28 Days (2000)

I've always had a thing for 28 Days. So often in Hollywood there are films that try tackle real issues, but not all of them feel like they've achieved anything, or even portrayed said issues in a realistic, compassionate way. This one shines a probing, nonjudgmental spotlight onto alcoholism, in all it's subtleties and absurd truths, like few other films have. Many films portray alcoholism like a raging mania that turns you rabid and irrational, and while that certainly can be the case, I like how here they show what a semi-functioning addict looks like, as opposed to your atypical abusive archetype. It's also just more pleasant fare too. Despite being a story about great struggle and personal woe, there's lightheartedness to it that's welcome in such stressful territory. Sandra Bullock, that luminous brunette, is pretty much instantly likable in anything, a beautiful, effortless, natural born movie star, giving any film an instant advantage simply by having her headline. Here she plays Gwen, a NYC newspaper columnist who, along with her Brit boyfriend (Dominic West), has a fairly serious problem with the booze. After spectacularly ruining her poor sister's (Elizabeth Perkins) and recklessly crashing a stolen limousine, the thin line between functionality and outright self destruction is crossed, and it becomes time to seek help. Court ordered into rehab, Gwen ships off to an upstate clinic to sleep off the hangover, but the real progress comes from first admitting she has a problem at all. Like any film about rehab, the facility is home to many quaint, quirky people for her to meet, bond and squabble with, fellow addicts on the road to whatever recovery means to them. Steve Buscemi underplays a sly turn as the program founder and lead social worker, Viggo Mortensen is sorta kinda a love interest, but also not really, in an ambiguously written supporting role, and there's solid work from Alan Tudyuk, Marieanne Jean-Baptiste, Azura Skye and Margo Martindale too. Parallel to her treatment we see hazy flashbacks to Gwen being raised by her severely alcoholic mother (Diane Ladd), and get a glimpse of how the hectic, sprawling life of someone who drinks just seems like the mundane to them, internally until they decide to swallow that proverbial red pill, step outside the routine and examine their choices. It's a great little film with an organic, realistic arc for Bullock that she inhabits with grace, humility and humour.

This is an appeal for assistance. When we watched "28 Days" recently, we had the strong sensation that we had seen it before but with a different cast. Has it been remade? If so as what? And where? Thank you!Writing a review isn't easy. Spoiler alert!? Scenes at the beginning and end were particularly striking as being virtually identical. As the story unfolded early on, we asked each other, "Haven't we seen this before?" "Yes," we said, "but Sandra Bullock wasn't in it." We would definitely would remember her!" "And wasn't her character blonde in the version we saw before?" Well, maybe that point is a little less clear.I have spent hours looking through listings of films about rehab. Other search strategies have driven me crazy with irrelevant results.Please help!

28 Days (2000): Dir: Betty Thomas / Cast: Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen, Steve Buscemi, Elizabeth Perkins, Dominic West: Comedy about endurance and restriction of addiction. It stars Sandra Bullock as an alcoholic who wrecks her sister's wedding. After an accident she is given 28 days in a rehabilitation centre or jail. Predictable circumstances follow that are advertised as humour but showcases the pain of addiction. Directed with insight by Betty Thomas although no where near as interesting as her Howard Stern film Private Parts. The rehabilitation centre provides an interesting setting. Bullock holds strong as a woman in emotional pain who retaliates with alcohol. Viggo Mortensen is dull as a former baseball player who serves no other purpose other than to romance Bullock. Steve Buscemi as the clinic head is shedding his usual comical self in favour for a serious role but unfortunately he is labouring under flat material. Elizabeth Perkins makes a brief appearance as Bullock's sister whose wedding was ruined yet she expresses hope for her. Dominic West has the annoying role of ex-boyfriend who is a bad influence. Bullock is the one performance that walks the straight line while other characters stagger through a screenplay that should have avoided clichés. Interesting subject regarding rehabilitation and restoration and putting one's life back on track. Score: 5 ½ / 10

This movie should have never been marketed as a comedy. I don't remember any jokes or funny scenes. Literally.When Gwen (Sandra Bullock), checks into rehab - she would have went through at least 3-4 days of hardcore withdrawal (in the film, she vomits once and appears to have 1 or 2 panic attacks that only last a few minutes). True detox will have you on the toilet, getting sick from both ends, for days and days, no letting up. Some rehabs will medicate you to ease some of the symptoms, but you still go through it. This movie simply did NOT show the real side of what happens to an alcoholic who suddenly stops drinking, or an addict who stops using. From that point on, I couldn't take the movie seriously. Perhaps, if they HAD shown the true side of withdrawal, before jumping into the actual rehab, it would have been more of a cautionary tale.