RE 65: Movies about alcohol, sobriety, recovery, drunkness, and getting sober

In this episode Angela, with nearly 10 months of sobriety, shares how she did it.

Here are some great movies about alcohol, sobriety, recovery, drunkenness, and getting sober!

 

Thank you to Marueen from Cafe RE who helped put this list together!

Burnt (2015) Bradley Cooper 1 hour, 40 minutes Comedy/Drama

Synopsis:
Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) is a chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.
Director: John Wells
Writers: Steven Knight (screenplay), Michael Kalesniko (story)
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl | See full cast & crew »

2.  Smashed (2012) Aaron Paul 1 hour, 21 minutes Drama

Synopsis:

A married couple whose bond is built on a mutual love of alcohol gets their relationship put to the test when the wife decides to get sober.
Director: James Ponsoldt
Writers: Susan Burke, James Ponsoldt
Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman | See full cast & crew »

3.  Everything Must Go (2010) Will Farrell
Comedy/Drama

Synopsis:

When an alcoholic relapses, causing him to lose his wife and his job, he holds a yard sale on his front lawn in an attempt to start over. A new neighbor might be the key to his return to form.
Director: Dan Rush
Writers: Dan Rush, Raymond Carver (short story "Why Don't You Dance")
Stars: Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, Christopher Jordan Wallace | See full cast & crew »

4.  Shakes The Clown (1991) Bobcat Goldthwait Drama/Comedy/Murder

Synopsis:

Shakes plods about his duties as party clown, and uses all of his free time getting seriously drunk. Binky, another clown, wins the spot on a local kiddie show, which depresses Shakes even more, and his boss threatens him with unemployment if he can't get his act under control. When someone murders Shakes' boss and makes it look like Shakes did it, he goes undercover, posing as a hated mime, and tries to find information that will clear his name.
- Written by Ed Sutton

5.  My Name Is Bill W. (1989) James Woods
Drama (TV Movie)

Synopsis:
Based on the true story of Bill W. (James Woods), a successful stock broker whose life falls apart after the stock crash of the 20's and how he comes to grips with his alcoholism. Along with a fellow alcoholic (James Garner) he forms a support group that would eventually become Alcoholics Anonymous.
- Written by Humberto Amador

6.  Barfly (1987) Mickey Rourke
Drama  1 hour, 40 minutes

Synopsis:
Based on the life of successful poet Charles Bukowski and his exploits in Hollywood during the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Writer: Charles Bukowski
Stars: Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway, Alice Krige | See full cast & crew »

7.  Crazy Heart (2009) Jeff Bridges,
Drama/Music/ Romance  1 hour, 52 minutes

Synopsis:
A faded country music musician is forced to reassess his dysfunctional life during a doomed romance that also inspires him.
Director: Scott Cooper
Writers: Scott Cooper, Thomas Cobb (novel)
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell | See full cast & crew »

8.  Days of Wine And Roses (1962) Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick
Drama/ Romance

Synopsis:
An alcoholic falls in love with and gets married to a young woman, whom he systematically addicts to booze so they can share his "passion" together.
Director: Blake Edwards
Writer: J.P. Miller (as JP Miller)
Stars: Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick, Charles Bickford | See full cast & crew »

9.  Drunks (1995) Richard Lewis, Liza Harris    Drama

Synopsis:
At the beginning of a nightly Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Jim seems particularly troubled. His sponsor encourages him to talk that night, the first time in seven months, so he does - and leaves the meeting right after. As Jim wanders the night, searching for some solace in his old stomping grounds, bars and parks where he bought drugs, the meeting goes on, and we hear the stories of survivors and addicts - some, like Louis, who claim to have wandered in looking for choir practice, who don't call themselves alcoholic, and others, like Joseph, whose drinking almost caused the death of his child - as they talk about their lives at the meeting.
- Written by Gary Dickerson
10.  Rachel Getting Married (2008) Anne Hathaway
Drama 1 hour, 53 minutes

