Clean and Sober

Michael Keaton can act. I love him in comedy, but in a drama like "Clean and Sober" with his deliver of a few comedic dead-pan lines, he can't be beat. Although apparently the Academy thought differently. "Clean and Sober" is a tough film to watch, dark and depressing. Based on most responses, it's probably one of the more realistic and better-executed drug and alcohol addiction movies. That's only if you can stand to watch it. I have very limited experience with drug and alcohol addiction and was unable to relate to any of the characters. I also couldn't muster up much sympathy or empathy for them either. I do love romance, but here I just wanted Keaton to get clean and sober and to not get involved with the women. With my lack of interest in the characters and their situations, this film offered me very little, and I found it boring and slow-moving. The film also doesn't seem to stand up to the test of time. Very dark lighting that made it look like a bad 70s cop show. But then again with its dark content, that might be on purpose. My personal recommendation is to not watch "Clean and Sober" but if you are looking for a drug and alcohol addiction film, or are taking a class on Michael Keaton roles, then this is certainly worth a look.

source: Clean and Sober

source: Clean and Sober

source: Clean and Sober

source: Clean and Sober

Michael Keaton is one of my all-time favorites. I've loved him ever since I saw 'Batman', as a kid, I imagined being him while playing to be the dark knight. As I grew up, the late 1990's, Keaton was not being seen much in movies. But as a fan, I continued watching his movies. Be it his hits or flops, I followed the characters he portrayed. 'Clean And Sober' is a film that makes me proud to be a Michael Keaton Fan. He delivers like never before. He plays his careers most important, message-oriented, complicated role in 'Clean And Sober'. He plays a hot-shot real estate dude, who's a drug-phony and has a lot to do with a recent death. Keaton gives this dark and selfish character so much of depth, that he over-takes the entire film. He is the life of the show. As a film 'Clean And Sober' caters to a niche audience. It's a mature film, that you begin to understand slowly. But it has terrific moments, superb dialogue, and as mentioned from the very start, Michael Keaton At His Very Best! Reccmended to all Keaton buffs out there, this is a performance that we can cherish about for a really long time.

Daryl Poynter (Michael Keaton) is a high-powered real estate salesman. He gets caught embezzling money losing much of it in the stock market. He wakes up next to an OD woman after doing cocaine with her. He tries to run away and ends up signing into an anonymous drug rehab program. He clashes with counselor Craig (Morgan Freeman) who has seen it all before. Richard Dirks (M. Emmet Walsh) becomes his sponsor. He starts flirting with Charlie Standers (Kathy Baker) who is addicted with abusive boyfriend Lenny. Keaton goes darker pre-Batman. It's not an appealing character. He's ugly and destructive. It's an addiction and rehab movie. It is full of darkness. It does go outside of the standard rehab story with Charlie. It's not a fun watch but Keaton gets to stretch away from his comedic roles.

Michael Keaton is fantastic in "Clean and Sober". What a great performance. The film itself is a fairly good analysis of the drug rehab process--the process of denial to acceptance. The first half of the film is particularly good, but it gets a bit uneven toward the latter half when it strays from its original premise into a romantic entanglement. All in all, Keaton really delivers in this one--Daryl is at times pathetic, funny, sympathetic, and just a plain sleaze. However, "Clean and Sober" shows quite well what lengths the addict will go to, and the "multiple personalities" he will take on, in order to get that next snort or the next drink.

If you don't want to see a gripping, realistic portrayal of drug addiction and it ultimate consequences, then don't see this movie! Keaton gives new meaning to the word "acting", in fact, he doesn't even seem to be acting. You almost fell as though you are watching a live documentary on how far one person can fall. M. Emmet Walsh also gives a fabulous, understated performance. I've seen this film several times, and it still grips me. It has such a realistic and "sweaty" feel to it, you feel like showering after seeing it. A 9 out of 10.

Without a doubt, one of the most under-appreciated movies of all time. If I had to pick the greatest acting performances of all time, Michael Keaton would be in the top 10. I was floored by the essence of a drug addict that Michael Keaton played. I didn't know until now, but the fact that he didn't even get a best actor nomination is a travesty. He did, however, win a Film Critic Award for best actor. The year this movie came out must have been a year of great movies, either that, or the Academy sucks. The part near the beginning of the movie where he is at his friends house, and his friend is going to play tennis, and Michael Keaton says, "do you mind getting me another one of those beers?" was exceptional, and then you knew this was going to be a great movie. Morgan Freeman does an exceptional job as the drug counselor (but then I expect nothing but great performances by this man). And the casting was also exceptional. The only problems with this movie I felt were that overall it seemed like a very low budget movie, and Kathy Baker was a drag on the overall message. I have never been impressed by her, so I may be a little biased against her.