Tom H. Richardson Full disclosure: I am not an alcoholic (I drink less than a six-pack a year), but someone I'm close to, has been sober in AA for many years. It has frustrated me intensely that I have not been able to understand this part of her life.Now I have a much better idea.I found the movie to be honest. Sometimes Bill Wilson is a hero, sometimes he's a jerk, and sometimes he's a disgusting, drunken bum. In one AA scene, one of the men at the meeting acts sober, but he has the shabby clothes of a wino (which told me that he was very new into the program), and I remember being surprised that nobody making the movie tried to "glamorize" his wardrobe. And the first time that Bill Wilson meets "Dr. Bob," it's pretty obvious that the good doctor is suffering from a hangover! Also, Bill's friend Ebby, who actually leads Bill to sobriety, falls off the wagon and lies about it, in a heartbreaking scene. Like I said, this movie is honest.

ThommyMac Expertly acted, great sets, and an interesting story brought to the screen. How much more could you ask for? Having been sort of forced to watch many recovery movies at the VA, this one shines. Take it from a cynic, this is well worth watching. Most movies dealing with addiction are syrupy, saccharine, and all the problems are solved at the end of 90 to 120 minutes. I understand that this is the nature of movies HOWEVER it is NOT the nature of recovery. Non-members of the AA fellowship can enjoy it for how well it shows the beginning of the movement, friends of people in recovery can identify with the supporting characters, and "friends of Bill W." can marvel at the birth of a miracle. Finally, the straightforward script manages to avoid the aforementioned "sappy" pitfalls inherent to most recovery movies. It beats "28 Days" anytime.

Carl Halling James Woods puts in the most magnetic performance of his career in this stunning neglected classic. Normally known as a tough guy, Woods is profoundly affecting, and heartrendingly vulnerable as the charming and brilliant young stockbroker who succumbs to alcoholism, before going on to found AA, and help so many to find the strength to stay sober. It is wonderfully well directed, but of course the subject matter would prevent it from being a "classic" in the commercial sense. Artistically however, it is a triumph, well-paced and almost hypnotically powerful, with an Oscar-meriting performance.

DaveS-6 This is the story of the founding of the organization Alcoholics Anonymous. I am acquainted with two people who knew Bill W (the main character in the movie) and they say that they believe this is an accurate depiction of the events shown in it.