Contrary to the complaints of the critics, perhaps the greatest strength of Four Good Days is its nuanced and compassionate attitude toward all its characters. WhileFour Good Daysis pulled from real life, the only account of Amandas story is from The Washington Post article about her struggle with sobriety. In an emotional journey based on a true story by Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post writer Eli Saslow, 31-year-old Molly begs her estranged mother Deb for help fighting a fierce battle against the demons that have derailed her life. Episode 14 Escaping Extremism - The Detour /// XRAY.fm Despite all she has learned over a decade of disappointment, grief and rage, Deb throws herself into one last attempt to save her beloved daughter from the . Lead actor Glenn Close delved into the issues of motherhood to get a perspective for her character. Film director Rodrigo Garca collaborated with Saslow to adapt true-life events into this narrative feature. I am SO proud of the fact that Mila Kunis read the 63rd draft of my script and was like yeah, I get this girl, and so grateful for her shrewd third act notes that helped me take the 64th draft into another stratosphere.". Join Kunis, director Rodrigo Garca, and co-screenwriter and Pulitzer Prize-winning Saslow, for a conversation about the trauma of addiction and bringing this true story to life on the big screen. Last month it was announced that the actressis slated to star in Netflix's adaptation ofLuckiest Girl Alive, which she is also set to produce. However, it has considerable side effects if opiates are still present in the body. Four Good Days is based on a 2016 Washington Post news story entitled Hows Amanda? written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eli Saslow. More Details. 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Playing out over several days, as the films title implies, Four Good Days is another intimate snapshot of Americas opioid crisis. However, the films perceptive and frank treatment of addicts and their loved ones is certainly worth commending. A road to recovery is always on the horizon, but it is a tough journey where the collective effort must be sustained. Mila Kunis | 2020 | Maturity Rating: 15+ | US Movies. Clintonites Still Aren't Sending Much Cash to Obama. Four Good Days (2020) - drama film based upon Eli Saslow's 2016 Washington Post article "How's Amanda? Follow this story and more by signing up for national breaking news email alerts. 4,441, This story has been shared 3,922 times. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film review aggregator, it holds an approval rating of just 51 percent based on 74 Top Critics. A New York Post reviewer terms the story well worn, while another from the Tribune News complains that the films ending offered more questions than answers. Four Good Days - Wikipedia Molly no longer has custody. Over the past year, as governments around the world shoveled trillions of dollars into the financial markets and giant corporations, while leaving masses of people to suffer through the pandemic, the opioid epidemic has only worsened. Heres what we found out! Theres only one catch: Molly cant start taking it until her system is completely free of all the substances shes been abusing. All rights reserved. Join Kunis, director Rodrigo Garca, and co-screenwriter and Pulitzer Prize-winning Saslow, for a conversation about the trauma of addiction and bringing this true story to life on the big screen. Save for a few emotional interactions, Four Good Days is a mechanical and processed depiction of the consequences of addiction. Four Good Days is about a young woman who is battling a heroin addiction. There is just one caveat: the patient must be sober for a full week before receiving the treatment. Molly spends the night outside her mother's house and is persistent about her recovery. Four Good Days is a searing drama that deals with the problems plaguing society due to substance abuse. 3,922, This story has been shared 2,381 times. Four Good Daysis based onEli Saslow'sWashington Postarticle "'How's Amanda?' Downloads only available on ad-free plans. Watch David Norths remarks commemorating 25 years of the World Socialist Web Site and donate today. [7] "Somehow You Do" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. If the movie based on it isn't quite so visceral as the true story was transplanted here from Detroit to the California desert, it feels a bit. Free shipping for many products! When it looks like they may come to blows, they stop themselves, exchanging apologetic and perhaps even sympathetic looks in a moment of silence before parting ways. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved, Reese Witherspoon Reveals What Mila Kunis Said About Her Photos With Ashton Kutcher on 'The Drew Barrymore Show': "You Guys Look so Awkward", Stream It Or Skip It: 'That '90s Show' On Netflix, Where A New Generation Of Teens Get Stoned In Kitty And Red's Basement, 'That '90s Show' Reveals What Happened To The Ill-Fated Jackie-Fez Romance, Where to Stream That '70s Show Before Watching That '90s Show on Netflix, Will There Be A 'Sex/Life' Season 3 on Netflix? The central tension of the story concerns Molly, who, after fourteen unsuccessful rehab admissions, turns to her mother for help. However, circumstances complicate the road to recovery with every passing moment. 