Down To the Bone - Movie Review

Down to the Bone:   

WARNING:  There will be spoilers if you care about such a thing.

This movie was released in 2004 and stars Hugh Dillion, ClintJordan (who recently portrayed Michael Viner on the series The People v. OJ Simpson), and one of my personal favorite actors, Vera Farmiga (The Departed, The Conjuring 1&2, and the series Bates Motel).  The reason I am so fond of Ms. Farmiga is because she adds such rawness and realness to all of her performances;  making CRAZY BITCHES look so awesomely/beautifully chic since the late 90’s.

Basically, this movie is about:    A woman stuck in a stale marriage struggles to raise her children and manage her secret drug habit. But when winter comes to her small town, her balancing act begins to come crashing down.

Lily Says:       Irene is in the pre-contemplation stage of change as she is only coming to the conclusion that she may have a problem and doesn’t quite grasp the risks and problems with her current behaviors linked to her cocaine usage.  After a small stint in a rehabilitation facility, Irene is able to stay sober for a short while until she meets a dude followed by the happenings of things and stuff...and...

(((((SPOILERS LIKE A MOFO ---DOWN BELOW – DUH!!)))))

Down to the Bone opens with Irene (Farmiga) working as a check-out clerk at a grocery store.  After the scene where she is working her mediocre, dead end job, we see Irene getting her two kids ready to go trick or treating.  Seems like the perfect happy family situation until Irene goes into the bathroom and snorts cocaine off of the bathroom sink.  While she is out trick or treating she comes across a party where she meets Bob.  After her night of Trick-Or-Treating she is sitting alone on the couch and her husband comes home with beer and she asks him if she brought her anything (her drug of choice, of course).

The REAL “FUN” begins when Irene attempts to use her son’s birthday check as payment to her drug dealer.  

 

Irene breaks down and cries alone in her car as she realizes she may be at her all-time low.  Followed by Irene in an intake scene at a rehabilitation clinic where she readily admits that her drug of choice is “coke” and that she prefers to “sniff” it as her preferred method of use and has been using since “high school.”  When asked if she has ever tried to stop prior to this attempt, she admits that she has in the past attempted to stop “lots of times.”  The intake coordinator/counselor then asks if her employer knows where she is and Irene informs him that he is on vacation and then the counselor asks if there are any problems with job or job performance or “anything like that” to which she acknowledges that there are no employment problems. 

Irene seems rather introverted and timid during the intake process as she is mostly looking down and playing with the frays coming out of the hole in her jeans.  Irene is then asked if her sons are aware of her drug use; Irene is still playing with her frays, pauses for a moment to think about it and adds “that’s a good question.”  Then Irene immediately protests, “Um, NO!”  The counselor then informs Irene that the way this is going to work is if they can be straight and honest with each other:   “It’s a little hard for me to piece together that you use coke and then there is no employment problems and it’s not a big problem in your life.  I mean that’s a lot of drug use for a lot of years – you might be surprised what your kids are aware of.”

Cut to:      Irene in her generic, unadorned and unattractively decorated room inside the facility on her standard-issue mattress with the sheets sitting next to her, folded neatly.

Now, I realize that they had to make the intake scene short and sweet for timing purposes (or what have you), but I felt that it was a little too short.  This was the opportune time to inform 

the audience of Irene’s struggles of being married to a twit, 

raising two sons all while harboring her secrets and pains while 

self-medicating with cocaine. Also, when the counselor informs Irene about being honest and “that’s a lot of drug use for a lot of years….”  BUT Irene never said HOW MUCH coke she was using on a daily or weekly basis for him to make that assumption, nor did Irene make it known if her drug use was constant or if there had been periods of sobriety or anything.  Irene did mention she had tried to stop in the past but was not asked to list the length and periods of sobriety.

Irene runs into her new friend (the male nurse, whom is also in recovery) from the Halloween party, Bob, as she is waiting for the phones (which, of course, are all in use by other patients at the facility).  “So, you really are a male-nurse” she sneers in observation.  

So I guess it was just a happy coincidence that Irene broke down and landed herself in the recovery facility at which, Bob, 

the awesome male nurse is employed.

A little later Irene is sitting with one of her new friends and her daughter.  Then husband comes to see her, alone, and Irene asks him where the kids are.  To which he replies “Oh, they don’t need to see this place.”  Irene points out that they come to see HER and the fact that other people brought their kids.  There is no contact between the two and Irene looks heavily disappointed.

