Should I have just asked? Four Good Days is based on a 2016 Washington Post news story entitled Hows Amanda? written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eli Saslow. Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score registers an 81 percent approval rating. She had been an addict for around a decade and tried almost everything to get rid of addiction. Four Good Days follows Molly, a heroin addict trying to cleanse herself from the vices. Downloads only available on ad-free plans. Tens of millions more suffer from the scourge as family members and friends. Pre-registration is required. . 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. Following 15 failed attempts, reconciliation with her mother seems like a farfetched thought. The characters are collectively burdened with a sea of regret that stem from their love for Molly and their desire to help. Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis: Romance Rewind. More details. Glenn Close is the most nominated actor without winning the award. 2020 | Maturity rating: M | Independent Movies. With doctors writing over 200 million opiate prescriptions, the epidemic seems never to end. What if more counseling had been available at school? The central tension of the story concerns Molly, who, after fourteen unsuccessful rehab admissions, turns to her mother for help. Yes,Four Good Daysis based on a true story. But isFour Good Days about one familys struggle, or is it pulled from years of stories and experiences from across the U.S.? 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In a particularly emotional scene, Molly explains to her mother, I thought you couldnt stand to be around us, around me, referring to how her mothers departure affected her. Die Hard on a Shoestring: The Low Budget Die Hard Clones, Bad Video Game Movies You Probably Forgot Existed. 1,541, This story has been shared 1,244 times. 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? 'Mandalorian' Funko Pops up to 77% Off Baby Yoda and More for Season 3, Who Plays the Armorer in 'The Mandalorian'? Perhaps things would have turned out differently, but more than likely not. 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? Molly no longer has custody. Four Good Daysis based onEli Saslow'sWashington Postarticle "'How's Amanda?' Libby even attended anti-drug rallies and forced Amanda to take monthly drug tests. Having been through countless experiences of this character with her daughter over the previous decade, the older woman coldly refuses to allow Molly inside the house, The deal was you would not come back until you were clean. Deb shuts the door on a still protesting Molly. Four Good Days (2020) - drama film based upon Eli Saslow's 2016 Washington Post article "How's Amanda? Starring Glenn Close and Mila Kunis, the film pulls no punches in depicting the destructive potential of this nationwide problem. Four Good Days leaves wider questions untouched. Announcement, Wedding Advice for the relationships in your life and how to boost your own well-being. Today I am not going to get high. While personal decisions certainly can make a difference in immediate outcomes, none of the enormous problems involved in the opioid epidemic can be solved on an individual basis. 'Attack on Titan' Season 4, Part 3 Is Now Streaming On Hulu And Crunchyroll! Watch all you want. "Four Good Days" is based on a 2016 Washington Post news story entitled "How's Amanda?" written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eli Saslow. There is just one caveat: the patient must be sober for a full week before receiving the treatment. 974, This story has been shared 751 times. Miss Manners: Uninvited colleague doesnt enjoy our lunchtime conversations. 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. The next morning, Deb agrees to take Molly in, on condition that she first detoxes in a womens center for three days. What if Deb had remained in her unhappy marriage? Amanda had to stay clean for two weeks and pass a drug test before this would happen. Lead actor Glenn Close delved into the issues of motherhood to get a perspective for her character. I would be lying.. Watch offline. Glenn Close and Mila Kunis star in this drama, which is based on a 2016 Washington Post article by Eli Saslow. So far, there is no book thats directly related toFour Good Days. Follow this story and more by signing up for national breaking news email alerts. This story has been shared 4,441 times. Why That's Good News for the Dems. [11], On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 55% based on 80 reviews, with an average rating of 5.70/10. The 37-year-old actress went under a.. Entertainment One News Page: Friday, 19 March 2021 With no apparent prospects for the future, especially when it came to education, she wrote that boredom, loneliness, anxiety, regret, (and) shame were some of the reasons for her relapse. With the help of her mom, Molly tries her best to stay sober and away from heroin, despite her consuming addiction to the drug. Drug addiction is a mass phenomenon in the US, with an estimated 31 million users, almost 10 percent of