Clean & Sober (1988)

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 Amazon.com essential video

OK

I picked this film up for it's 80's nostalgia. It depicts the AA/NA meetings/groups and sponsors well. it's still hollywood, but is pretty true to form. Great performance by Morgan Freeman and Michael Keaton. December 26, 2008

Very good.

This is a true to life movie that shows denial as well as the way everyone can fall back. December 16, 2008

Serious topic affecting 70 million Americans

CLEAN AND SOBER, starring MICHAEL KEATON (MK), MORGAN FREEMAN, KATHY BAKER, is a movie that will potentially raise as many questions as the answers that is gives out, considering that it touches upon the subjects of narcotics addiction, alcoholism, and the disorder and chaos that is felt in many people's personal lives.

Not knowing MK personally, the work suggests an almost invisible line between the character that is played by MK in the film, and MK himself, as an actor, such is the realistic feel of the flow of events.

The story starts out with MK snorting cocaine with the daughter of a client, from whom he
embezzles $92,000 to speculate on the stock market with high risk derivatives and options, albeit only being a realtor or real estate agent. This puts his job in jeopardy at his employer, obviously, and the substance abuse is coupled with alcoholism, temper tantrums,
deafness in aspects of social skills with those surrounding him, the loss of control over
his over destiny and the annhiliation of his own reputation, that is actually crucial
for any salesperson to survive in a highly competitive field, where trust is paramount
with the clients, before any deal can close successfully.

The value of this work, is not the cinematography (merely TV box-sized release), as the colors seem to lack luster, or the bland and unimaginative music. Rather, the uniqueness of the film, is the attempt to educate the viewer in how a de-tox program unfolds.

The program begins with a 48 hour cold turkey cessation of substances, often in bed. The withdrawal symptoms (vomiting, cold sweats) disappear between 2 to 5 days later, at which point the coordinator (played by Morgan Freeman) urges participants to exert an intense athletics and exercise program (pushups, etc) so as to help the mind focus on the desired end and tasks at hand.

The next phase, is a sequence of town hall meetings, to naturally satisfy the natural impulse of participants to discuss their lives, what led up to their addiction in drugs and alcohol,
and to hear others do the same, taking and learning while they go along.

Next, a so-called "Family Room" is occupied, apparently signaling that a psychological
intimacy has been achieved, and a total honesty among all heretofore, with a continuation of physical activity, exercise which turns into "probations" under which, the individuals
are allowed to communicate with the outside world for the first time since they started (the phone, and travel from the detox center being isolated since day 1.)

Morgan's character is well trained in reading people's faces in terms of whether they are being totally honest and upfront about how clean they are and to what degree they've adhered to the program thus far, and actually kicks out several people for not sticking with it,
or lying about deviation from the process. Eventually, a graduation is held, that is appropriately celebrated with music and dance.

The film shows that the completion of the detox, is not a destination, or an end in itself, but a fresh starting point, or motivator to being sorting out the anarchy, or disorder that is present in each of the participant's personal and professional lives. For some, as with MK's character, this is easier said than done, as was the case with cleaning his own addiction, as he's admittedly become dependent on a married woman for his own romantic
impulses, herself struggling with a husband with a substance problem and a shaky marriage.

The lesson to be drawn is difficult to discern. Are financially troubled people, with bruised ego's and low self-esteem from professional and / or personal success more susceptible and prone to substance abuse and alcoholism? Or does addiction occur more frequently among those suffering from OCS (obsessive compulsive disorder) for example, as MK's character seems to show ? Do the problems relate to a biological inability to happily grow older as the years pass? Kathy Baker's and MK seem to revert to a teenage romance with its corresponding joy despite their actual ages, with a nostalgic trip in time to the JFK years of 1962 hit songs.

At the end of the day, there is only so much that any given individual can expect, whether before or after the detox program, from friends, family, employer, which is that nobody wants to pull the weight of another person who refuses to do so. Life isn't perfect, but one cannot give up on life under the excuse of those imperfections ( not being well connected, others are allowed to get away with financial schemes, etc.)

A questionable decision, in the editing room, was exposing several times the behinds of several actors, messy arm pits, and long dialogs in the urinal while taking samples.

The most remarkable is the finding of a sponsor, during the detox program, who is the addict's personal life-line to curing their problem, and clearing the way to a more probable successful outcome, by carrying out emotional discussions, flushing pills, hard liquor and substances down the toilet, etc.

Be advised that a healthy liver weighs only 3.5 lbs, and can grow to weigh 4 times heavier when abused. September 5, 2008

Michael Keaton in rare dramatic role!!! Such a great film and a very underated actor!

This film is a keeper,the underated and always wonderful Michael Keaton(a very underated actor that we don't see enough of anymore) in rare dramatic film about the effects of cocaine abuse,and trying to kick the habit. Great supporting cast that includes Morgan Freeman,M.Emmmet Walsh,and Kathy Baker. I guess the only quibble I have with the DVD is that it's Standard Full Frame and NOT anamorpic widesceeen,but it's still a nice transfer overall. It's the performances that matter with this one!!! Recommended!!! Two thumbs up! A+ August 20, 2008

Clean and Sober review

Clean and Sober is my favorite Michael Keaton movie. His portrayal of a man caught up in the fast lane who gets in over his head with drugs and alcohol is stunningly realistic. Watching Keaton go through an addicts journey to sobriety is painful, poignant, and at times humorous. Clean and Sober is one of my 'feel good' movies. July 13, 2008

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