I LOVE when people automatically use this as an excuse, and by “LOVE” 

I mean I have this abhorrence and hatred to these unimaginative, stupid, stuck-up dumb asses.  Irene couldn’t be more correct in pointing out that the kids would be there to see her.  The two kids have probably never been separated 

from their mother for this long, first of all, so why the hell not bring the kids so 

they can see that their mother is doing alright and she is not trying to 

abandon them.  The two sons look to be about 8 and 10 so this could 

very well be a fear of theirs, not knowing where mommy is and daddy 

doesn’t really look as though he could handle the daily grind of taking care 

of two kids and all the FUN that comes along with the role of “daddy + mommy.”  Secondly, this might even bring more motivation towards Irene 

at this stage – being away from her sons for so long and probably wanting 

to leave just so she can get back into her routine of motherhood and making 

sure that the boys are cared for in a mommy-way.   However, in one of the 

next scenes Irene is in a group counseling session and is asked why she is there.   

“For my kids,” replies Irene.  I LOVE that the counselor says “So, your kids 

came to you and said, ‘mommy, let’s go to rehab!’ Is that how that went? 

…it’s a lot more than your kids, isn’t it, Irene?”  This is such a cop-out answer 

to say you’re trying to find recovery because of your kids.  I was told 

“Your kids didn’t keep you sober before, so why would they keep you on the straight and narrow path now?”  Yes!  That’s a really big responsibility if it falls on them.   

I was also told, as I was in the early moments of motherhood way, way, way back when that I would be useless to my son if I didn’t take care of myself as well.  

 I would love for more people to realize and know this.  Sure the kids can be a partial motivator, but how about good health, a clear head, strong mind, wholesome spirit, and just like not missing out on LIFE??  I know my list is endless, and of course people don’t always apprehend such an extensive list in the beginning stages of recovery as they are just coming to grips with the effects of their drug usage.  

 THIS IS WHY IT IS HELPFUL TO STAY IN CHECK WITH ONESELF AND GIVE 

GRATITUDE ON A DAILY BASIS.  Oh, and PS, Spiritual Principles are not only helpful for people in recovery!!  Perhaps most of us are fortunate to get a crash course before we do ourselves in for good…Just sayin’.

Irene leaves the rehab and gets back to her family life – picking out tiles, washing her kids’ hair in the kitchen sink, cooking, etc.  Irene attends a meeting-which appears to be Bob’s home group and they go out to get something to eat afterwards but the pizza shop is closed. 

It seems that Irene’s stress begins at Thanksgiving when her husband takes her to a turkey farm to pick out a bird to cook and she doesn’t seem like she is too enthusiastic about having to prep and cook a live turkey.  She perseveres as it shows Thanksgiving Day with Irene and her husband hosting two friends for the occasion (the kids are playing upstairs) as there is a knock at the front door.  Irene answers the door to a drug dealer that is selling some pills to the two guests that obviously have no respect for the fact that they are in the home of a recovery addict and a brainless dumbass.  Irene is asked to partake in some pill-fun by her guests and she turns them down and goes upstairs to check on her kids.

Irene starts cleaning houses for work, after losing her grocery job, with the girl that she met in the rehab facility.  She then decides to hang out with Bob afterwards and he takes her to a tattoo shop where she gets her nostril pierced.  They go back to a hotel and get busy…then Bob does some smack and Irene catches him and gets mad and almost leaves.  Irene then gets stupid and goes back in and does some smack as well. 

Cut to: Irene walking in her house all effed up and Husband asks her where she’s been and she gives a lame excuse that hardly makes sense and is much less believable but I guess Husband buys it.  The next morning Irene’s son tries to get her out of bed but she is feeling like crap (because that is how it makes you feel after one night of using).

She goes to work and her girl-friend informs her that she is “13^th –stepping!”  Irene doesn’t know what that is and gets informed that it’s when you get “too lazy, too horny, you get distracted.  When you have that hole inside and you just need to fill it.”

Irene and Bob get arrested and she separates from her husband shortly after this happens.  After getting prison waived in front of her face, Irene seems to be getting along and doing her required meetings, groups, and urinalysis and making the best of her situation.  Irene moves into a new house and doesn’t see bob for a while.  Bob pops back up and tells Irene he felt guilty so he didn’t come around for a while (when in reality, he was most likely in the crackhouse and shooting gallery being a BAD little BOB!)  After he apologizes, Bob seems to frequent Irene’s new place more and more.

Bob goes with a friend to pick up a script and asks for some (some sort of benzo) and the guy asks him to help him sell them and Bob says he can’t then goes on to explain that he fell off the wagon and he is taking methadone but he is trying to get down to 0 on the methadone so he can go back to meetings

Reality Check:  you don’t need to be off of methadone to attend a meeting.  As they say in the beginning of each meeting, the only requirement is the DESIRE to quit using.  Bob seems to be using this as an excuse. 

Irene walks in while Bob is “sleeping” and asks him if he is OK and he says he thinks his tolerance has gone down and his dose maybe too high.  Then the suspecting Irene asks her kids about the time they spend with Bob, and they tell her that Bob naps a lot. 

