BeenDown2Times

Has anyone seen the movie "Sideways" since being sober? I wasn't going to watch it because I was afraid it would trigger me. I remember originally seeing it in the theater and thinking, "Man, I really want some wine."

But when it came on TV I watched anyway. Unexpectedly, all I kept thinking was, "Wow, this movie might be a social commentary on alcoholism!" and "This guy is really a mess! I really hope I never look like Miles again."

I hope this means I'm maturing and strengthening my resolve.

Anyone else have a different perspective on certain movies, songs, tv shows or other such things since getting clean?

Danae

I found that many tv shows and movies glamorized drinking---something which wasn't so bothersome when I was drinking myself. Once I stopped it was so striking. It made me really wonder about teenagers and the messages they get, not to mention younger children.

As for striking movies with depictions of alcoholism---try "Another Year" by Mike Leigh (2010). Very sad but quite realistic depiction of a middle-aged woman with alcoholism. Not glamorous at all. I found it incredibly hard to watch, but well done. Maybe if they showed that movie to teens it would be a deterrent??

LaFemme

In my 20s I thought the British TV show Absolutely Fabulous was hysterical. I watched it after getting sober and was literally horrified and repulsed.

Missy7

Everything we see glamorized alcohol. We are (as we speak) watching The Way We Were for the first time. Barbra and James Wood were just chugging gin out of the bottle during the first dance scene.

mubu

I also used to watch Zane Lamprey's Three Sheets. The entire premise of the show is about a man who travels around the world drinking. I haven't seen it in the past few weeks, sadly I used to think "hmm, that would be a great job."

AmericanGirl

BeenDown, I always thought Sideways was pretty much a horrifying picture of alcoholism!

LaFemme, you mention Absolutely Fabulous. I haven't watched it since quitting, but I felt the same -- loved to think of myself as a Patsy/Eddie. Honestly, I think I might still find it funny, just because it's so absurd and extreme.

What bothers me are the cultural myths that are more seemingly innocuous . . . like the movie about the guy who drinks every day but just needs to "get his act together" when in real life, that person would be here with us. Or the movie about the girl who just needs to "relax" with a bottle of wine. I'm most bothered by the portrayal of abuse as something normal because I think those messages make it easier for us to fool ourselves.

Just my 2 cents!

StPeteGrad

Both my wife and I have noticed that a lot of her "girl dramas" have drinking in nearly every scene. It bothered me at first because it was a bit of a trigger. Now it just pisses me off at the normalization of alcoholic drinking.

workingtheday

More recent and very popular example....anyone watch the TV comedy "Cougar Town" with Courtney Cox? They completely glamorize wine drinking in that show. Its in every other scene and almost to the point of absurdity where I have to laugh. Drinking wine morning noon and night and talking about wanting it during everything there doing!

implosion

I used to think "Bad Santa" was funny, now I can't stand the movie. The only movie that I have watched voluntarily recently is "Leaving Las Vegas". Once again really sad, and doesn't glorify anything.

BeenDown2Times

Another one that really bugs me is "How I Met Your Mother". Drinking in pretty much every scene.

I haven't tried to watch Ab Fab since sobering up but I can imagine that it wouldn't have the same allure. It's one of my all-time faves but it's probably the paragon of glamorizing alcohol and drug abuse.

The one show I will give credit to is Showtime's "Nurse Jackie", which is a pretty realistic portrayal of the dangers of opiate addiction.

Interesting stuff... Never expected to change my worldview so quickly.

concor

Hard to say whether or not my perspective has changed since I quit drinking, I can say that I don't find TV all that interesting these days.

saphira

Since realizing I have a problem, I've realized that drinking is the main focal point of almost every "girls' night out" in almost every movie/show I've seen. I hate that! It always makes me feel like I'm missing something if I don't drink!

Mark75

I loved the movie "Sideways"... freaking hysterical!! I even read the book.

I don't know, my own opinion was it not so much a commentary about alcoholism, more it was a commentary about the damage that can come from full blown hedonism and heavy drinking, and how some seem to ultimately get away with it while others... not so much... and then, of course, the damage to innocent bystanders...

The scene, in the vineyard, the golden sun, enjoying wine with friends... contrasted with the scene(s) where he left his wallet at the waitress's house and they went back to retrieve it and ended up getting chased down the road at dawn by an angry naked husband...

Didn't see much about the obsession/compulsion/powerlessness... maybe unmanageability, LOL...

Just my take on it, for the purpose of this cool thread.

4MyMel

I have been thinking about this too. Every movie or show when things get bad, the character turns to the bottle. I agree with Saphira also, when I see movies with people going out and having fun, I do feel that I am missing something. I'm 29, and I find it harder not to drink with young people than people more my parents age. When it's younger people that I am with, I get jealous a bit, with older people I don't care...same goes for movies and TV.

Reset

Even when I was drinking I thought, "wow those people are alcoholics- they're ALWAYS drinking."

Unfortunately the show might lead people to believe that drinking all day every day is just happy and fun because it never shows the downside.

Kjell

I liked the movie Sideways and thought it was well written and Miles, as someone who has some sort of problem with alcohol, was great and sure hit home with me (as to when he keep drinking and couldnt' stop and made an arse out of himself even with a pretty girl right there - ahhh memories).

That scene where the other guys asks Miles to let him take over driving, then tries to drive the car into the tree, but the car misses the tree and just keeps going is hysterical!

...but seriously, yes, my perspective has certainly changed, but that's to be expected b/c I've changed.

Also, I find that the less TV I watch in general, the happier I am.

Kjell~

Latte

I've been watching episodes of Shameless and his children looking for him on the street horrified me.

When A Man Loves A Woman hit home for me and I still cry when I watch it but it gives me hope too.

theatredork

I haven't seen Sideways since I sobered up but I remember thinking it was the most accurate portrayal of depression that I had ever seen.

I agree that the wine drinking thing with women is getting way out of control. First it was the cosmo thing with Sex and the City, and now it's like every women's event must have wine.

Fandy

I remember the very old "Thin Man" movies from the 1930s....I cannot remember the name of the lead actor,(William Powell)? but I think his wife was played by Myrna Loye??? The only character that was NOT drinking constantly was "Asta" their dog...they were drinking morning, noon and night...(while solving mysteries of course) he always carried a flask.

LaFemme

AG...the thing about An Fab that really bothered me that I never noticed before is the uptight daughter who has to take care of her mother who is always plastered.

Saw a show called "its always sunny in Pittsburgh"???? Or something. They stage an intervention In a bar and everyone ends up plastered...there is an intervention specialist who is portrayed as a stick in the mud.