Freeze Frame

This is my second entry in the So Bad Its Good Blogathon hosted by Taking Up Room

There were four Batman movies produced from 1989-97.  Tim Burton was involved in three of them (and directed the first two).  Production of the fourth installment had ts ups and downs.  Interestingly, Patrick Stewart was originally going to play Mr. Freeze until the production crew and director decided he needed to be played by a beefier actor.  Enter Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the script was altered somewhat to accommodate a hulkier actor.

The problems involved included the fact that director Joel Schumaker insisted to the cast and crew that he was making "a cartoon".  And the cartoonish aspect went beyond just Akiva Goldsman's script.  Chris O'Donnell who played Robin, commented in an interview " On Batman Forever, I felt like I was making a movie.  The second time, I felt like I was making a kid's toy commercial."

The film was not received well by the critics, or for that matter, the general public.  It barely made back it's budget.  It wasn't even in the top ten of money makers for the year.  According to wikipedia, the top ten movies of 1997 included Liar, Liar, My Best Friend's Wedding and The Full Monty, movies that were good, but not so good that that they should have out-gained a superhero action film, which typically makes a good show, even if its not so good...

Still, all in all, Batman and Robin is a cool film if you like superhero movies.  Just not exactly the greatest dialogue driven film that earlier incarnations of the Batman franchise had.

Batman and Robin (1997):

Robin : "I want a car!  Chicks dig the car."

Batman: "This is why Superman works alone."

Thus begins the movie and foreshadowing much of why the movie is so disparaged.  The dialogue for Batman and Robin seems to have been written by a twelve-year-old geek comic book enthusiast with a 40 year life of immersion in action movies where everyone spouts non sequiturs and lame jokes.  But I don't come back to Batman and Robin for the dialogue, even though I admit it is kind of funny.  I come back to it because Arnold Schwarzenegger is a great villain, and Chris O'Donnell is a pretty good Robin.  George Clooney is miscast as Batman, in my opinion, but he is believable as Bruce Wayne.

Batman and Robin appear on the scene as our new resident supervillain, Mr, Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) attempts to steal a diamond.  See, Mr. Freeze (alias Dr. Victor Fries) had an accident which causes him to need a space suit designed to keep his body at a relatively cold temperature in order to survive in the outside world.  And to maintain the suit Freeze needs diamonds, which makes it imperative that he steal them.  (The suit couldn't need something simple like potato chips, otherwise we wouldn't have a movie...)  Freeze also needs diamonds to continue his research in curing his wife, currently in suspended animation, from a rare disease.

At the museum where the diamond that Freeze intends to steal is installed, a fight ensues, which breaks out into a hockey game.  And eventually Freeze succeeds in his theft.

Mr. Freeze: "You're not sending me to the cooler!" 

Mainly because the rash Robin, overstepping his capabilities, is frozen and Batman must let Freeze escape with the diamond in order to thaw out his comrade.

Mr. Freeze: "Stay cool, Birdboy."



The somewhat bitter rivalry between Batman and Robin is part of the story line.  Robin, it seems, resents the fact that Batman treats him like a child, not letting him do the things he, Robin, thinks he is capable of doing.  It comes close to Robin deciding to go out on his own as a separate force.

Enter Poison Ivy.  Dr Pamela Isley (Uma Thurman) has been doing research in a remote location trying to develop a strain of plant life that can fight back against the humans.  But she is saddled with a psychotic scientist, Dr. Jason Woodrue (John Glover), who keeps stealing her work in an effort to create a super soldier.  When he creates Bane, he tries to sell it to the highest bidder    .  The bidders are a collection of Evil Empire leaders (such as Iraqis, Russians, North Koreans etc.)  When Dr. Isley confronts Dr. Woodrue and threatens him with revealing his nefarious purposes, he kills her.

Or so it seems.  But like the Joker (from the first Tim Burton Batman), the death is not so sure.  The mass of equipment and fluids she falls into transform her into Poison Ivy.