33K views, 126 likes, 35 loves, 53 comments, 44 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Washington Post: Actress Mila Kunis, director Rodrigo Garca, and screenwriter and Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington. What stands out so starkly, and painfully, in Four Good Days is that Mollys family is left entirely alone to deal with these immense social problems. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and celebrity gossip. Deb remains suspicious of Molly's intentions, but by the end of the day, secretly begins to have hope. The characters are collectively burdened with a sea of regret that stem from their love for Molly and their desire to help. 'Mandalorian' Funko Pops up to 77% Off Baby Yoda and More for Season 3, Who Plays the Armorer in 'The Mandalorian'? At the 94th Academy Awards, the film's lead single "Somehow You Do" was nominated for Best Original Song. Exclusive Interview - Writing Four Good Days with Eli Saslow Pre-registration is required. Which is enough time, right, for me, Im pretty small build anyways so given 5-10 pounds makes a very large impact on my physique. I think we equate addiction with personal weakness in ways that dont make scientific sense necessarily, and thats also informed a lot of how our medical community has treated addiction, from, over the last 20 years. Four days left to go, three days, two, and as the hours . Deb dismisses this, admitting that Dale's implied mental and emotional abuse was the reason for her leaving, much to Molly's surprise. However, the mass upsurge in opioid addiction points toward a broader cause, the coalescence of many ills hammering at peoples livesinequality, poverty, low wages, unemployment, homelessness and a general lack of confidence in the future that afflicts a considerable section of the population. Following 15 failed attempts, reconciliation with her mother seems like a farfetched thought. 'Four Good Days' Review: Glenn Close & Mila Kunis Superb - Deadline It was filmed on-location in Temecula, California. The work is a fictionalized version of events in the life of a woman from Farmington Hills, Michigan. Four Good Daysis about a young woman who is battling a heroin addiction. Post chief film critic Ann Hornaday will lead the discussion on Monday, May 24 at 5:00pm ET. Shes got four more days to go. Meet Cleo Anthony, Netflix's 'Money Shot' Documentary Trailer Shines A Harsh Light On Pornhub, The "Most Trafficked Website In The World", 'The Skinny Shot' on Hulu Is An Ozempic "Documentary" That Plays More Like A Commercial, Where Is Estonia Located? She has two kids who live with their father. MUST CREDIT: Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount-The Washington Post Photo Gallery. Co-written and directed by Rodrigo Garca, Four Good Days is based on a true story written for the Washington Post by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eli Saslow. Amanda had to stay clean for two weeks and pass a drug test before this would happen. His singular piece of narrative journalism on the escalating opioid epidemic in America inspired Four Good. Although at first reluctant, they are happy to see her and make the most of their time together. 2023 E! Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world. on June 21, 2016. 'How's Amanda?' A story of truth, lies and an American addiction 1,029, This story has been shared 1,000 times. Vertical Entertainment/Tribune News Service. Review: Addiction drama 'Four Good Days' turns away from the ugliness The Essential Horror-Comedies of the 21st Century, Terrible Remake Ideas: Past, Present, Future, Modern Viking Movies To Watch If You Enjoyed The Northman, The Most Incredibly Annoying Movie Characters, Every Major Horror Movie Coming Out In 2023. Is 'Yellowstone' On Tonight? However, before they leave Molly asks Deb for her urine, confirming Deb's suspicions. In the end, Deb calmly tells her daughter, I am so sorry for causing you so much pain. 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 Episode Guide: How Many Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Will There Be on Disney+? She cant enjoy 15 minutes of downtime, we learn, because Molly could be looking for cash to buy a fix. The words, meant to console, only dig the knife deeper as Deb wrestles with her Molly dilemma. 'Next In Fashion' Season 2 on Netflix: Follow the Designers on Instagram, Vanderpump Rules: Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Break Up After He Reportedly Cheated With Raquel Leviss. Based on Eli Saslow's Washington Post article . Fans Fuming Over Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings' Hosting Schedules: "I Want Ken Full-Time". She had been an addict for around a decade and tried almost everything to get rid of addiction. While the story of an ordinary girl, in an ordinary family setting, caught up in the throes of addiction may bore the critics, it has met with a significantly warmer response from viewers. Ever since the first trailer dropped for Four Good Days,interest has been steadily bubbling up around the stirring addiction drama, which stars Mila Kunis as Molly, a recovering addict who moves in with her mom, Deb (Glenn Close), to try and stay clean. Should I have just asked? These lead to another 4,105 emergency-room visits and another 79 people dead, every day. However, a mother never loses hope in her offsprings. On Monday morning, Molly arrives at the house urging Deb to get ready so they will not miss her