Clean and Sober (1988)

Directed by Glenn Gordon Caron. Starring Michael Keaton, Kathy Baker, Morgan Freeman, M. Emmet Walsh, Claudia Christian, Tate Donovan, Brian Benben, Luca Bercovici, Dakin Matthews. [R]

After embezzling funds to support his habit and waking up next to an overdosed woman, high-wire and self-destructive cocaine addict Keaton checks into a drug rehab program that promises anonymity. He’s there to lay low and avoid trouble, with no interest in staying clean and sober, but a no-nonsense counselor (Freeman), attractive fellow patient (Baker), and honest and supportive sponsor (Walsh) make him reconsider. Detailed and credible in terms of behavior, habits and general milieu, but it sanitizes some of the ugliest material—for example, we’re given verbal warnings about detox, but see very little of it play out—and makes a turn toward the contrived and sentimental near the end, hammering home a bleak warning without cutting away the optimism. In his first full-blown dramatic film performance, Keaton is sharp, especially when he’s amped up and trying to hustle his way out of any sticky situation; you kinda feel for the guy, but know he can’t be trusted, and everything he says is just a means to avoid consequences and get to his next score. A year after their dynamite turns in Street Smart, Baker and Freeman are strong as well, although their characters (and, especially, their relationship) are much different. Feature filmmaking debut for Glenn Gordon Caron, creator of TV’s “Moonlighting”. Ron Howard co-produced.

70/100