll never know when you find something remarkable.”
Hello, everyone. This is Mr. Birdwell with his first ever review of Rebooted Reviews. I am looking forward to writing many more blogs to come. I hope this is an insightful process and gives some movies and shows out there that have been overlooked new attention. So let’s get started. The pilot blog if you will. Today, I am going to be discussing the 1988 drama “Clean and Sober.”
“Clean and Sober” is a 1988 drama starring Michael Keaton, Morgan Freeman, Kathy Baker, and M. Emmett Walsh. In the film Keaton plays Daryl Poynter, a man with a drug addiction who enters a rehabilitation center to escape his problems of the world and hide out in anonymity.
Now when it comes to substance abuse in movies, they tend to go in two different directions. The first is the comedic aspect. It’s the kind of movie where characters abuse either drugs or alcohol, and there are no consequences for their actions. The second is the over dramatic type. This is the kind of film where the message that drugs are bad is too preachy and the film glossies the person getting help.
“Clean and Sober” does a good job at portraying someone with an addiction. The first to talk about is Michael Keaton. He’s always been one of my favorite actors. I believe this was his first dramatic role and he just nails it. He’s believable in the role and you buy his character. Up until this point, he was known for comedies such as “Night Shift” and “Mr. Mom”.
My favorite scene he is in is when he breaks into his office at work looking for some money. He calls his mother in the middle of the night asking for a large sum of money. Judging by the circumstances, you can tell his mother is freaking out. Keaton tries to calm her down, but to no avail. All the while, there is a maintenance person who is watching him trashing his office and turning it upside down.
The supporting cast is great too. Morgan Freeman does an excellent as the drug counselor. He delivers my favorite line in the film. “The best way to break old habits is to make new ones.” Kathy Baker is superb as Charlie, a fellow drug addict in the rehab clinic. Keaton’s character becomes infatuated with her, but she is in a lot more trouble than he is. M. Emmett Walsh’s performance is overlooked too. He plays Keaton’s sponsor, who helps him sees the error of his ways because his character has been down that terrible road.
If I had any issues with the film, it is the way the movie was marketed. First, it was released in the late summer of 1988. In the summer, no one wants to see a heavy filled drama. They want to see big budget action films. Second, there hardly any trailers out there. The one I was able to find pretty much spoils the movie. I could tell it was for a home video release.
Overall, “Clean and Sober” is an excellent drama that focuses on the effects of drug abuse, and the steps one takes to go on a better path in life. It is a film that deserves another look, for the performances especially. If you haven’t seen it, I strongly recommend it. For my overall rating, I’m going to give “Clean and Sober” a 4.5/5.
Thank you so much for reading my first review. If you have seen this film, what are your thoughts? Let me know. I’m looking forward to reviewing more things that deserve a second look. This is Mr. Birdwell saying, “Keep Reading and Watching. You’ll never know when you find something remarkable.”