The rest of the film follows Molly and her mother as they struggle to keep her clean until she can receive the shot. The work is a fictionalized version of events in the life of a woman from Farmington Hills, Michigan. The film ends with a line about the real-life mother and daughter who inspired the film, Amanda Wendler (Molly) and Libby Alexander (Deb). 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. Afterwards, Molly asks that Deb take her to see Sammy, a friend and fellow addict. 'Four Good Days' follows Molly, a heroin addict trying to cleanse herself from the vices. 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. 703, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Four Good Days 2020 SoftSub IMDb R. . Amanda had to stay clean for two weeks and pass a drug test before this would happen. Glenn Close and Mila Kunis star in this drama, which is based on a 2016 Washington Post article by Eli Saslow. R.At area theaters. Saslow won the Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting in 2014 for his coverage of stories regarding food stamps and the glaring problem of hunger. Tens of millions more suffer from the scourge as family members and friends. 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. 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. Despite the harrowing ordeals, Deb immerses herself in the process of Mollys recovery. 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. Such a burden exacts a staggering emotional toll. These days, it isn't bad to be Barack Obama--especially when it comes to money.When the Democratic nominee . He also co-wrote the screenplay with Eli Saslow, a Washington Post Pulitzer Prize winner who wrote the article that . . The characters are collectively burdened with a sea of regret that stem from their love for Molly and their desire to help. She had been an addict for around a decade and tried almost everything to get rid of addiction. Saslow is the co-screenwriter with director Rodrigo Garca (Albert Nobbs), the son of famed Colombian writer Gabriel Garca Mrquez. In the new film, Molly learns she must stay sober for four more days in order to be eligible to receive an opiate antagonist shot, which will stop her body from being able to get high and, hopefully, help her stay clean. Check out the trailer forFour Good Daysabove. 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!' The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2020. signing up for national breaking news email alerts. A Story of Truth, Lies and an American Addiction" Fukushima 50 (2020) - Japanese drama film based on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster which was caused by the 2011 Thoku earthquake and tsunami 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. 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. Molly further admits that she has relapsed. Advice for the relationships in your life and how to boost your own well-being. Starring Glenn Close and Mila Kunis, the film pulls no punches in depicting the destructive potential of this nationwide problem. She cant enjoy 15 minutes of downtime, we learn, because Molly could be looking for cash to buy a fix. 2020 | Maturity rating: M | Independent Movies. Its possible, of course, that its meant to expose selfishness and powerlessness simultaneously, but those are somewhat conflicting themes that do not endear us to Garcas protagonists. Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis: Romance Rewind. As the film gets underway, Deb is agreeing, despite her best instincts and resolve, to again take Molly in, although shes not yet clean. 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 . The Washington Post is providing this news free to all readers as a public service. No single figure in the film is ultimately responsible for Mollys addiction and the havoc it has wrought on her family. '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. A Story of Truth, Lies and an American Addiction". Mila Kunis looks nearly unrecognizable in what may be her most dramatic, heartbreaking role yet. She and Deb go grocery shopping, where they see Coach Miller, who invites Molly to speak to her class about drug addiction. That is, in order to qualify, Molly has to stay sober for another four days. Why That's Good News for the Dems. She hurt her knee and was prescribed 75 oxycontin and never had a refill denied. 99 minutes. Four Good Days leaves wider questions untouched. Contains drug use, crude language throughout and brief sexuality. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Molly is consumed by guilt. However, before they leave Molly asks Deb for her urine, confirming Deb's suspicions. What to Know About 'The Bachelor' Season 27, Episode 6 Filming Location, Mark Wahlbergs "Checkered Racist Past" Has Fans Questioning Why He Presented 'Everything, Everywhere, All at Once' Cast With SAG Award, 'Bon Jovi: Live In New York' Sees Band At The Peak Of Their Powers, Stream It Or Skip It: 'Daisy Jones & The Six on Prime Video, About The Popular Explosion and Personal Implosion Of A Fictional '70s Rock Band, 'The Weeknd: Live At Sofi Stadium' Finds The Singer Alone At Center Stage, Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song Charts Complicated Route From Creation to Mass Acceptance, Disney100 Funko Pops Are Here, And They're Adorable, Stream It Or Skip It: Lyle Lyle Crocodile on Netflix, an Extremely Silly Musical About a Singing Reptile, Stream It Or Skip It: Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank on Prime Video, the Animated Kid-Friendly Version of 'Blazing Saddles' You Didn't Know You Didn't Need, Stream It Or Skip It: True Spirit on Netflix, A Movie Based On The True Story of a Teen's Global Sailing Voyage, How to Stream and Buy the 'Daisy Jones & The Six' 'Aurora' Album Now, 'Daisy Jones & The Six Episode 3 Recap: "Someone Saved My Life Tonight", Shop Amazon's 'Daisy Jones & The Six' Store To Get Looks From The Show, 'Daisy Jones & The Six' Episode 2 Recap: "I'll Take You There", 'Sex/Life' Season 2's 11 Raunchiest Moments, 11 Best New Shows on Netflix: March 2023's Top Upcoming Series to Watch, 'Sex/Life' Season 2 Said Pregnant Women Can Have Sex With Adam Demos, Too, Sex/Life Season 2s Wildest Scene is a Guy Pumping Up His New Prosthetic Penis. In an attempt to stop using and stay clean, she moves in with her mom and her stepfather, but also decides to try out. 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.. Four Good Days "Four Good Days," starring Mila Kunis and Glenn Close and is based on the reporting of Washington Post national reporter Eli Saslow, tells the story of a young addict who must not use drugs for four days to receive a promising treatment. Mila Kunis, Rodrigo Garca & Eli Saslow, Four Good Days, Belarus sentences Nobel Peace laureate Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in jail, This is Bidens chance to press Scholz on Germanys rearmament, Why Russia and Ukraine are fighting over Bakhmut. Four Good Days, starring Mila Kunis and Glenn Close and is based on the reporting of Washington Post national reporter Eli Saslow, tells the story of a young addict who must not use drugs for four days to receive a promising treatment. However, to permanently rid herself of this addiction, she tried to pursue a new treatment. Amanda, whose experience the film is based on, has seen her fair share of pain in life. The next morning a frustrated Deb agrees to take Molly to detox. What if more counseling had been available at school? 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. With the help of her mom, Molly tries her best to stay sober and away from heroin, despite her consuming addiction to the drug. Four Good Days grapples constantly with the question of responsibility. A RottenTomatoes.com Tomatometer-approved critic, Jonathan W. Hickman, is also an entertainment lawyer, college professor, novelist, and filmmaker. 2,170, This story has been shared 1,613 times. The audience eventually comes to learn that Deb, who found herself in an unhappy marriage, left the family when Molly was in high school. 1,000, This story has been shared 974 times. Should I have just asked? Genres. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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. Her addiction, like so many, spiraled into heroin. The additional days become excruciating for Deb as she attempts to contact Molly incessantly to no avail. Her story was first told by Eli Saslow in a Washington Post piece headlined "How's Amanda? 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? Saslows story captured that rawness and power. And Kunis does her best to keep up with Close, in a performance thats raw and unglamorous. The film follows the emotional journey of 31-year-old Margaret Molly Wheeler (Mila Kunis). Perhaps things would have turned out differently, but more than likely not. Four Good Days is about a young woman who is battling a heroin addiction. [8][9], It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2020. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Login), Work begins on new fire training facility in Newnan, NTH Podcasts: Then & Now - Dr. Joel Richardson, Emory Holland, Shenandoah building set to open in two weeks, 85 South Sports: Central Christian Coach Kyree Woods, Chloe Earle, 85 South Sports: Central High and sports desegregation, Birth Root is very good as Debs second husband, and he has one of the films best scenes, uncomfortably mansplaining Debs inner torment. 1,029, This story has been shared 1,000 times. 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. His singular piece of narrative journalism on the escalating opioid epidemic in America inspired Four Good. 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. 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. Later, we meet Mollys father, Dale (Sam Hennings), who has remarried and refuses to interact with his daughter until she is drug-free. And the way that doctors have been taught to prescribe for pain drove a lot of the opioid epidemic. 