Poison Ivy eventually tries to seduce both Batman and Robin, and although Batman's inherent nonchalance towards women in general helps him resist, Robin is infatuated with Ivy.  (I would be too.  Uma Thurman at 25, when the movie was made, was hot...)

Robin: "I need a sign that you've turned over a new leaf."

Poison Ivy: "How about 'slippery when wet'?"

Poison Ivy eventually teams up with Freeze, as they both have one particular goal in mind, the destruction of the Dynamic Duo.  Ivy tries to put her wiles on Freeze, but he is resistant because his devotion is only to his wife.

Mr. Freeze: "Hmm... Adam and Evil"

On the home side, Alfred (Michael Gough), Bruce Wayne's butler, has come down in the first stages of the same disease that is killing Freeze's wife.  And his niece, Barbara (Alicia Silverstone) has appeared on the scene to help.  Through some fortuitous events, she eventually discovers Bruce Wayne's secret, and with the help of an AI version of Alfred, becomes transformed into... Batgirl.

Batman:  "Batgirl?  That's not very PC.  What about Batwoman, or Batperson?"

(...and because "Batchick" not only isn't PC, but might be misheard...)

Eventually, of course, the Terrific Trio defeat both Poison Ivy and Mr. Freeze.  Batman implores Freeze to help cure Alfred who is in the first stages of the disease killing Freeze's wife, and Freeze opens a secret compartment in his suit and hands Batman two vials.  (Don't tell me you don't see it coming...)

Mr. Freeze: "Take two of these and call me in the morning."

Batman and Robin  was so poorly received that another sequel was shelved.  It would take 8 years, and a complete reboot, for the franchise to come back to the big screen.  Admittedly the attempt to try to change Tim Burton's original dark vision evidenced with the first two Burton Batmans suffered from an attempt to try to meld the darkness with, apparently, the camp of the  60's TV series.  Fortunately for Batman fans, the death knell was only 8 years.  The Christian Bale Batman eventually gave us what is in my opinion the greatest Batman movie ever, The Dark Knight (coming to a blog near you very soon).

Its no Batmobile, but it does run, mostly.  Time to fire up this old Plymouth.  Drive safely, folks.

Quiggy

Clue-less

This is my entry in the Butlers and Maids Blogathon hosted by Caftan Woman and Wide Screen World

In 1949, an English gentleman by the name of Anthony E. Pratt developed a board game which he dubbed Cluedo.  It was sold to a company called Waddington's in Britain as well as Parker Brothers in the U.S  The classic muder mystery board game became popular, and I doubt there is a child since it's subsequent launch who hasn't played it at least once.

The classic board game has gone through some changes as it was fine-tuned over the years.  Initially there were ten characters in the game, but that was reduced to six.  (Eliminated in the shuffle were Mr. Brown, Mr. Gold, Miss Grey and Mrs. Silver).

The game, although not evident as a potential for film (but then what game really is...?), became fodder for Hollywood in the 80's.  Getting some pretty good talent on the screen side of the production helped transform the kid's game into a fairly cohesive if somewhat ridiculous movie.

Clue (1985):

It's 1954.  Six guests arrive at a mansion in the rain, having been invited by a mysterious host.  They are each greeted at the door by Wadsworth (Tim Curry).

Along with Yvette (Colleen Camp), Wadsworth has prepared a night of subterfuge for the guests.

Wadsworth reveals that each guest has been given a secret identity for the night's festivities.  Col. Mustard (Martin Mull),

Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan),

Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn),

 

Mr. Green (Michael McKean),

Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd)

and Miss Scarlet (Lesley Ann Warren)

are all identified only by their aliases throughout the night.
 
Wadsworth reveals over the dinner that they have all been subjected to blackmail by their mysterious host.  The host, Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving), has been delayed but eventually shows up.

Mr. Boddy tells them all that Wadsworth is the biggest threat to their security and presents a package containing a gift for each.  Inside each package, the guest finds a potential murder weapon:  a candlestick, a knife, a revolver, a wrench, a lead pipe, and a rope

Suggesting that the real threat to their security is Wadsworth, Mr. Boddy suggests that one of the six kill him, and turns out the light.