Synopsis:
A young woman who has been in and out of rehab for the past 10 years returns home for the weekend for her sister's wedding.
Director: Jonathan Demme
Writer: Jenny Lumet
Stars: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Debra Winger | See full cast & crew »

11.  Unguarded - The Chris Herren Story (2013) Chris Herren
Drama

Synopsis:
Chris Herren was a "can't miss" basketball superstar until drug addiction eventually destroyed his career. With the support of his wife and family, Herren struggles to conquer his demons and reclaim his life.
Director: Jonathan Hock
Stars: Chris Herren, Rick Pitino, Bill Reynolds |See full cast & crew »

12.  28 Days - Sandra Bullock (2000) Drama/Comedy 1 hour, 43 minutes

Synopsis:
A big-city newspaper columnist is forced to enter a drug and alcohol rehab center after ruining her sister's wedding and crashing a stolen limousine.
Director: Betty Thomas
Writer: Susannah Grant
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West | See full cast & crew »

13.  When A Man Loves A Woman - Meg Ryan,  Andy Garcia (1994)
Drama 2 hours, 6 minutes

Synopsis:
An airline pilot and his wife are forced to face the consequences of her alcoholism when her addictions threaten her life and their daughter's safety. While the woman enters detox, her husband must face the truth of his enabling behavior.
Director: Luis Mandoki
Writers: Ronald Bass, Al Franken
Stars: Meg Ryan, Andy Garcia, Ellen Burstyn | See full cast & crew »

14.  Leaving Las Vegas - Nic Cage,  Elizabeth Shue (1995)
Drama 1 hour, 51 minutes

Synopsis:
Nicolas Cage garnered a Best Actor Oscar for his hauntingly disturbing "Leaving Las Vegas" is a dark and tragic film that shows you how low you can fall and just how bad things can get. It portrays a dead-on picture of alcoholism and what exactly one goes through when they've hit rock bottom. As tragic as it is, this is a very beautiful and well-done film that keeps your attention to the bitter end.
Ben Sanderson (Nicholas Cage) is an alcoholic who has nothing left to live for but the very booze that seems to be the only happiness he can find. His friends want nothing to do with him and women are disgusted by him. After being let go from his job, Ben burns all of his possessions and moves to Las Vegas, where his only plan is to drink himself to death. In a short amount of time he meets Sera (Elisabeth Shue), a lonely hooker who has been through it all. An unexpected bond is formed between the two and love falls upon them that can only end in tragedy.
Boy, was this a hard movie to watch, but it was so well-done and executed. You are able to sympathize with both Ben and Sera, despite the paths they have chosen. Nicholas Cage was amazing and brilliant. No wonder why he won an Academy Award for his performance. You really buy into the fact that he is this sad character who wants nothing more but to destroy himself by the only thing that can bring him some sense of false happiness. Shue is also terrific in her role and should be applauded as well. The two are explosive as a team and can really bring the house down.
The DVD is fair; nothing too special. You can have your choice of either watching the movie in widescreen or full screen. The picture for the most part looks good; not the best, but good. The main special feature this DVD offers is a trailer for the film and a bonus secret page.Read more ›

15.  Clean And Sober - Michael Keaton  (1988)
Drama 1 hour, 51 minutes

Synopsis:
Nicolas Cage garnered a Best Actor Oscar for his hauntingly disturbing
A hustling drug addict checks himself into rehab to escape trouble with the law, and realizes that it's exactly what he needs.
Director: Glenn Gordon Caron
Writer: Tod Carroll
Stars: Michael Keaton, Kathy Baker, Morgan Freeman | See full cast & crew »

16.  The Basketball Diaries - Leonardo DiCaprio   (1995)
Drama/Biography 1 hour, 42 minutes

Synopsis:
Nicolas Cage garnered a Best Actor Oscar for his hauntingly disturbing
A teenager finds his dreams of becoming a basketball star threatened after he free falls into the harrowing world of drug addiction.
Director: Scott Kalvert
Writers: Jim Carroll (novel), Bryan Goluboff (screenplay)
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Bracco, Marilyn Sokol |