Irene then confronts Bob, again, and he says he is on methadone but Irene doesn’t believe him so he tells her he is taking an “anti-anxiety (benzodiazepine) pill to “smooth out the rough edges.”  Irene catches on right away…”On top of the methadone? So it feels like dope?”  She then puts her foot down and tells Bob that if he is doing that then he can’t stay at her place anymore.  Bob leaves but turns around and comes back to the door where Irene is standing and watching – “I’ll never stay clean if I’m alone – I have no one else” Irene stands there and looks at him in silence.  Bob walks away.

 

NICE TRY, BOB…Guilt trips are not cool!  The ending was a bit sudden, so it seems and at first thought, I just felt like it was too sudden and didn’t make sense but after a little more thought, I think it’s a nice ending.  Perhaps this is the point where Irene figures out that she is in the predicament that she is in because of her using and because of hanging out with the wrong people.  Irene is newly single and trying to comply with her groups and meetings while raising her kids and working with her friend from the rehabilitation facility cleaning houses.  Irene showed strength is confronting Bob, asking him if he was clean, and then not believing his bullshit and telling him to walk.  That really does take amazing strength to confront someone like that and most people will never know how much strength and character it truly takes as a woman who is newly separated from her husband and raising two kids.  I really got a sense that Irene was trying to do things on the straight and narrow.  This movie ended right as Irene’s true recovery begins.

THE FIVE QUESTIONS THAT I MUST ANSWER….

1.    Would I recommend this title to future clients?

Yes, I most likely would, especially to someone who justifies their drug use.  This movie depicts how quickly one can be introduced to and pick up a new drug of choice as they struggle to deal with life on life’s terms. 

*In order for chem deppers to heal, one must live an extraordinary life.  One must not return to their old habits and ways but build a new life or else the old habits and ways will only reintroduce the chem depper back to their poisonous lifestyles and substances.

2.    Did this film depict chemical dependency in a real and honest way?  Why/Why Not?  

 Yes.  I noticed a lot of things in this movie that I have witnessed, experienced, or heard about through fellow chem deppers in their journeys.

1.  Cut to:     Irene sitting in the kitchen and husband enters smoking a joint and says, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be smoking this in here.”  Irene tells him “it’s ok, gimme that” and takes a puff.  Husband then shows her a card that directs sexual contact and Irene comments that she can’t do it sober.  Husband pulls out some coke and Irene partakes.

Why is it whenever someone is trying to refrain from using, it’s usually put in front of them.  Some say it’s a test of strength but I’ve had this happen even after changing people, places, and things.

2.  Cut to:     Irene gets called into the boss’ office at her mediocre grocery store job after he belt breaks on her checkout line.  Then unfriendly/nerdy boss brings to Irene’s attention that his printout indicates that she is “much slower, has excessive voids, and is not particularly courteous to the customers.”  Followed by the boss’ asking, “Is there a personal problem you’d like to discuss with us?” Irene looks confused and uncomfortable (or CONFUNCOMFORTABLE) and tells him “I don’t have anything to share.”  Boss then informs Irene that whatever the “thing” is he has to write her up and he persists that he needs to know because he cannot help her unless he knows what is going on.  Irene then confesses “Well, basically, I used to be good and fast because I was high most of the time….but now I’m clean, so yeah, I’m slower…So you gonna write me up?”  Boss informs her “Irene, you know our policy on drugs.  Thank you.”  

Rather fucked that she gets fired because of the fact that Irene is no longer getting high but this does happen.  Unfortunately, honesty is not always rewarded.  Especially for chem deppers – Just as the knockers use the old 

“If you hand over the drugs, we will let you go!”  - 

YEAH, OK.  That is NEVER the CASE!   

Unfortunately, we live in a society where people fear what they do not know.  

 So if one confesses their old habits, they very well may get judged by ignorant eyes.  This is why in the rooms you will hear “not everything is for everyone.”  TRUTH!  Watch what you tell and to whom.

3.  Cut to:     Irene is steadily going downhill and seeing Bob more and more and now it seems that shooting smack has become a regular occurrence for Irene.  While out together Bob and Irene get arrested when Bob gets pulled over and the cop asks “Is that a cooker?” and they both told him “It’s an ashtray!”  (I love how the lies us chem. Deppers tell people seem completely logical and rational at the time as we really think we are fooling someone but when you witness this happening, it’s outlandishly incredible.