But when the light comes back on it is Mr. Boddy who is lying on the floor.

Thus ensues one of the most convoluted and red herring infused plots ever conceived.  The guests pair up, along with Wadsworth and Yvette, trying to discover if there is another person on the premises.  Added to the confusion are the arrival of several unannounced visitors, such as a policeman and a singing telegram girl, each of which is murdered.  As the bodies pile up, it becomes increasingly evident that (at least) one of the guests is actually killing the rest of the people.

Eventually, after the guests (and the audience) are thoroughly confused,  Wadsworth reveals that he knows how it all happened.

Now, in the theaters, if you went to see this film, you were treated to one of three potential endings.  So if you saw this in the theater you may not know of the other two possibilities.  In the interest of fair play, I won't tell you ANY of the endings.  You have the opportunity to see them all on the DVD, however, and you won't have to buy three separate copies of the DVD to see them all.

There are some interesting little tidbits throughout.  But, just to note, Communism is a red herring.

The highlight is Curry's portrayal as a butler, of course, but each of the guests, although essentially a caricature, have their moments.  Mull as the colonel is one of my favorites.  And Brennan is always a treat in whatever movies I see her in.

That's it from the back seat of the Plymouth this time.  Drive safely, folks.

Quiggy

Stone Face vs. The Russians

This is my first entry in the So Bad Its Good Blogathon hosted by Taking Up Room

(Note on the title of this entry) Sylvester Stallone has only one facial expression, a seriously blase', sometimes angry, look which I would call "stone face".  I have watched dozens of Stallone movies, and I don't recall him cracking a smile once.  Maybe because "cracking a smile" would cause his face to crack...?

It could be said that Sylvester Stallone made one good movie in his entire career (Rocky), and then either just cloned or parodied the character for the next 45 years.

At least, if you take the Razzies for what they are worth.  The Razzies, Or Golden Raspberry Awards,  in case you didn't know, are the wicked step-brother of the Oscars, an award given every year to the Worst Picture / Actor / Actress / Director (etc.) in a given year.  For Worst Actor alone, Stallone holds the record for most nominations, with 15 to his credit.

He also won the award for Worst Actor of the Decade, twice, for the 1980's and 1990's.  (The 1990's  award was for "99.5% of everything he's ever done".)  And pretty much every movie he was a part of in that time period also competed for an award (Worst Picture / Director).

An argument could probably be made for saying that John Wilson (the founder of the Razzies) and company just have it in for Stallone.  At the same time he was getting Razzies he was also ranked in the top of Best Action Movie stars.  Admittedly, Stallone will probably never be confused with Oscar material as an actor.  But for a certain segment of the population, mostly he-man wannabees like me, he is almost the equivalent of an action hero god.

Stallone's career as a Razzie nominee hit it's highlight, in my opinion, in 1985.  That year, both Rocky IV and Rambo: First Blood Part II hit the big screen.  Between the two, a total of 16 nominations were garnered for Razzies.  Stallone even got a nod from the Razzie committee as worst director (for Rocky IV).

To the two films credit, both were big money makers (and my $$ were a part of that tabulation).  Only Back to the Future made more money that year, but Rambo: First Blood Part II and  Rocky IV were #2 and #3 respectively in terms of overall bucks at the box office.  Proving that even if he was a bad actor, he did have the cachet to draw in the crowds.

Part of the attraction of these two movies, at least at the time, was the presence of Russians as the villains.  In order to understand the conflict within the movies, one must understand the historical context.  This was during a time, prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the decline of Russia as a dominant threat to the American way of life.  The Cold War was still in effect, when the United States (in particular the Ronald Reagan led years of the American government) danced toe to toe with the evil empire of the Soviet Union. Thus, the James Bond movies and most other action movies of the time that involved an international conflict would reflect a Russian influence on the other side. (see my review of the 80's movie  Red Dawn for more).