the population. Eight Oscar nominations and counting. It was announced in May 2019 that Glenn Close and Mila Kunis were set to star in the film. A year after last seeing her, 31-year-old drug addict Margaret "Molly" Wheeler walks to her mother Deb's house remembering times before her fall. Glenn Close, left, and Mila Kunis star in "Four Good Days," based on a true story by Pulitzer Prize winner Eli Saslow. Recently Eli took time out to talk to Martin Carr about Americas on going battle with this silent killer, and the challenges of screenwriting. Deb is clearly hurt. A Story of Truth, Lies and an American Addiction", "Glenn Close & Mila Kunis To Star In Drama 'Four Good Days', Capstone Launches Sales Cannes", "Reba McEntire is dropping "Somehow You Do," her theme song from the 'Four Good Days' soundtrack", "Diane Warren Lands 13th Oscar Nomination For 'Four Good Days' Song "Somehow You Do"", "2022 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences", "Sundance Unveils Female-Powered Lineup Featuring Taylor Swift, Gloria Steinem, Abortion Road Trip Drama", "Four Good Days', Starring Glenn Close And Mila Kunis, Acquired By Vertical For U.S. Release", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Four_Good_Days&oldid=1142253578, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 10:26. Back at home, Deb reveals she was very unhappy with Molly's father, Dale, as she felt forced into marriage after becoming pregnant with Molly's older sister, Ashley, and this led to her walking out on the family. Director Garca might be going for the same tone that James L. Brooks achieved in Endearment, but, at this point, such a hospital outburst seems tired and even a little insensitive. His singular piece of narrative journalism on the escalating opioid epidemic in America inspired Four Good. Film director Rodrigo Garca collaborated with Saslow to adapt true-life events into this narrative feature. 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 . 2,381, This story has been shared 2,170 times. The film picks up their journey about 10 years into Mollys battle with opiates, which began with a prescription for painkillers after an injury, before segueing to crack, Adderall, heroin and Methadone and the opening of a painful rift between mother and daughter. 2023 E! However, the films perceptive and frank treatment of addicts and their loved ones is certainly worth commending. The articles portrayal of the opioid epidemic and the details of a mother-daughter duo ensconced in its vagaries reflect the harsh reality. 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. For more information about Jonathan, visit: FilmProductionLaw.com or DailyFIlmFix.com. "[12] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 53 out of 100, based on nine critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Genres. But her instincts get the better of her judgment as she tries to rebuild their trust. 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. Like the story that inspired it, this movie focuses on the uncertain relationship . The ebb and flow of the new film arent new or, sadly, even uncommon. We will be reimplementing membership for Times-Herald.com shortly. On the doorstep, a ragged-looking Molly begs for a place to stay while she detoxes from heroin. If you are looking for sympathy, you wont find any here, her mother insists. Though Mila is best known for her comedy work in films likeTedandBad Moms, her next role is also slated to be a particularly dark turn. The Other Fellow: What if your name was Bond, James Bond? More Details. Four Good Daysstars Mila Kunis, Glenn Close, and Stephen Root. The feature also stars Stephen . Kunis holds her own with the multiple-nominated icon, but the dialogue is hard to sell. It was a fertile ground for Garcias vision, which he translated to the big screen with considerable pathos while reflecting the reality. Ranging from racism to addiction and poverty, the authors oeuvre uncovers the deep impacts of these socio-political issues that leave a deep scar on the collective consciousness. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Based on a true story from Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post writer Eli Saslow, the film is about 31-year-old Molly, who begs her estranged mother, Deb, for help fighting a fierce battle . Jessica wrote on Instagram of Mila's involvement in the project, "This has been six years of relentless rewriting, rejections, studio changes, and torturous stretches of stagnation. What We Know, The 8 Best Soundbars To Buy In 2023, Per Experts, Chris Rock Jokes About Watching Emancipation to See Will Smith Getting Whipped In Advance of Netflix Special: Report. That tidal pull Deb feels part love, part mistrust, part guilt is palpable, as palpable as the hunger of the monkey on Mollys back. And the way that doctors have been taught to prescribe for pain drove a lot of the opioid epidemic. Deb remains suspicious of Molly's intentions, but by the end of the day, secretly begins to have hope. However, circumstances complicate the road to recovery with every passing moment. Saslows story captured that rawness and power. Yes, Four Good Days is based on a true story. Garcia noted that problems with no solutions hold a fascination for him. And an hour later I am meeting up with my dealer to get high. Clearly struggling to continue, Molly stresses, I fail every single day.. 