Good Movies About Substance Abuse + Addiction

I don't flinch watching movies like these, but I sometimes do cry.

Some really good films on the subject, off the top of my head:

The Lost Weekend, Ray Milland
The Days of Wine and Roses, Jack Lemmon
Panic in Needle Park, Al Pacino
Cocaine: One Man’s Seduction, Dennis Weaver
Sid & Nancy, Gary Oldman
The Doors, Val Kilmer (Jim Morrison, RIP)
My Name is Bill W., James Woods
The Boost, James Woods
Flight, Denzel Washington

I'm sure there's plenty more, but this is a good start.

The Lost Weekend was shocking for its time, and got an Oscar. It's tame by today's standards, but American wasn't ready for it. Ray Milland got his only Oscar, I believe.

The Days of Wine and Roses is an absolute classic. So was Jack Lemmon. One of a kind.

Panic in Needle Park stars a very young Al Pacino, and Kitty Wynn. Let me warn you if you haven't seen it. It will break your heart. Encore runs it once in a while. I haven't taped it yet, just can't get up my nerve. If I live long enough, I will.

Cocaine, with Dennis Weaver, is a teeny bit hokey, being a TV movie, but nevertheless, it's so very timely for Baby Boomers. Dennis Weaver carries it very well.

Sid & Nancy is so heartbreaking. Talk about a lost generation... It's a gut wrencher for me. Gary Oldman is incredible, one of the most under-rated actors of our time.

The Doors, somewhat controversial, tells the story of the Jim Morrison that I remember. I was a big fan, and was sorely disappoionted by his drug use, and my young heart broke when I heard about his death. Val Kilmer should have been nominated.

My name is Bill W, James woods again, is about the man who started Alcoholics Anonymous. Historical, accurate, and quite good.

The Boost, with James Woods, always - and I do mean always - makes the tears flow like a river in the last scene. I won't give it away here. (I survived the 70s and this is painful to watch. I'm just not afraid of pain anymore.)

With Flight, I'm OK until he has to look at the picture of the deceased flight attendant, his girlfriend, and he starts to break down. I lose it.

Anybody know any others?


Life is a bitch, and then you die.