Rambo: First Blood Part II: (1985):

In terms of release Rambo: First Blood Part II was the first in the theater, a summer release.


At the end of the first First Blood, John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is sent to the penitentiary to do hard labor.  (See the movie to find out why, if you don't already know.  Or just follow the link above and read my thoughts on it  if you don't want to invest 2 hours to watch it...)

But his former commanding officer, Col. Trautman (Richard Crenna) has been keeping him on his mind.  So when a covert mission to go back in to Vietnam to see if they can verify the existence of P.O.W.s who were never repatriated at the end of the Vietnam war, Rambo is one of the few surviving Green Beret veterans from that war that is thought to have the capabilities to complete the mission.

So Rambo is taken to a headquarters where he meets Murdock (Charles Napier) who gives him his mission.  He is to infiltrate the Vietnamese jungle and locate a potential P.O.W. camp and take pictures to bring back proof that P.O.W.s are still being held by the Vietnamese. 

(A side note:  At the time it was widely believed that the Vietnam government had reneged on repatriating many P.O.W.s  from the Vietnam war.  Although there was no actual proof of such, the government at the time used the idea as muscle in its relationship with the Republic of Vietnam,  And the theme of a rescue operation to free them made its way into a few movies of the time, including the Chuck Norris vehicle Missing in Action and the Gene Hackman film Uncommon Valor.)

Rambo is rather incredulous at the idea that he is supposed to just "take pictures" but leave the P.O.W.s he might find there. But he agrees to the mission.  Dropped off in the jungle (with most of his equipment lost during the drop), Rambo meets up with Co (Julia Nickson), a covert Vietnamese girl who is fighting against the Communist regime.

Together they approach the potential site where, indeed, several prisoners are being held.  Against orders Rambo frees one of the prisoners and makes his way back to the pickup site.  The prisoner informs Rambo that it was lucky they came when they did because "they move us around a lot."  This revelation is the first clue in the fact that the mission might not have been all on the up and up.  Apparently the camp was supposed to be empty, which would have produced no results.

The true nature comes to the fore when, at the pick up site, the rescue team radios back to HQ that Rambo has a P.O.W. with them and Murdock orders them to abort the mission, leaving Rambo behind to be captured.

Enter the Russians.  Headed by Lt. Col. Podovsky (Steven Berkoff), the Russians try every which way to get Rambo to talk, and to radio back to his HQ that any further attempts to come in to Vietnam will be addressed with requisite retribution.

But Rambo tells them to go to Hell.  He does submit to the radio contact, but his only words are to tell Murdock that "I'm coming to get you!" And then proceeds to escape.

The final segment involves the typical Ramboesque escape and jungle battle as Rambo picks off both Russian and Vietnamese soldiers who are in pursuit, and eventually commandeers a helicopter which he uses to help the remaining P.O.W.s in the camp escape.

Of course, Stallone would go on to reprise Rambo in a few more movies, most recently Last Blood, (which I missed in the theater.  Just waiting for a chance to get it on DVD).  The Rambo series is proof positive that an attitude and a good knife will get you through any situation...

Rocky IV (1985):


Rocky IV by contrast, enjoyed a Thanksgiving release.  This was one of the handful of movies that my sister and I saw together over the years.

After Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) defeated Clubber Lang (Mr. T.), life has become sedate for Rocky.  He has his family to care for, and his friends to pal around with, especially his once nemesis, now good friend and sometimes trainer, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers).

But there is a new enemy on the horizon.  The Russians, who are always trying to denigrate their nemesis, the Americans, have begun a  campaign to claim that their amateur boxing hero, Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) is better than anything the Americans could pit against him. Of course, this will inspire even the most liberal of the population to experience a little twinge of resentment and American pride to come to the fore.

