CLEAN AND SOBER

US, 1988, 124 minutes, Colour.
Michael Keaton, Morgan Freeman, Kathy Baker, Tate Donovan.
Directed by Glen Gordon Caron.

Clean and Sober is a serious message film about those in their 30s during the 1980s, their struggle for financial success, their use of drugs, addictions.

The film is unusual in casting Michael Keaton, a frantic and zany comic (Nightshift, Mr Mom, Beetlejuice, The Dream Team) as a serious yuppy. He performs his serious role very well (perhaps better than his Bruce Wayne in Batman). Morgan Freeman is one of the therapists at the institution. Kathy Baker (Jackknife, Streetsmart) is another addict. M. Emmett Walsh (usually a repulsive villain) is very good and persuasive as the sponsor.

The film shows the business life of the yuppy, the lack of responsibility, the taking of drugs and alcohol - and the consequences, especially in embezzlement to gain money. The film also shows the possibility for treatment, A.A. and the possibilities of people taking responsibility for themselves. (A comparison might be made with the James Wood-Sean? Young film, The Boost, directed by Harold Becker - an ambitious yuppy who becomes cocaine-addicted.)

1.A film of the '80s? Young businessmen? Addiction? The title and hopes?

2.Philadelphia settings, the business world, homes? The institution and treatment? The musical score and the mood? Songs?

3.Michael Keaton, his comic talent, his image? The serious role - and message?

4.Daryl and his lifestyle, the opening, the phone call about the money, taking cocaine, the dead girl? The police and the pay-off? His reliance on Martin and Debbie, their refusal to help? His needing to hide, hearing the radio program about the drug rehabilitation? His beers, entering the institute, the questions about confidentiality? The consequences of his move?

5.48 hours detoxification, the cold, being alone, vomiting, the TV room and the black bashing the set, the zombie-like experience? The rules of the institute? His need for phone calls, asking for cocaine, worrying about the girl and her death, the money? Craig and his attack on him? The sessions and his listening? Donald as his room-mate, talking and Daryl ignoring him? His being ordered out of the institute? The raiding of his own office, the fear of the cleaner, no drugs? The printed note on his door that he had murdered the girl with drugs? His phone call to his mother and the pathetic asking her for money, suggestions that they sell their house?

6.The return to the institute, his motives? Craig and the urine test, also after Martin's visit? The meals, the sharing, the sessions, Iris and her taking cocaine and having to leave? The physical exercise? Talking with Charlie, Lennie and his presence at the session, Charlie's miserable life? Going to the A.A. meeting, his chatting up the girl, failing to communicate? Sympathy from Charlie? Wanting to telephone, Richard finding him, giving him his phone number? Being sponsor? The social and the dancing, his dancing with Charlie? The calls to get cocaine, getting Richard by mistake, Richard asking him to do the inventory of his life when he harmed people? His reluctance, doing it, their discussion in the cafe?

7.Leaving the institute, Richard taking him home, throwing out all the drugs and the pills? The suggestion to write the script to explain his embezzlement? His avoiding doing it? Calling Donald to go to the A.A. meeting? Visiting Charlie, awkward, the meal with them, Lennie and his offhand manner, drugs? Inviting Charlie to the movie, going out, the failure of communication? The phone calls, inviting her to dinner, thinking she wouldn't come? Her staying the night? Their trying to help each other? Trying to write the script for Charlie to ring Lennie, her failure? His ordering Lennie out of the house? Going to Kramer, not telling the truth, Kramer realising the truth, question of repayment, sacked? The collage of job interviews and his talk about his age, the salary and not needing money? The pathos of Charlie's death and its effect on him? Visiting Richard? Talking about his blame, Richard accusing him of conceit?

8.The final meeting, Daryl talking, the 30 days, admitting that he was an addict and an alcoholic, the truth about his situation? The affirmation by the group?

9.Craig and the authorities at the institute, the staff, the berserk black man, the rules, Iris and taking drugs, being ordered out? The therapy sessions, the physical exercise? Craig and the phone? The urine tests? The satisfied ending and hearing Daryl speak?

10.Charlie and her arrival, the Lennie story, working at the mill, her background of marriage, the miscarriage? Her friendliness, the dance? Leaving the institute? ..... the cocaine, Daryl's visit, the meal, the failure of the outing to the cinema, going to his place for dinner, the story, the script for telling Lennie, his coming to plead with her and weep, her going back? Sniffing the cocaine and the car crash? The pathos of her life?

11.Kramer, sympathetic, handling the situation? Martin and his support, Debbie and her reluctance?

12.Richard, the opening of the film and his talk to the A.A. group, his memories, his hitting his nose, realising that he was an alcoholic? His being a sponsor, supporting Daryl, the phone call, the question of the inventory, his talking about the blame?

13.The world of money, speculation, the law? Daryl's speech to the executives? The consequences of playing with money?

14.Drugs, availability, needs, fashion, money? The dealers? Addiction?

15.How hopeful was the film? Admitting, coping, responsibility? The work of A.A?