Clean and Sober

Clean and Sober

10/8/1988 2h 4m 6.3/10

Overview

Hotshot real estate salesman Daryl has a bad cocaine habit. After embezzling his company's money, he wakes up next to a girl who overdosed. To hide from the police, he checks into a rehabilitation program guaranteeing anonymity. Under the mentorship of counselor Craig, Daryl accepts that he has a substance abuse problem. As he falls in love with fellow patient Charlie, Daryl begins committing to a newly sober life.

Director

Glenn Gordon Caron

Top Billed Cast

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman

Craig

Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton

Daryl Poynter

Claudia Christian

Claudia Christian

Iris

Tate Donovan

Tate Donovan

Donald Towle

Kathy Baker

Kathy Baker

Charlie Standers

Henry Judd Baker

Henry Judd Baker

Xavier

Reviews

Peter McGinn

Peter McGinn

8/25/2020

9/10

Michael Keaton puts in a great dramatic performance in this movie, at a time when his star was definitely rising. This movie was released the same year as Beetlejuice, and the year before Batman. Kathy Bates also excels as Charlie. Keaton’s Money manager character Daryl has gamed the system to steal client funds, and even as his drug addiction careens towards bottom, he uses a private rehab center as a shield against being found by the authorities. As he becomes involved with Bates’ character Charlie, who he meets while in rehab, he begins to take his sobriety seriously, perhaps more so than his new girlfriend does herself. There are touches of humor and Daryl’s charm to break up the more serious moments. At one point Daryl encourages her to use a script to talk to her previous boyfriend on the phone. She gives it a try, she shows Daryl the sheet and repeats the ugly profane response she receives, telling him she doesn’t see that on there as a possible response. The movie builds up to a short speech by Daryl that is heartfelt and powerful. The details are brutal at time, and probably therefore accurate, and well worth watching. It carries a message with it, but isn’t merely a message movie. Back when it came out and moved to HBO and DVD, I watched it multiple times. It might be time to watch it again.

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