appointment at the detox facility. Four Good Days is a familiar addiction drama, elevated by powerful performances, Carolyn Hax: She dreamed she was cheated on, but her anger is real. Four Good Days Movie Review | Common Sense Media Check out the trailer forFour Good Daysabove. The wrenching story of Molly and her family is currently being played out millions of times across the US, and globally. Theres just no life to the arguments that Deb and Molly have in this film. Mollys mother, Deb, sometimes doesnt want to love her daughter after feeling betrayed time and again. Unbeknownst to Molly, Deb spends the whole night watching over her daughter from a kitchen window. The film is based on a 2016 Washington Post article by Eli Saslow, who collaborated on the script with Garcia. A Story of Truth, Lies and an American Addiction.. Saslows story captured that rawness and power. (Saslow co-wrote the screenplay with director Rodrigo Garca. The audience eventually comes to learn that Deb, who found herself in an unhappy marriage, left the family when Molly was in high school. Kunis,Stephen Root. The real-life problems showcased in the film caught our attention, and we decided to look through the origins of the story. Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist That is, in order to qualify, Molly has to stay sober for another four days. Today I am not going to get high. Afterwards, Molly asks that Deb take her to see Sammy, a friend and fellow addict. Her addiction started when she was 17. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist , hardcover , at the best online prices at eBay! If you did not receive your newspaper on Thursday and Monday after your mail is delivered, we will issue a credit to your account or mail another copy. Amanda, whose experience the film is based on, has seen her fair share of pain in life. What if Deb had remained in her unhappy marriage? On her first day at home, Molly learns through Deb about many of her misdeeds during her time as an addict, many of which Molly clearly regrets. The song was written by Diane Warren and performed by country star Reba McEntire, who noted on her Instagram that she was "so proud to be associated with these three very powerful women", referencing Warren, Close and Kunis. However, to permanently rid herself of this addiction, she tried to pursue a new treatment. Four Good Days. And they were like, Okay, Rodrigos like, Yeah do it. So, I will tell you, the hardest part was simply finding a stylist or a hair colorist that would allow me to color my hair purposefully to look bad, was one of the hardest funniest things to go through. Four Good Days is a sensitive, honest film about the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic on families throughout the US. In Four Good Days, Close slides comfortably into the recognizable role of an aging matriarch who copes with troubled offspring. 974, This story has been shared 751 times. [3] It stars Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, and Stephen Root . Its narrow focus is a limitation. Saslow is the co-screenwriter with director Rodrigo Garca (Albert Nobbs), the son of famed Colombian writer Gabriel Garca Mrquez. Post chief film critic Ann Hornaday will lead the discussion on Monday, May 24 at 5:00pm ET. In an emotional journey based on a true story by Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post writer Eli Saslow, 31-year-old Molly begs her estranged mother Deb for help fighting a fierce battle against the demons that have derailed her life. Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis: Romance Rewind. <em>Four Good Days</em>: A drama of the opioid epidemic You can start a new subscription or pay for a current one by calling our circulation number at 770-253-1576. "Four Good Days," starring Mila Kunis and Glenn Close and based on the reporting of Washington Post national reporter Eli Saslow, tells the story of a young addict who must not use. Kunis holds her own with the multiple-nominated icon, but the dialogue is hard to sell. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2020. Saslows article pinpoints some harsh truths 350 people start on heroin every day, with drug overdoses becoming the cause of deaths even worse in number than car crashes or suicides. This . What if more counseling had been available at school? Once shes convinced that Molly is devoted to getting clean, Deb helps her abstain from heroin prior to receiving an injection that will prevent Molly from feeling the effects of illegal drugs. Through it all, her mother was by her side. Even the dialogue may evoke dj vu. [3] It stars Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, and Stephen Root. International Committee of the Fourth International, The US opioid crisis in the era of COVID-19, US drug overdose deaths soared to record highs in 2019. It's based on a 2016 Washington Post feature by writer Eli Saslow. 