ngl I always assumed that the people (critics) who didn’t like it probs felt that rehab should be a punish the entire time, no fun allowed. Which probably reveals more about what they think of people who struggle with addiction than they mean to. Released in the same era that (at least here in aus) we were talking about the “addiction gene”, which for my family, was a huge step towards unburdening some of the shame. We don’t bring it up anymore (lol thats a one way ticket to medical discrimination), but I would be interested to see if researchers have made a link between adhd and this “addiction gene”. It’s kind of interesting to look at media and see how we ping pong between framing addiction as a moral shame vs something we have zero agency over (thus there’s no point trying to manage it) and back again.
Sandra Bullock is so great in this movie. Incredible slice of life film. I really liked it when I was younger cos it felt like women didn’t get to have these sorts of Going Thru A Time movies without them being romantic dramas or overly schmaltzy.
One of the things I recall from this film is how a newly sober Sandra Bullock found her boyfriend and their cohorts so talkative and loud. As if they were filling up the oxygen around them with noise. Thanks for your post.
I just watched it, knowing your suggestions are typically so good.
I agree with your takeaways and find myself even more in awe of how the actors handled their roles. Damn, even guitar guy was Loudon Wainwright III! He knows addiction challenges well.
Maybe the naysayers want to see a dirge, signifying some sort of payback? The part they don't understand is who else can find some odd, hard won humor from addiction except those who have truly felt the hurt of the addiction, not just the hurt of the consequences.
And I truly love Sandra Bullock. Besides the obvious unrequited stuff, just watching her face when she was talking to her sister near the end was nothing short of exquisite.
I’m so happy you watched (and liked) it!! That scene at the end with her sister makes me cry (ok sob) every time. It shouldn’t get me so hard after all the times I’ve seen it, but it really does.
I saw this in the theater a few months before I went into the detox ward. The boat scene is the scene that stayed with me the most. I need to watch it again.
I count myself lucky that I have never had a personal battle with addiction, however, I have seen many friends battle alcoholism and heroin addiction, and not always come out the other side.
I have always loved this film, and have watched it more times than I can count (in fact, after reading this fascinating article, I feel the need to watch it again), and while I freely admit my first dalliance with it was simply because I love Sandra B., I quickly forgot that and found myself fully immersed in the film.
And having only previously seen Steve Buscemi as a not particularly pleasant bad guy in Homicide: Life on the Street, seeing him in this polar opposite role was a revelation.
I agree with you. I rewatch 28 days every so often, not just because of Sandra Bullock, everyone else in the film stands out. Buscemi, oh, when is he not good in a film? I don't understand what the rotten tomato people have an issue with. Well, whatever. I love this film. It's a gem.
Yessssss!!! I'm so glad you wrote about it! It's a perfect movie. There's just so many things I love about it. The critical response sounds so incredibly weird to me - the idea that people don't laugh amid the worst or most humiliating moments we've been through is nuts. That's how human beings survive?!? Of course there's laughter and glibness, there has to be! How else do you make it through shit?
Thank you so much for writing about 28 days. I absolutely love this movie! I am sober just over a year now and have watched it multiple times, especially in the early days. There is so much to think about in this movie and so much that we watch Gwen and her fellow rehab mates go through. I have no idea why critics hated it so much, but I never agree with critics anyway. I agree that this is the best rehab movie I have seen and I wish there were more of them. Thanks for your commentary.
I saw this movie many years ago, but I need to rewatch it through sober eyes. I love the video clips you shared, and I love this line from your essay: "I’d rather focus on the fact that recovery—especially the kind that comes through a motley crew of people with addiction—can be joyful, absurd, and hilarious." YES! I absolutely love the motley crew of people I've met over the past 4 years... my chosen sisters & best friends. Tomorrow I leave for girls' beach weekend, with a group of non-sober friends. Even though this is my 4th sober girls' trip, it doesn't thrill me to be there. Sure, I'll have fun, and I truly love these girls, but it's just not the same anymore. I don't enjoy being around others when drinking is involved, but I'm keeping an open mind. Heck, maybe I'll put in my earbuds and watch 28 Days when I need some alone time:)
Love this movie! Realized it was the first movie I saw Viggo Mortensen in, looking nothing at all like Aragorn :)
My husband and I still think a "confront me if I don't ask for help" sign would be good for me, and many others. The plant scene (and Alan Tudyk in general) is awesome!
Sober 36 years. Loved this movie. Also, while not about recovery, two of the most realistic films about addiction are: Panic in Needle Park (1971, with Al Pacino in his first lead, and maybe his best film) and Requiem for a Dream (2000, based on Hubert Selby's novel of the same name).
“It’s very important that I did not kill this plant” - I LOVE this movie
“I talked to it, I played music for it…”
“Did you water it?”
Oh, that part broke my heart 💔
that’s one of my favorite scenes!
ngl I always assumed that the people (critics) who didn’t like it probs felt that rehab should be a punish the entire time, no fun allowed. Which probably reveals more about what they think of people who struggle with addiction than they mean to. Released in the same era that (at least here in aus) we were talking about the “addiction gene”, which for my family, was a huge step towards unburdening some of the shame. We don’t bring it up anymore (lol thats a one way ticket to medical discrimination), but I would be interested to see if researchers have made a link between adhd and this “addiction gene”. It’s kind of interesting to look at media and see how we ping pong between framing addiction as a moral shame vs something we have zero agency over (thus there’s no point trying to manage it) and back again.