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. She takes her time trying to make Molly understand how difficult her marriage and life were for her to endure. Four Good Days is based on Eli Saslow's Washington Post article "'How's Amanda?' A story of truth, lies and an American addiction," which chronicled a woman named Amanda Wendler 's experience with . [3] It stars Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, and Stephen Root . Unfortunately, its a story to which audiences have become overly accustomed. A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to . Upon arrival, it is revealed that Molly has been an addict for over a decade, has lost custody of her children, and is on her 15th attempt at sobriety. 1,613, This story has been shared 1,541 times. 'Daisy Jones & The Six' Episode Guide: When Do New Episodes Premiere? Because I was like Intentionally, I want roots, and I want it to look like she went like this with some green dye. And they were like I dont understand. When that was all done and I looked myself in the mirror, I was genuinely like Oh, I can do it now. So, for me, above all else, was having this visual, I mean I looked sickly, right, like I looked unhealthy already due to my weight loss, and then on top of it I just didnt look like myself with bleached yellow hair with dark black roots. (Video: Washington Post Live), The co-screenwriter said the shift in thinking has started after 20 years of seeing addiction as a personal weakness. What transpires is what youd expect, made viscerally real by two strong actors. 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Molly further admits that she has relapsed. A Story of Truth, Lies and an American Addiction". [10] In March 2021, Vertical Entertainment acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, and set it for an April 30, 2021, limited release prior to a May 21, 2021, video on demand release. Even Close has done this kind of thing before, just last year, in the much-maligned Hillbilly Elegy.. Before you watch Four Good Days, heres what you need to know about the true story behind the emotional drama. Eli Saslow is known for Four Good Days (2020), Colossus (2018) and The Daily Show (1996). Four days left to go, three days, two, and as the hours . 99 minutes. The film is based on an article by Eli Saslow, titled Hows Amanda? 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?. Root is very good as Debs second husband, and he has one of the films best scenes, uncomfortably mansplaining Debs inner torment. 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. That evening, Molly receives a phone call from the detox center and learns that due to issues with her health insurance, she cannot get the shot until Monday, adding an additional three days to her wait and thus the fight against her urges. There, Deb has a chance encounter with Molly's ex-boyfriend Eric, who inadvertently reveals that Molly had been pregnant. Mila Kunis, Actor, Four Good Days, Rodrigo Garca, Director, Four Good Days and Eli Saslow, National Reporter, The Washington Post join Washington Post Live (Video: The Washington Post), I had maybe eight-months to lose weight to look like a heroin addict. The film ends with a line about the real-life mother and daughter who inspired the film, Amanda Wendler (Molly) and Libby Alexander (Deb). Eli Saslow is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who recently turned screenwriter, adapting a 2016 feature he wrote for the Washington Post about a mother trying to help her heroin-addicted daughter get clean into Four Good Days, a moving drama starring Mila Kunis and Glenn Close. 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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. Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games. Deb dismisses this, admitting that Dale's implied mental and emotional abuse was the reason for her leaving, much to Molly's surprise. While she may lash out at times at her mother and others, it is clear that, above all, she blames herself. To watch live, visit: wapo.st/fourgooddays, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Chief Inclusion and Collaboration Officer, Vice President, Inclusive Future and Strategy Cisco, Chief Conservation Scientist & Director, Centre for Wildlife Studies, The Washington Post Live Center1301 K Street NWWashington, DC 20071. Based on Eli Saslow's Washington Post article . You can find the article that inspiredFour Good Dayson The Washington Post website. Is 'Yellowstone' On Tonight? Facebook Twitter Flipboard Reddit Pinterest . Molly spends the night outside her mother's house and is persistent about her recovery. Mollys mother, Deb, sometimes doesnt want to love her daughter after feeling betrayed time and again. She insists that she is ready to be sober and begs her mother to allow her to stay for a few days