As a result, since the Boxing Commission is not quite ready to sanction an official fight between its champion and the, as yet, unknown contender, there is an agreement to have an exhibition bout in Las Vegas.  And who else but pro-America former heavyweight champion Apollo is better to step in to the ring and take this Russian whippersnapper down a peg or two?  So despite some misgivings, not only from Apollo's family but also from Rocky, the former champ agrees to a match.  Of course, Apollo is under the impression that even though he has aged a few years, he should still be able to hold his own against an amateur.  (You could be forgiven if this reminds you of George Foreman, who tried something similar in the early 90's, entering the ring in his mid 40's).

Apollo, unfortunately, is no match for Drago. And despite a pre-match performance of a somewhat patriotic song by James Brown,

the fight doesn't quite come out the way Apollo and Rocky and the American public quite intended.

Apollo is pulverized and eventually dies from the damage he suffers in the altogether too short match.  Making Apollo the second trainer/friend that Rocky has had to watch die.  (See Rocky III)  Disgraced not only by he fact that he wouldn't throw in the towel during the match to stop the fight and incensed by the pure chutzpah the Russians exhibit after their win, Rocky agrees to a match between himself and Drago, to be held in Moscow on Christmas Day.   (and if you don't see the slap in the face the Russians are giving America by having the fight on that day, you haven't been paying attention).

Adrian (Talia Shire), Rocky's wife, pleads with him to not follow through on the fight, but if you know Rocky (or at least this kind of movie), you know those pleas have to fall on deaf ears.  Rocky travels to Russia where he knows he can train without the distraction of the American paparazzi, which he knows all too well won't give him the peace to train.  Don't miss the recreation of Rocky's famous climb up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in which Rocky does virtually the same thing, only up a mountain.

The day of the battle comes.  The crowd is sufficiently hostile to the intruder from America while cheering for their national hero.  Which is to be expected.  What is not expected (and may just be wishful thinking on the scriptwriter's part that it would actually happen) is that as Rocky manages to go toe to toe with Drago, as each round passes, more and more of the crowd seem to switch their allegiance from Drago to Rocky.

If you don't know how this movie turns out, you don't watch enough of these kinds of films.  I must admit that Rocky still looks like he could take Drago (or at least that Stallone could take Lundgren) despite the fact that the Russian is a head taller.  Much more believable than in later years, in which Stallone is still trying to capture lightning in a bottle as an action hero, despite the fact that he looks like he would be more comfortable in a walker than an armored tank.

You've got to admit, though, that both John Rambo and Rocky Balboa can instill some patriotic idealism.  Both of these movies deserve at least one look, and even if you don't care for the jingoistic fervor, which quite frankly comes off as something like John Wayne saying "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do".  Whether you watch them or not, just remember, stand up for what you believe in no matter who stands in your way.

I actually prefer First Blood II over Rocky IV, but both are pretty cool if you like this type of movie.

Time to fire up the Plymouth and head home.  Drive safely folks.

Quiggy

Living the Fat, Drunk and Stupid Life

I didn't pledge a fraternity in my college days.  I wasn't the type.  Most college fraternities came off as elitist snobs (much like the Omegas in this movie, although I wasn't influenced by it.  I didn't see Animal House until I was well into my 20's.)

But if there had been a fraternity, like the Deltas,  for outcasts like myself, I definitely would have petitioned them to accept me (although, truth be told, I may have been considered too much of an outcast even for the Deltas...)

When John Landis and company were casting around for locations for this film, most universities took one look at the script and tossed them out on their ears.   The only reason that the University of Oregon in Eugene actually agreed to allow the filming was due to the university president, William Boyd, having seen the critical acclaim that The Graduate received after UC-Berkley had rejected the filming on its campus only to see USC get the location shooting and the subsequent benefits from it.

The movie featured a cast of unknowns. John Belushi was the most recognizable face, as the rest of the potential Saturday Night Live alumni opted to not join the cast.  Imagine an Animal House movie, if you will, with Dan Ackroyd as "D-Day", Chevy Chase as "Otter" and Bill Murray as "Boon".  Donald Sutherland was later added because the brass were afraid of a movie that only had one familiar face and that one of a relatively popular, but still somewhat obscure late night TV show.