17.   The Lost Weekend (1945) Drama 1 hour, 41 minutes

Synopsis:
The desperate life of a chronic alcoholic is followed through a four day drinking bout.
Director: Billy Wilder
Writers: Charles R. Jackson (from the novel by), Charles Brackett (screen play) |1 more credit »
Stars: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, Phillip Terry | See full cast & crew

18.   Shame (2011) Drama 1 hour, 41 minutes

Synopsis:
In New York City, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life -- which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction -- is disrupted when his sister arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.
Director: Steve McQueen
Writers: Steve McQueen, Abi Morgan | 1 more credit »
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale | See full cast & crew »

19. Postcards From The Edge   (1990) Drama 1 hour, 41 minutes

Synopsis:
A substance-addicted actress tries to look on the bright side even as she is forced to move back in with her mother to avoid unemployment.
Director: Mike Nichols
Writers: Carrie Fisher (book), Carrie Fisher (screenplay)
Stars: Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Quaid | See full cast & crew

20. Flight   (2012) Drama
2 hours, 10 minutes

Synopsis:
An airline pilot saves almost all his passengers on his malfunctioning airliner which eventually crashed, but an investigation into the accident reveals something troubling.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writer: John Gatins
Stars: Denzel Washington, Nadine Velazquez, Don Cheadle | See full cast & crew

21. Thanks For Sharing  (2013) Drama/Comedy 2 hours, 10 minutes

Synopsis:
A romantic comedy that brings together three disparate characters who are learning to face a challenging and often confusing world as they struggle together against a common demon: sex addiction.
Director: Stuart Blumberg
Writers: Stuart Blumberg, Matt Winston
Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Gwyneth Paltrow | See full cast & crew

22. Suck It Up Buttercup  (2014) Drama 1 hours, 27 minutes

Synopsis:
Drug addiction's collateral damage is starkly revealed when a former honor student, newly addicted to prescription pills, triggers a chain of events that devastates her friends and threatens to tear her family apart.
Director: Malindi Fickle
Writers: Malindi Fickle, Kris Lienert
Stars: Lacy Marie Meyer, Robyn Ross, Gregory Konow | See full cast & crew

23. Half Nelson (2006) Drama 1 hours, 46 minutes

Synopsis:
An inner-city junior high school teacher with a drug habit forms an unlikely friendship with one of his students after she discovers his secret.
Director: Ryan Fleck
Writers: Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, Shareeka Epps | See full cast & crew

24. Amy (2015) Documentary 2 hours, 8 minutes

Synopsis:
The story of Amy Winehouse in her own words, featuring unseen archival footage and unheard tracks.
Director: Asif Kapadia
Stars: Amy Winehouse, Mitch Winehouse, Mark Ronson | See full cast & crew

25. The Anonymous People (2013) Documentary 1 hour, 28 minutes

Synopsis:
Recovery is OUT - to change the addiction conversation from problems to SOLUTIONS. An independent feature documentary about the over 23 million Americans living in long-term recovery from alcohol and other drug addictions.
Director: Greg D. Williams
Writers: Aaron Cohen, Bud Mikhitarian | 2 more credits »
Stars: Tom Coderre, Tara Conner, Laurie Dhue | See full cast & crew »

 

Here are some movie titles I recommend to shy away from in sobriety!

Beer Fest, American Pie 1-11, PCU, Teen Wolf, Mean Girls, Rules of Attraction, Dazed and Confused, Boogie Nights, Trainspotting, Eurotrip, Weird Science, Clueless, Superbad, Sixteen Candles, Old School, House Party, Bachelor Party, Roadtrip, Revenge of the Nerds, Can't Hardly Wait, Animal House, 21 and Over, Project X, Great Gatsby, This is the End, 21/22 Jump Street and Wolf on Wall Street.

 

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