Excellent and deeper-than-usual look at lives affected by addiction

Rating: Null/10 (13 March 2004)

A superbly made movie, with excellent acting and character development to say the least.
Perhaps the most successful strength of the multi-dimensional film is that it simultaneously tackles a number of deep issues, including loneliness, addiction of multiple forms, dreams of being a celebrity, the quest for a better life, and outright greed. The drug addicts in this film are not all shown to be mindless junkies, but real people who want to do better but can never seem to escape their lives of self-abuse.
Hands down the best performance goes to the mother (Burstyn) as her character slowly and steadily develops throughout the film. It is refreshing to see a movie that deals with the ever-more-common addiction to prescription drugs, a type that is rarely dealt with in most drug films. And certainly her tearful portrayal of a widowed mother living without family or a purpose epitomizes loneliness, another common but often avoided social sadness.
Overall an excellent film, and a must-see. Better and deeper than most drug films.