shelly009

There are a few inspirational movies that I watched over the years that IMO are great for those trying to overcome an addiction. My list is:

1.When a Man loves a woman (Meg Ryan, Andy Garcia)
2. Pay it Forward (Helen Hunt and Creepy kid from The Sixth Sense)
3. 28 Days (Sandra Bullick)

Please add your own!!

hopeful999

Nice post! I have seen 28 Days.

I must say, the most compelling movie to stop drinking EVER is Leaving Las Vegas, w/ Nicholas Cage.

What about Sideways? It romanticizes wine a bit, but you see the despair in there.

I have some good books to recommend as well...

Try: Drinking, A Love Story by Caroline Knapp

(I knew her through a friend before she died.)

shelly009

Did she die from drinking??

hopeful999

Actually, no. She quit drinking after a stint in rehab and was sober for a few years and got her life together. She died from lung cancer, at a very early age (mid 40's, I think.) She was a heavy smoker. I was told, through friends, that the lung cancer was not connected to the smoking... but who knows. I met her a few times. We went to the same college and had some mutual friends. She was a great writer and her story about drinking is very compelling. An easy read if you have some time at night... now that you're not drinking as heavily

Jaman34

My wife really loved when a man loves a woman....One of her favourites....probably why she stuck with me for so long...I think Leaving Las Vegas is a good one to show you the effects of heavy drinking....but I think i would have to say Trainspotting is a great movie to see the inside life of a drug addict. That movie alone kept me from de-toxing sooner than I would have just because of the terrifying withdrawal he went through. Does anyone know what that movie was with Heath Ledger and another woman where they were heroin addicts in Britain I believe??...It was a scary one too.....if scaring people straight is what will do it...thats good enough for me...take care all..

C23

I would say these movies inspired me to be a better person and quit drinking ASAP:

The Pursuit of Happiness-Will Smith

The Last Samurai-Tom Cruise

Newtosoberlivin

Please bear with me, I have quite a few:

Bar Fly (Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway)
Requiem for a Dream (VERY sad movie, do not watch if you are already depressed, it will make you more so, but very clearly shows what happens to users if they continue to use, Ellen Burstyn's character broke my heart in two)
Rush (Jennifer Jason Lee, Jason Patric)
Spun (Mickey Rourke, Britney Murphy)
Scarface (yes, a classic, but still about addiction, this one to coke)
Blow (Johnny Depp, based on a true story)
Looking for Mr. Goodbar (Diane Keaton, Richard Gere, older movie)
The Basketball Diaries (leonardo DiCaprio)


Totally agree that Leaving Las Vegas is the ANTHEM movie to watch if you want to stop drinking for good! Heartbreaking in so many ways! It's so hard to watch Nick Cage's character try to destroy himself!!

Newtosoberlivin

I believe the Heath Ledger movie that you are referring to is "Candy" about heroin addiction....hope that helps...

Aquafina

Requiem for a Dream is one I can't watch anymore.

Maudcat

Flight is a good depiction of alcohol dependency.