What Doesn't Kill You
Everyone has a choice. Every choice has a consequence.
What Doesn't Kill You, reveals the true life drama that writer/director Brian Goodman underwent in his struggle to honor the people he loved – on both sides of the law. For two boys on the crime-filled streets of Boston's Southie neighborhood, a life on the wrong side of the law seems like a natural choice. But as the two childhood friends (played by Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke) grow up, the stakes grow.
Member Reviews
Convincing - crazyboutmovies
Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke gave very convincing portrayals of childhood friends who grew up within a life of crime. Unlike many movies that are "true stories", I could actually see this one being something that actually happened.
Amanda Peet also gave a sympathetic portrayal of Ruffalo's long-suffering wife, who stayed with him in spite of everything.
And unlike other crime dramas, the level of violence in this movie was appropriate for the story.It's like being killed, except without a resolution - napierslogs
Of the many ways to finish the sentence that begins with "What Doesn't Kill You", this film proves that none of them are particularly interesting. What one may conclude, is that, if it doesn't kill you, it is likely to be long, slow, painful, and dreary; like death, but without a resolution.
Granted I can't claim that it doesn't have a resolution because I didn't suffer through to the end. Brian (Mark Ruffalo) and Paulie (Ethan Hawke) are life-long friends, and it took the film 20 minutes to establish that. They live a life full of crime, and especially for Brian, a life full of drugs too. That's the entire story. Life sucks and it gets even worse if you mess around with drugs.
The film did set-up an atmosphere, but contrary to popular belief, not an accurate one. Apparently it's always winter in Boston, no matter what time of year it is. It's always dark and gloomy, no matter what time of day it is. I've been to Boston, probably not the neighbourhoods that Brian and Paulie lived in, but I did see the Sun, and not only snow but rain and flowers, and trees and grass too!
"What Doesn't Kill You" isn't entirely bad. Ruffalo, Hawke and Amanda Peet are good actors, it had decent dialogue and I'm assuming the writer and director had a plan for these characters. But they couldn't present me with a world that I cared about and there needs to be something more than "Life sucks" especially if it doesn't kill you.Surprisingly engrossing enjoyable movie about one man's struggle to find himself - CruelIn10tions
This film is yet another rehash of that glut of films about kids who begin lives of crime early on, go to jail, and come out either enlightened or unchanged. Set in South Boston, WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU happens to star some fine actors in Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke, and Amanda Peet, and their presence makes the film watchable. It is just tiresome to watch repeats an this 'bad kid' (Ruffalo) turned junkie turned convict turned negligent husband and father turned AA whose ability to make decent decisions finds him clueless until the end of the film.
The flavor of South Boston and prison and petty crimes becoming major crimes is well paced by writer/director/actor Brian Goodman. But this rambling story is ultimately boring - except for the pleasure of watching Mark Ruffalo inhabit this loser of a character. An OK movie, not a great one.
Member Reviews
Read All...
Convincing - crazyboutmovies
Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke gave very convincing portrayals of childhood friends who grew up within a life of crime. Unlike many movies that are "true stories", I could actually see this one being something that actually happened.
Amanda Peet also ...It's like being killed, except without a resolution - napierslogs
Of the many ways to finish the sentence that begins with "What Doesn't Kill You", this film proves that none of them are particularly interesting. What one may conclude, is that, if it doesn't kill you, it is likely to be long, slow, painful, and dreary; like ...Surprisingly engrossing enjoyable movie about one man's struggle to find himself - CruelIn10tions
This film is yet another rehash of that glut of films about kids who begin lives of crime early on, go to jail, and come out either enlightened or unchanged. Set in South Boston, WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU happens to star some fine actors in Mark Ruffalo, Ethan ...