1,244, This story has been shared 1,241 times. Eli Saslow is known for Four Good Days (2020), Colossus (2018) and The Daily Show (1996). 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. 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. You can find the article that inspiredFour Good Dayson The Washington Post website. 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. Glenn Close, left, and Mila Kunis star in "Four Good Days," based on a true story by Pulitzer Prize winner Eli Saslow. She shows up at her ex-husbands to berate him for not phoning Molly. Addressing high school students in a health and wellness class, she explains, I have degraded myself for drugs in ways in ways that you dont want to know. One student interrupts Molly, boasting that she would never let herself get that far into addiction. Filed Under: Flickering Myth TV, Interviews, Martin Carr, Movies Tagged With: Eli Saslow, Four Good Days, Glenn Close, Mila Kunis. Four Good Days is a searing drama that deals with the problems plaguing society due to substance abuse. Theres only one catch: Molly cant start taking it until her system is completely free of all the substances shes been abusing. [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. 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. These are characters you can connect to, on both sides of the equation. Unbeknownst to Molly, Deb spends the whole night watching over her daughter from a kitchen window. Available May 21 on demand. [4] Stephen Root was cast in September, with filming beginning later that month in Los Angeles. 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. The real-life problems showcased in the film caught our attention, and we decided to look through the origins of the story. 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. The film first debuted at Sundance last winter, and its finally getting a widespread release when it hits theaters next month. Fully titled Hows Amanda? Vertical Entertainment/Tribune News Service. Saslow has won numerous journalism awards, including a Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for Explanatory Reporting. Paired with Garcias incisive take on the issue, Saslow helped create a story of addiction and its problems by focusing on the little nuances of a relationship standing in the throes of a breakdown. Fans Fuming Over Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings' Hosting Schedules: "I Want Ken Full-Time". 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. If you can read this, you don't need glasses. 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. A story of truth, lies and an American addiction," which chronicled a woman namedAmanda Wendler's experience with opiate addiction. Downloads only available on ad-free plans. [11], On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 55% based on 80 reviews, with an average rating of 5.70/10. Fill out the form below to submit your letter to the editor. Deb is in a wild state of anger and concern. 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. But I cant apologize for trying to survive. While trying to stay clean, Amanda moves in with her mother and stepfather, just like Kunis character in Four Good Days. However, she felt that it was a part of her responsibility as a mother to be there for her daughter. Read a video review of 'Four Good Days,' starring Glenn Close and Mila . Theres just no life to the arguments that Deb and Molly have in this film. She takes her time trying to make Molly understand how difficult her marriage and life were for her to endure. Hes a member of the Atlanta Film Critics Circle, The Southeastern Film Critics Association, and the Georgia Film Critics Association. 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. You can start a new subscription or pay for a current one by calling our circulation number at 770-253-1576. 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. 2,381, This story has been shared 2,170 times. Four Good Days is based on a 2016 Washington Post news story entitled Hows Amanda? written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eli Saslow. A road to recovery is always on the horizon, but it is a tough journey where the collective effort must be sustained. 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.". One familiar sequence takes place in a hospital emergency room. Four days left to go, three days, two, and as the hours . 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. The film is based on an article by Eli Saslow, titled Hows Amanda? So, weight loss aside, I think when we talked about her visual, the wardrobe stylist actually came across a couple different visuals to help facilitate the characters look. The duos trials and tribulations form the crux of the story and reflect a worsening situation of the opioid epidemic. 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.