[IMDB link] [Netflix link] [Official site] Still not available via Netflix as of the writing of this review (11/2009), but it finally aired on TV in Norway in May of 2009 and has aired on HBO. Tammy Kirkham supposedly sued to hold back release of this.
UNCOMFORTABLE PLOT SUMMARY (inspired by this): [highlight for spoilers]→ Crackhead journalist loses family, everything.
PEOPLE: Rick Kirkham and his family. That’s what this whole movie is about.
QUIRKS: This is a self-made video documentary. Rick Kirkham photographed and videotaped his entire life, and this documentary was created by searching through his over 3,000 hours of recordings, specifically during the 7 years that he had major crack cocaine abuse issues.
As a journalist, he once interviewed George H.W. Bush about drug abuse — while high on crack.
This movie is about how his crack cocaine addiction caused him to flush his career AND family down the toilet. He’s sober now, but the damage was done.
VISUALS: Camcorder-quality, non-widescreen video. There’s no production values because this wasn’t produced. It’s all home video.
MORALS: Drugs are bad, mmm’kay?
BAD STUFF: It’s a bit painful to watch some of these moments, like when he’s arguing with his wife and the children are present and crying. These aren’t actors; these are real people.
Also, the ending is quite rushed, as he stops making video diaries, depriving the film editors from having any footage available to cover that period of time. This “ruined” the movie for some pessimists, but that’s just a stupid view to take. This movie was about the bad, not the good.
CONCLUSION: An incredibly depressing and utterly true look into one minor celebrity’s descent into drug addiction. Like watching a trainwreck unfold, it is impossible not to be sucked into such a sad, riveting movie.
And a major follow-up on Rick’s life was posted, by Rick, to a blog reviewing this movie. You can read what he wrote here (originally posted as a comment to this review of the movie).
RATINGS:
Clint: Netflix: 4/5 stars. IMDB: 8/10.
Carolyn: Netflix: 4/5 stars. IMDB: 8/10. “It was very intense and really captured the insanity of his drug addiction. He knew he was addicted and it was bad for him, but he couldn’t stop. Ricky Jr’s childhood was no better than his own childhood. Why couldn’t he see what he was doing to that kid?”
The native public rating for this movie is Netflix: 3.9/5 stars, IMDB: 7.3/10.
RECOMMENDATION: If you don’t mind watching a depressing home-camcorder-quality movie documenting someone ruining their life, then this is a great documentary.
SIMILAR MOVIES: A select few people missed the whole point of Requiem For A Dream, unable to understand its message because it was too fictitious, fantastical, and “out there”. For those people, I would recommend TV Junkie. It’s a REAL movie that has a very similar message and effect.
Mood: annoyed
Music: Pixies – Weird At My School
January 22, 2010 at 11:53 AM
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