before going to detox. The work is a fictionalized version of events in the life of a woman from Farmington Hills, Michigan. Despite the harrowing ordeals, Deb immerses herself in the process of Mollys recovery. Its a project Newnan officials have been talking about for several years, and it was included in the resolution approved by local voters for the 2019 special purpose local option sales tax. Film director Rodrigo Garca collaborated with Saslow to adapt true-life events into this narrative feature. Supporting her in this journey is herestranged mother, played by Glenn Close. As Eli Saslow pointed out in his original article for The Washington Post about my daughter's journey in 2016, 350 people start on heroin every day. Mila Kunis, who plays the role of the daughter, worked her way through these details and explored the filial dynamics accentuated by the addiction. A Story of Truth, Lies and an American Addiction.. A Story of Truth, Lies and an American Addiction". Molly speaks to Coach Miller's class on her third day at home. A Story of Truth, Lies, and an American Addiction, that appeared in the Washington Post on July 23, 2016. Each person is complex, with strengths and weaknesses, regrets and guilt. However, she felt that it was a part of her responsibility as a mother to be there for her daughter. It has a been there, seen and heard that quality. 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. . A Story of Truth, Lies, and an American Addiction, the feature comes from Eli Saslow, a Pulitzer-Prize winning writer and Washington Post reporter who also helped write the screenplay for Four Good Days. [5] In October 2019, Chad Lindberg, Rebecca Field, Joshua Leonard, Michael Hyatt and Sam Hennings joined the cast of the film. Powerhouse performances from Glenn Close and Mila Kunis anchor director Rodrigo Garcas poignant and unpredictable chronicle of mother and daughter fighting to regain the love and trust that once held them together. A Story of Truth, Lies, and an American Addiction. A suspicious Deb questions the call, they argue, and Molly leaves with Sean. A RottenTomatoes.com Tomatometer-approved critic, Jonathan W. Hickman, is also an entertainment lawyer, college professor, novelist, and filmmaker. Three Great Things is Talkhouse's series in which artists tell us about three things they absolutely love. Four Good Days is set for a theatrical release on April 30th, followed by a VOD release on May 21st. How Playwright Sam Hunter Processed His Own Trauma, Who Plays Kam Evans on 'Sex/Life' Season 2? Were seeing some changes now and I think part of that is because we talk about addiction as the real medical problem that it is rather than as a personal weakness or a societal ill. (Video: Washington Post Live). 3,922, This story has been shared 2,381 times. Molly responds, I have woken up every morning for the last couple years and said that this is it. It hurts where it should, yet lands with a touch of hope. 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. She shows up at her ex-husbands to berate him for not phoning Molly. Saslow co-wrote the movie's screenplay with director Rodrigo Garca. However, to permanently rid herself of this addiction, she tried to pursue a new treatment. Four Good Days. 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. Four Good Days is a haunting depiction of this grim situation and its aftermath on millions of households. Her mother, Libby, faced the dire situations that accommodate an addiction for the same eleven years and tried to shrug herself off from the effects. Addiction opens a dark and grim path that can break down the person piece by piece over a period of time. In Saslow's article, a Michigan mother, Libby, wrestled . Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. Watch all you want. signing up for national breaking news email alerts. What We Know About Her Continued 'Today Show' Absence, 'Wheel of Fortune' Gets Awkward as Pat Sajak Snaps at Contestant for Grabbing Wheel: "Don't Touch That", 'Jeopardy!' Directed by Rodrigo Garca; screenplay by Garca and Eli Saslow. Molly later confesses to Deb that she was pregnant, but gave the baby up for adoption. However, it has considerable side effects if opiates are still present in the body. 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. Four Good Daysis a story thats familiar to many Americans, with the opioid epidemic ripping across the country in the past decade. 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. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Eli Saslow, a Washington Post Pulitzer Prize winner who wrote the article that . 1,100, This story has been shared 1,029 times. Fully titled Hows Amanda? Deb is clearly shaken and concerned. 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'The Mandalorian' Season 3 Episode Guide: How Many Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Will There Be on Disney+? WhileFour Good Daysis pulled from real life, the only account of Amandas story is from The Washington Post article about her struggle with sobriety. The next morning a frustrated Deb agrees to take Molly to detox.