Animal House is an institution in itself.  I don't think they actually coined the "toga party", but they sure as hell started a trend for them.  Not sure about the food fights, but I bet there were a few of them.

If Animal House isn't required viewing for potential college-going high school seniors, it should be.  If only to show how "not to succeed in college".  Or maybe to give them inspiration for getting through it without going crazy.

Animal House (1978):

Larry Kroger (Tom Hulce) and Kent Dorfman (Stephen Furst) are two college roommates whose big ambition is to pledge a fraternity.  There hopes are pretty much dashed when the elitist Omega fraternity rejects them.  ("a wimp and a blimp")

Larry and Kent

Kent convinces Larry that they should try to pledge the Delta fraternity because, after all, Kent's brother was a member of the Deltas so, he thinks, they HAVE to accept him because he is a "legacy".  Larry has some reservations because the deltas are renowned as the "worst" fraternity on campus.

Which they are, and deserve to be.  One look at the house and the ragtag bunch of malcontents in the house would prove it.  The big man on the campus (in more ways than one) is "Bluto" (John Belushi).  Add to that a wild and crazy guy who is not afraid to ride a motorcycle in the house, "D-Day" (Bruce McGill), two roommates who are only in college for the girls, "Boon" (Peter Reigert) and "Otter" (Tim Matheson), and a barely sentient guy only known as "Stork" (Doug Kenney).  Robert Hoover (James Widdoes), the president of the fraternity is the only one who could be said to have both oars in the water.

D-Day, Otter, Boon, Bluto and Hoover

Meanwhile, in the university dean's office, Dean Wormer (John Vernon) and the leader of the Omegas, Greg Marmalard (James Daughton) conspire to get the Deltas kicked off campus, by putting them on "double secret probation".

Dean Wormer and Marmalard

Wormer encourages Marmalard to use his wiles and his sadistic sidekick Neidermeyer (Mark Metcalf) to spy on the Deltas and use whatever means necessary to achieve this goal.

Neidermeyer

Not knowing of their impending doom, the Deltas continue on their wild and wicked ways, including having a toga party, complete with kegs of beer (in violation of university rules about that kind of behavior).  They also go on a road trip where they hook up with some girls from the nearby all-girls university.  When the midterms come out, and all of the Deltas are failing, Dean Wormer threatens to kick them out and to notify the draft board of their eligibility for the draft (and thus potential fodder for the Vietnam War).

But the Deltas are not ones to take this lying down.  When Hoover comments that it's over, Bluto leads the charge;

Bluto: "What? 'Over"?  Did you say 'over'?  Nothing is over until we decide it is!  Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?  Hell, no!"

Otter: "Germans?"

Boon: "Forget it, he's rolling."

Bluto:  "And it ain't over now!  'Cause when the goin' gets tough....  The tough get goin'!  Who's with me?  Let's go!"

And after running out on his own Bluto comes back to continue rallying the troops;

Bluto:  "What the f*** happened to the Deltas I used to know?  Where's the spirit?  Where's the guts?  This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're gonna let it be the worst.  'Oooh, we're afraid to go with you, Bluto.  We might get in trouble'.  Well, just kiss my ass from now on.  Not me.  I'm not gonna take this.  Wormer, he's a dead man.  Marmalard, dead.  Neidermeyer...."

Boon:  "Dead.  Bluto's right.  Psychotic, but right."

And thus, the Deltas plan a really "stupid and futile gesture" to exact revenge on the university.

Oh and you haven't even seen the best part yet.  They plan to make a mockery of the homecoming parade.  And what a mockery it is.

This is a movie I still get a kick out of, even some 35 years after my college days ended.  If you've ever wanted to see some nemesis in your life get their comeuppance (without actually wanting them dead in the real sense of the word, this movie is one you absolutely HAVE to watch at least once in your life.

