Wizard-8 I'm glad I finally sat down to watch this movie, despite the fact that the region 1 DVD release of the movie (the version I saw) used a very crummy print. Although the movie doesn't go full-throttle to depict the real hell some addicts go through, the movie still has several uncomfortable (as they should be) scenes that give us some idea of the life of an addict. I also appreciated that the movie ends with not everything rosy in the main character's life, that there is still a lot of work for him to go through. Keaton gives a real solid performance - I didn't think of his comic roles in other movies while watching this movie. Though Morgan Freeman and M. Emmett Walsh also deserve kudos for their supporting roles. My only real objection is that the subplot about the woman who died in Keaton's character's home at the beginning of the movie is dropped around the midway point and never brought up again. From what I saw, the cops and the father of the woman should have still been searching for Keaton. Otherwise, this is a real good movie, well worth your time.

sddavis63 Michael Keaton is ostensibly the star of this movie. There's no doubt that he gets most of the screen time, and his character of Darryl Poynter is the one around whose experiences the movie revolves. Darryl is a hot shot commercial real estate salesman with a couple of problems: first, he's embezzled $90,000 and is on the verge of getting caught, and second, he's an alcoholic and drug addict who hasn't admitted that fact to himself, and who discovers (at the same time he realizes that his embezzlement has been found out) that a girl he picked up at a mall the night before has died of an overdose in his bed. With everything closing in on him, Darryl needs a place to escape to so that he can figure his next move out, and he decides to check himself into an addiction counselling centre to take advantage of its confidentiality. He has to lie his way through while there, to convince his counsellor (played by Morgan Freeman) that (1) he accepts that he's an addict, and (2) that he's serious about recovery so he can stay. At the centre, he meets Charley (Kathy Baker), who's dealing with her own addictions and her relationship with her husband, who is both an addict and abusive (certainly verbally; possibly physically.)While Keaton was the star, I was actually far more taken with Baker's performance and her character of Charley. She did a great job portraying this character who was struggling to overcome her drug and alcohol addiction, but who continually allowed herself to be manipulated by both Lenny (the husband) and Darryl, who develops a real obsession with her (to the point at which he seemed more like a stalker than anything else.) I thought Charley's story was more interesting and far more sad, while Darryl was most interesting when he was dealing with Charley. In the end, a tragedy involving Charley (which somewhat mirrors the tragedy the movie opened with) is what jars Darryl into finally admitting to his addictions.This isn't the most powerful movie dealing with the issues of addiction and alcoholism I've ever seen (I'd probably give that nod to 1962's "Days Of Wine And Roses" with Jack Lemmon) but it's an interesting, if somewhat melancholy, movie. 7/10

Cablebot3000 Clean and Sober is quit different from most movies I have seen dealing with drugs (as a main theme). Most of the film takes place during and after rehab, which is somewhat unusual (but not bad in any way). Michel Keaton is really good as a drug addict. The role is different, but shows his more serious and adult side. This being said, the movie, unlike most drug movies, isn't really "powerful" or extremely dramatic. In fact, its rather dry in that area, but is still good (and even somewhat better than a lot of drug films) because its very realistic and believable. It also goes in depth with the characters personal lives outside of drugs, rather than focus on their actual drug addiction. Its a good movie overall, definitely recommended to any fan of Michael Keaton or anyone who likes well made but realistic drama's. I rate it 8/10. Rated R for Strong Language, nudity and drug use

Studioart81 Michael Keaton gave one of the best performances of his career in "Clean and Sober." It is amazing that he was not given anything close to an Oscar nomination for his role. He definitely deserved more recognition than he got. Nonetheless, he proves here he can do a serious role quite well.Keaton is Daryl Poynter, a yuppie real estate broker who is oblivious to his alcohol and cocaine addiction. He has embezzled $92,000 from the company escrow account and invested it in the stock market. But he lost this gamble, and now must quickly recover the money or face serious embezzlement charges and termination. As if that's not enough, he wakes up one morning to find a dead girl in his bed from an overdose (someone he partied with the night before). The police are on his case about the dead girl, the girl's father has posted fliers around the neighborhood branding Daryl a murderer, and his employers are about to discover his embezzlement. Daryl is in a bind, and needs to hide out for a while to straighten things out. He tries to leave town, but his credit cards are maxed out. He is turned away from staying at a friend's house, so he gets his own idea: a drug rehabilitation clinic promising discretion and confidentiality. Thus, he takes advantage of it.The catch is that Daryl does not think he has a problem, and only wants to hide out in the clinic rather than face the music. His saving grace may be counselor and former addict Craig, played by Morgan Freeman. Craig is a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is type of person, and has seen and heard all of Daryl's lies and tricks. Daryl must play by the rules and face his addiction, or get expelled from the facility. He begins his slow transformation when he meets Charlie Standers, played by Kathy Baker, in rehab. Charlie operates a steel mill crane, and lives with an abusive addict boyfriend named Lenny. When Daryl gets to know her better, he offers her a way out of her situation. He also comes to like her, although she does not feel the same way about him right away. But controlling someone else's problems and destinies is next to impossible (even a bit conceited), as Daryl finds out the hard way and through his AA sponsor Richard, played by M. Emmet Walsh. Will he see the light and admit to his problems before it's too late? Can Charlie find the courage to leave Lenny, or is she headed toward destruction?I highly recommend "Clean and Sober" for anyone who has ever had a substance abuse problem, knows someone who has, or is a family member or friend of an addict. No matter the circumstances, this film is truly a wonderful depiction of the consequences involved with addictions of any kind. The good news is that if one is willing to admit to their problems and get help, with consistent effort there is light at the end of the tunnel. A terrific film with realistic people and challenges!