746, This story has been shared 703 times. Molly responds, I have woken up every morning for the last couple years and said that this is it. Saslow's story captured that rawness and power. Four Good Days: Uneven opioid story is overly familiar Despite all she has learned over a decade of disappointment, grief and rage, Deb throws herself into one last attempt to save her beloved daughter from the deadly and merciless grip of heroin addiction. The feature also stars Stephen . The duos trials and tribulations form the crux of the story and reflect a worsening situation of the opioid epidemic. Four Good Days is a 2020 American drama film, directed and produced by Rodrigo Garca, from a screenplay by Garca and Eli Saslow, based upon Saslow's 2016 Washington Post article "How's Amanda? The danger is that if she takes the injection while heroin is in her system, she will experience a painful, rapid detox. While she may lash out at times at her mother and others, it is clear that, above all, she blames herself. His first book, Ten Letters, was published by Doubleday in 2011. Is the Movie 'Four Good Days' Based on a True Story? - Decider Die Hard on a Shoestring: The Low Budget Die Hard Clones, Bad Video Game Movies You Probably Forgot Existed. This article was published more than1 year ago, Anyone who saw the movie Beautiful Boy the fact-based 2018 addiction drama starring Steve Carell and Timothe Chalamet as a father and son struggling with the younger mans drug dependency will already be familiar with the narrative rhythms of the similarly themed Four Good Days. Much like Felix Van Groeningens movie, based on dueling addiction memoirs by Nic Sheff and his father, journalist David Sheff, Four Good Days tells a lightly fictionalized version of a harrowing true story, first presented by Washington Post reporter Eli Saslow in his powerful 2016 article about a Michigan mothers efforts to help her adult daughter kick heroin. Free to attend. Saslow has won numerous journalism awards, including a Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for Explanatory Reporting. And while hers is one of the few stories that received much attention, there are many people out there who are going through a similar situation. He further added that the doubts in a guardians mind does someone abandons their child or perhaps be an enabler are key to the story. A story of truth, lies and an American addiction," which chronicled a woman namedAmanda Wendler's experience with opiate addiction. [6], On April 23, 2021, "Somehow You Do", the lead single from the movie's soundtrack, was released. Washington Post - Mila Kunis, Rodrigo Garcia & Eli Saslow, "Four Good Days" He also co-wrote the screenplay with Eli Saslow, a Washington Post Pulitzer Prize winner who wrote the article that . Watch all you want. IsFour Good Daysa true story? Glenn Close and Mila Kunis star in this drama, which is based on a 2016 Washington Post article by Eli Saslow. While some characters are presented with more or less admirable attributes, no one is scapegoated as the villainand rightly so. Watch offline. His singular piece of narrative journalism on the escalating opioid epidemic in America inspired Four Good Days, a frequently harrowing dramatisation of addiction, experienced through the eyes of a mother and daughter. The lead comment from Rotten Tomatoes Top Critics, by Indiewires Ryan Lattanzio, laments the fact that the film did not sufficiently vilify Mollys mother: Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this shallow movie is left unexplored: why doesnt Deb look in the mirror at her role in Mollys addiction?. If you can read this, you don't need glasses. On the doorstep, a ragged-looking Molly begs for a place to stay while she detoxes from heroin. : ; : Eli Saslow,Rodrigo Garca,Amanda Wendler; : . This causes Deb to openly express her optimism and hopes that this time, Molly will finally recover. Watch Four Good Days | Netflix This story has been shared 4,441 times. 2020 | Maturity rating: M | Independent Movies. Watch offline. Glenn Close, left, and Mila Kunis star in "Four Good Days," based on a true story by Pulitzer Prize winner Eli Saslow. 'Four Good Days' review: Glenn Closs and Mila Kunis - Washington Post Deb, although clearly ambivalent about the matter, stands resolute with the support of her husband Chris, fearing that aiding Molly in any way will serve as being an enabler. 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The two exchange harsh words, blaming each other for Mollys addiction. JOIN NOW. Close felt that this weakness becomes the strength that she masterfully portrays in the film. Its a scene that seems to run on a loop. Four Good Days - Official Trailer | IMDb For more information about Jonathan, visit: FilmProductionLaw.com or DailyFIlmFix.com. Conjecture served as an interesting premise to build an emotional tale as well. I just cant. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The new trailer features a very emotional performance from theBlack Swanactress as she fights against withdrawal symptoms and comes face to face with all the things that her addiction has taken from her, including the trust of her parents and custody of her children. [13], "How's Amanda? What sets Four Good Days apart from the many other films of its ilk are Close and Kunis, who sharpen and elevate its well-worn contours with vivid performances that are honest and grounded. Based on the true story by Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post writer Eli Saslow, Four Good Days stars Glenn Close as Deb, the mother to Kunis' Molly. "[12] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 53 out of 100, based on nine critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Based onJessica Knoll's novel of the same name, it followsAni, a woman trying to outrun ahigh school tragedy that changed the course of her life. . The article was adapted into a screenplay by director Rodrigo Garcia and Eli Saslow.