Time to take that ride home.  The old Plymouth could stand a few accoutrements like the Deltas deck out their car, but I don't really want to cause havoc these days.  Drive safely, folks.

Quiggy

One is Too Many, A Thousand is Not Enough

This is my entry in The James Garner Blogathon hosted by Realweegiemidget Reviews

Alcoholics Anonymous was started in 1935.  The event stems from when one William "Bill" Wilson was struggling with trying to remain sober and hit upon the idea, while on business in Akron, OH, to find another alcoholic to talk to, not to get the other alcoholic sober, but an effort to keep himself sober.

That person was a doctor who also suffered from an addiction to alcohol, one Dr. Robert "Bob" Smith.  The foundation of the internationally known organization began with two alcoholics getting together to discuss their problems and working out that the solution was to help each other stay sober.  Today there are are over 125,000 (according to a Jan. 2019 estimate)  AA and affiliated groups (including such variations as Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Addicts Anonymous, etc.) meeting in virtually every country in the world, and it all started with just these two guys.

My Name is Bill W. (1989):

The real Bill W. and Dr. Bob S.

James Woods as Bill W. and James Garner as Dr. Bob S.

Bill Wilson (James Woods) is just home from WWI.  He has ambition to beat the band.  He wants to be a success on the stock market, and he has the ego to match his drive.  He and his wife Lois (JoBeth Williams) are working to develop a life of luxury.

But Bill developed a taste for alcohol while on duty in service in Europe during the war.  Although initially it's not too bad, it gradually becomes an obsession.  One should note that most of Bill's drinking "career" occurred during prohibition.  He mustered out of the service in 1920 and didn't actually become sober until 1935.  Prohibition, if you didn't know, was in effect from 1920-1933.  So much of the alcohol he consumed was not only bad for him but also illegal.

When the stock market crashed in 1929, Bill and Lois became paupers.  Bill struggled to regain his stature as an investor, but alcohol sent him on binges.  Everyone, including his wife and father-in-law struggled to convince him to quit.  Not only was Bill an obsessive drinker, though, he also suffered from a single-minded determination to be a success in business.  This leads to him not paying much attention to his wife, and he is on a binge when she has to have a hysterectomy to save her life.

Eventually his family believes that the only way to save Bill is to have him committed to a mental institution.  (There were several of these drying out periods over Bill's life, according to his own story in the first chapter of the book Alcoholics Anonymous, but the movie distills this down to save time.  At the mental institution Bill has a revelation and finds his "Higher Power" who removes the obsession for alcohol from Bill.

Not long after, Bill is on business in Akron, still trying to become a success.  In the hotel he has a lot of free time on his hands and keeps looking at the hotel lounge and trying to avoid giving up on his sobriety.  Instead he decides to call the local churches trying to find a fellow addict to talk with.  This leads him to Dr. Bob (James Garner), who consents to talk with bill for 15 minutes.  The conversation eventually lasted 6 hours, and the seeds of AA recovery were born.

The focal point of the film is on Bill, but without Dr. Bob in the mix, Alcoholics Anonymous would never have got off the ground and millions of recovering alcoholics today might still be suffering.  Included in Bill's story is the man who inspired Bill that recovery was possible, Ebby Thatcher (Gary Sinise).  It was Ebby who came to Bill with a concept of using a Higher Power (God) as a force greater than himself to quit.

Whether or not the movie is inspiring may depend a lot on your position on the subject of alcoholism.  Surely, if you are one of those who can't believe a man can be so deep in his addiction that he can't just quit on his own, you may find the story a bit on the melodramatic side.  But speaking as one who has found release through help, I find Bill's story encouraging.

If you really want to get into the concept of addiction and also the potential for recovery, might I recommend you pair this with the classic Ray Milland movie The Lost Weekend?  Both movies will give you an insight into the plight of someone who struggles to say "No" to the next drink.

Time to fire up the Plymouth and head home.  And with 10+ years of sobriety I'll be doing it without alcohol.  Drive safely folks.

Quiggy