Irene gets sentenced through drug court to go to 50 one on one and 100 group and 150 NA meetings and if she screws up during the year, she gets the maximum sentence (8-25 years).  Irene chooses drug court instead of facing the minimum 1-3 years in state prison for the felony of carrying half an ounce, (which the cops found in the car or on Bob, I’m guessing. )

Bob finally pops up after a couple of days and Irene asks where he’s been and he told her that he felt bad for getting her tied up in all the “bullshit” and he thought she wouldn’t want to see him.  They go for a drive to talk but we don’t know what happened exactly but in the next scene husband is dropping off the kids and Irene is at her new place and mildly freaking out because she has no food or furniture for the kids.  Husband doesn’t seem to care and comments that he has a date and takes off.  Bob comes out as Irene is settling in the snake terrarium and greets the kids.

Nothing like a first arrest and a criminal record to wake one up from the disorderly and precarious haze he/she has been entrapped in.  

LAST ONE, I promise…

4.  Cut to:     Irene is in her room, alone, at the rehab facility when Bob enters and hands her the cigarette and asks “So, you’re leaving us!?” Irene slowly takes a drag of the cigarette and replies with “yeah, yeah, I gotta get outta here.” 

“Think you’re ready to go back out? ….Don’t you think you owe it to yourself to stay a little longer?” Bob adds.  Irene with a frustrated brow answers, “I can’t, I gotta work, I got a job, kids…”  Bob then informs Irene, “The kids aren’t gonna keep you clean, you’re the only one that can do it and you have half a chance if you stay here.”  Just when it seemed as though Irene was thinking about staying a little longer, we cut to Irene back at her home-life.

This was a very realistic depiction of a chem depper trying to resist change.  Using kids, job, husband, etc. as an excuse to leave rehab early is a very common excuse.  Sure 28 days, 6 mos., 1 year (whatever the length of stay is for the rehab – as they vary, of course) may seem like a long time but it’s amazing the excuses and reasons people try to take on an early absence.

1.    Is this movie more about Recovery or drugs/addiction?

BOTH!  I really wrote this question because I don’t feel there is usually a gray area for this question and I didn’t want to settle in the gray, but this movie just might be.  Whereas this movie depicts Irene’s issues and the audience really gets a sense of the fact that she has been struggling with her addiction for a long time (since high school, as she stated), she is struggling with her recovery in this point in her life.  Recovery can have a few slippery slopes and faulty steps to someone who is completely new at this but if one is willing to go to any lengths and do anything and all in order to get RECOVERY, it shall be granted.  Irene fell for the classic rehab romance (which usually, 96.8%* of the time is just a toxic, Jurassic fuck up waiting to explode all over the freshly perfumed doilies).  This movie, as most will realize at the end of, is the very end of her addiction and ends at the very beginning of Irene’s recovery.  

“WHAT DID I JUST WATCH?”    ----     If this question comes to mind, please note that you just watched Irene’s purgatory of addiction/recovery … if there was such a thing.

2.    Is this movie uplifting or just sad?

My first take on this movie as the credits appeared on the screen was “WTF? HOW IS THIS OVER?”  But after a moment’s thought, that was the best ending for this movie.  I then realized that this movie wasn’t really about a woman’s struggles with recovery but rather the beginning of her beginning of her recovery and her new life.  Sure, the ending could be analyzed and interpreted in different ways, so for me, Irene’s turning away Bob was her way of realizing that he is toxic and she is better off on her own.  I could see in the end that Irene truly wanted her recovery as she comes to realize that it will not happen by waiting for Bob or his excuses.  Some people may not realize how much courage it takes for someone to stand up and do the *right* thing but when it actually happens, it’s a profoundly powerful moment.

3.    Best and worst moments?  This movie has a lot of ups and downs as well as good/bad moments.

BAD Moment:  One of the first moments that pop into my mind are the moments when Irene is trying very hard to resist any and all urges to use but it is put before her time after time (e.g. thanksgiving when her friends’ dealer came to her door and they offered her some pills; When her husband came into the kitchen smoking a joint and basically waived it in front of her face; and finally when BOB shot some dope in the bathroom after they had coitus.)

And I just want to add that it’s a BAD moment when anyone breaks their marriage vows and cheats on his/her spouse; regardless of whether or not the spouse is a complete douche-noodle (Just my personal opinion on home-wreckers).

GOOD Moment:     Maybe it’s the feminist in me, but I am a bit of a sucker for Girl-Power and empowering moments for women, so I would definitely have to say the end of the movie where Irene tells Bob to beat it.  It was pretty cool of her to stand up and show the strength that I wasn’t even sure she had at that point.

Next Movie I will be reviewing:   Basketball Diaries, 1995.

Note:  Funny fact -  I was asked about my blog by a friend and he was praising me for all my crazy rants (imagine that) ...so anyway, he mentioned Basketball Diaries, and I confessed that I had NEVER seen that movie (insert gasps and shock-screeches here) so I promised him that it would be the next movie that I would rant and rave about!