Sandra Bullock is so great in this movie. Incredible slice of life film. I really liked it when I was younger cos it felt like women didn’t get to have these sorts of Going Thru A Time movies without them being romantic dramas or overly schmaltzy.
One of the things I recall from this film is how a newly sober Sandra Bullock found her boyfriend and their cohorts so talkative and loud. As if they were filling up the oxygen around them with noise. Thanks for your post.
Ugh yes! She cannot finish a sentence and they are totally oblivious. Been there a million times.
The scene at the plant store at the end is pure gold.
It makes the whole thing! God I love Alan Tudyk!
People do not understand how we laugh at tragic things and become emotional at small victories ♥️
I just watched it, knowing your suggestions are typically so good.
I agree with your takeaways and find myself even more in awe of how the actors handled their roles. Damn, even guitar guy was Loudon Wainwright III! He knows addiction challenges well.
Maybe the naysayers want to see a dirge, signifying some sort of payback? The part they don't understand is who else can find some odd, hard won humor from addiction except those who have truly felt the hurt of the addiction, not just the hurt of the consequences.
And I truly love Sandra Bullock. Besides the obvious unrequited stuff, just watching her face when she was talking to her sister near the end was nothing short of exquisite.
I’m so happy you watched (and liked) it!! That scene at the end with her sister makes me cry (ok sob) every time. It shouldn’t get me so hard after all the times I’ve seen it, but it really does.
That was not acting, that was being there.
Loved this movie. Excellent review you've done here. One of my favorite scenes is when she's in the boat with her boyfriend.
GREAT scene. The shift between where she started and where she is at that moment is so clear.
I saw this in the theater a few months before I went into the detox ward. The boat scene is the scene that stayed with me the most. I need to watch it again.
“This is so not how I saw this whole thing playing out!”
Ohhh jasper
I count myself lucky that I have never had a personal battle with addiction, however, I have seen many friends battle alcoholism and heroin addiction, and not always come out the other side.
I have always loved this film, and have watched it more times than I can count (in fact, after reading this fascinating article, I feel the need to watch it again), and while I freely admit my first dalliance with it was simply because I love Sandra B., I quickly forgot that and found myself fully immersed in the film.
And having only previously seen Steve Buscemi as a not particularly pleasant bad guy in Homicide: Life on the Street, seeing him in this polar opposite role was a revelation.
Thank you for this. I have never watched this film because I was under the impression it was about zombies but now I will watch it.
Haha, there’s a very similarly titled movie called 28 Days later. Very different movie!!
Not a perfect movie, by any means, but it bears up to multiple viewings. Special props to Azura Skye for her heartbreaking performance.
YES. Devastatingly good
I agree with you. I rewatch 28 days every so often, not just because of Sandra Bullock, everyone else in the film stands out. Buscemi, oh, when is he not good in a film? I don't understand what the rotten tomato people have an issue with. Well, whatever. I love this film. It's a gem.
Absolute banger of a cast!
Yessssss!!! I'm so glad you wrote about it! It's a perfect movie. There's just so many things I love about it. The critical response sounds so incredibly weird to me - the idea that people don't laugh amid the worst or most humiliating moments we've been through is nuts. That's how human beings survive?!? Of course there's laughter and glibness, there has to be! How else do you make it through shit?
Also I have never yet learned how to make the gum wrapper chains Sandra and her roommate make and I deeply want to
She does it so perfectly; it’s nuts. They links are so tiny!!
Right?
Thank you so much for writing about 28 days. I absolutely love this movie! I am sober just over a year now and have watched it multiple times, especially in the early days. There is so much to think about in this movie and so much that we watch Gwen and her fellow rehab mates go through. I have no idea why critics hated it so much, but I never agree with critics anyway. I agree that this is the best rehab movie I have seen and I wish there were more of them. Thanks for your commentary.
❤️❤️
I saw this movie many years ago, but I need to rewatch it through sober eyes. I love the video clips you shared, and I love this line from your essay: "I’d rather focus on the fact that recovery—especially the kind that comes through a motley crew of people with addiction—can be joyful, absurd, and hilarious." YES! I absolutely love the motley crew of people I've met over the past 4 years... my chosen sisters & best friends. Tomorrow I leave for girls' beach weekend, with a group of non-sober friends. Even though this is my 4th sober girls' trip, it doesn't thrill me to be there. Sure, I'll have fun, and I truly love these girls, but it's just not the same anymore. I don't enjoy being around others when drinking is involved, but I'm keeping an open mind. Heck, maybe I'll put in my earbuds and watch 28 Days when I need some alone time:)
Love this movie! Realized it was the first movie I saw Viggo Mortensen in, looking nothing at all like Aragorn :)
My husband and I still think a "confront me if I don't ask for help" sign would be good for me, and many others. The plant scene (and Alan Tudyk in general) is awesome!
Yeah my partner could use that one!
Sober 36 years. Loved this movie. Also, while not about recovery, two of the most realistic films about addiction are: Panic in Needle Park (1971, with Al Pacino in his first lead, and maybe his best film) and Requiem for a Dream (2000, based on Hubert Selby's novel of the same name).
Oof requiem for a dream is so good but such a hard watch