28 Days (2000)

Wonderful character development!

Disturbing yet enthralling

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

Sure, 28 Days at times is a Hollywood version of what rehab might be, but it does strive to have something to say. The acting is great and the directing is tight. The film totally parodies the rehab clichés - the slogans, the camp environment, the wholesome songs, but the central character, sports columnist Gwen, also genuinely goes on a journey from adolescent-brained party girl to the more mature, intelligent woman inside. She's never stopped to reflect on her life and the consequences of her actions until now. The death of her teenage roommate from suicide is a compelling reminder that not everyone magically transforms their lives at rehab. The support cast including Elizabeth Perkins as Gwen's sister and Marianne Jean-Baptiste as a fellow addict, are great. As a counsellor and alcoholic, Steve Buscemi has a nicely sardonic way about him. He tends to spout sayings, but he's interesting. And as the troubled sports star attracted to Gwen, Viggo Mortenson has great chemistry with Bullock, and is self mocking and rueful. As Gwen's self centered partying boyfriend, Dominic West is fantastic -- his character manages to be light as a cloud while simultaneously representing the evil temptations of drink and debauchery that Gwen must avoid. Special mention goes to the troubadour Loudon Wainwright III who plays guitar and sings in several scenes, as a kind of one man Greek chorus. It gives the film an offbeat, wacky charm. Sandra Bullock is maybe too likable -- even when Gwen is doing despicable things (not that there are many of those) we forgive her. Maybe in real life such a character would really stir our hatred, like the gambling addict who steals money from her child's school. If Gwen had hit a person in the car she stole, it would have been a different film.

I saw this movie on a lazy Saturday morning. I like Sandra Bullock, and the subject matter sounded interesting. I thought maybe I'd see Sandra in a meaty dramatic role - an alcoholic hits rock bottom and rebuilds her life.Instead what I saw was worse than a Lifetime movie of the week about alcoholism and rehab. The potentially powerful storyline just lacked scenes or dialogue that carried any gravity. It seemed as though the beginning of the movie where Sandra's Gwen was a thoughtless, disgusting alcoholic with no consideration for others was supposed to be some kind of slapstick humor. Oh look, what a goofball! She stole a car, drove drunk, and crashed into a house. Whoopsie! Rehab was a mish mash of clichéd characters and stereotypical behavior. A couple of things I did appreciate during the rehab scenes were (1) Sandra's performance regarding the physical withdrawal from substances, (2) the scenes when Sandra flashes back to her childhood and her mother's alcoholism, and (3) the touching, well acted scene between Gwen and her sister Lily at rehab. Other than that, the other patients at rehab were caricatures of typical addicts and were so silly it was offensive at times. Sandra gives a nice performance. Steve Buscemi is always great and he gives some gravity to his brief role. Other than that, it's not that good and I can't recommend it.

I have watched this movie over and over again and it always makes me cry at the same parts. I won't give spoilers away but suffice to say it's not a typical Bullock romantic comedy or action flick. I guess it could be seen more as drama, or women's fiction? It has its funny moments, so it's not entirely drama. But it's not While You Were Sleeping or Speed either.I think one thing that makes it different is that it isn't about Bullock's character finding love. Unless you consider it about her finding her own love of herself, or self-respect. Really, I think it's about her finding the strength to be on her own and to be who she is. It also involves letting go of the past.The supporting characters were so much fun, and I really like the developing relationship between Gwen and her sister as well. It's all quite an all-star cast, in my opinion at least.

Sandra Bullock is an habitual drunk in a relationship with someone similar - the pair of them are happy, but their behaviour (and lives are a mess). So, after ruining her sister's wedding, she is sent o 28 days' rehab. After initial resistance, she comes to realise that this may hold the key to improving her life.As a straight drama of someone undergoing rehab, this isn't bad at all, with a decent central performance from Bullock - detailed, nuanced, accomplished.Where it is less successful is as a comedy. There are some smiles, it is true, but the subject matter is not comedic and Bullock certainly doesn't play it for laughs. And that, I think, is how it should be, because the dramatic side works quite well.