susasober1

I have been sober over a year and rent a lot of addiction movies to remind me just how "ugly" drinking and using can get...some TV and movies glamourize addiction. These three do not and two of them have OK endings:

"Flight" 2012 (USA)
"Smashed" 2012 (USA) Independent
"A Day at the Beach" 1972 (UK)

I have rented all of these via Netflix but also saw Flight in the theatre as well this past Thanksgiving.

Please try to watch if you have not seen these and are new in recovery!

sickntired78

Haven't seen any of those but will check them out. If you don't mind EXTREMELY graphic and realistic addiction on film, check out Requiem for a Dream. If that movie doesn't scare you sober, nothing will

susasober1

Thank you!

peanut44

I thought Flight was pretty good. I didn't know people could consume that much alcohol!!!

fallingtogether

Also, when a man loves a woman. Meg Ryan film. Excellent. Breaks my heart every time. But it's just what I need to see sometimes.

AlexaDaly

Has anyone seen Michael Keeton in "Clean and Sober?" I have not, but I remember when that came out.

Acheleus

Leaving Las Vegas with Nicholas Cage is an accurate depiction of alcoholism.

FatallyUncool

I saw Smashed recently. I thought it was really good and felt honest. I liked how it included the character's 12-step program and how it can be, um a mixed experience.

Requiem for a Dream, oh boy. One of those great movies that I never ever want to see again.

ElegantlyWasted

Thought Flight was great. Haven't heard of the other two; thanks for the post. Another good one and my favorite MELTDOWN FILM.....A second vote goes for;
Leaving Las Vegas

susasober1

A day at the Beach is a depressing movie but very effective!

thekl0wn

I recently watched Fight Club again (a favorite), and I can relate a lot of that movie to my alcoholism. Heck, I tell the GF, "I'm off to fight club" when I'm going to an AA meeting.

2granddaughters

I liked the movie "Changing Lanes" Changing Lanes (2002) - IMDb

So many opportunities to do the right thing. So many failures. I could really identify with the alcoholic personality.

No alcohol played a part in the movie but untreated "alcoholism" certainly did ...

The Lost Weekend from 1945 is a good one too. We have a picture of this in our AA hall Pictures & Photos from The Lost Weekend - IMDb

All the best.

Bob R

cheapredwino

The first 30 seconds of Flight was an eye-opener!!!!!! :P

MarkstheSpot

I know it's not the same for most people, but I find thoughts and depictions of 'bad' drinking make me even thirstier than usual.

Watching Leaving Las Vegas, for example, didn't put me off booze, it made me want to drink.

thekl0wn

I see what you did there.

MIRecovery

A great but little known one

THE BASKETBALL DIARIES

cheapredwino

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

MyTimeNow

Is this the one with - Leonardo Di Caprio? Uppers/downers? I saw it at the cinema if it is when it came out. I was happily sober then *sigh* I remember it being very powerful. I'll happily watch it again.

Carlotta

One of my all time favorite is Lady Sings the Blues.

MyTimeNow

I actually used to drink to LLV, like it was glamorous. I think it does glamourise things in a way... drink yourself to death in Las Vegas, whilst picking up a stunning prostitute who falls in love with you and wants to take care of you, die whilst she...

It's very much a love story - whilst also very grim, I wouldn't use it as an actual portrayal of alcoholism. I mean, how many of us will end up in that situation if we keep drinking?