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28 Days

28 Days

List Price: $14.95
Your Price: $13.46
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Better on DVD than the Theatre
Review: This movie did not find a large audience in the theaters due to the fact that is a tough sell. The story focuses on Gwen (Sandra Bullock) an alcoholic journalist who wrecks a limousine at her sisters wedding and is sentenced to 28 days in a rehab center where she meets a wide variety of people. One might ask themselves, where is the fun in that? However in the hands of director Betty Thomas (Dr. Dolittle) a wonderful quirky comedy/drama is created. When people are uncomfortable and vulnerable it is a human tendency to deflect those feelings with humor. That is what we see here, a wide variety of people who need help with a multitude of problems. Each person uses humor in a different way to cope with what is going on in his or her lives. However, Thomas is careful not to go overboard, and she adds plenty of emotional scenes to balance out the movie. This is after all about rehab and the seriousness of addiction, and Thomas never trivializes the subject. In fact she, along with most of the cast, spent time at an actual rehab center in order to portray the experience as accurately as possible. By walking that fine line between comedy and drama, Thomas has created a group of people that you genuinely care about without pitying. In today's cynical world, that is quite a feat
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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: The movie seems as long as the title would indicate.
Review: Sandra Bullock "vehicle" in which chemical dependency -- and the associated problems associated with it, like familial disassociaton, depression, suicidal tendencies, withdrawal, mental illness, even the "psychological roots" of the addiction -- are breezily resolved in 90 or so minutes. Of course you got your cute guys (Viggo Mortensen) and your assorted, harmless nuts for "comic relief", if you must call it that. Steve Buscemi's counselor-character threatens to become interesting, but he's sort of forgotten about pretty quickly, because Bullock must never, never, NEVER get upstaged . . . or allow anyone else to shine even for a brief moment.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Bullock is fantastic
Review: This film shows what it is like to have a alcohol problem. Bullock plays an alcoholic that crashes her sister's wedding and has an accident that lands her in a rehab center. She goes through withdrawal and ends up finding a friend or two at the rehab center. Her boyfriend is also a alcoholic and does not understand her when she turns her life around. When she finally gets out she ends up helping a friend in the real world.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The DVD could definatly have done better...
Review: I loved this movie, and the whole plot of it. When I purchased the DVD, I expected it to have in depth views of the psychological aspects of many of the characters, and why they were used. Basically the only really interesting thing in the entire DVD was the filming of it. The reason that I gave it 3 stars intead of 2 or even 1 is because of one feature that is hardly mentioned. How to make the bubblegum wrapper chains that she makes to quit smoking! But when it comes down to it, its a shame that they spoiled the awsome movie with such a poor DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Been There, Identify with That
Review: I have read a lot of negative reviews of this film and the one thing I can say is that I doubt if any of the people who wrote those reviews have ever been addicted or in rehab.

I first saw 28 Days when I was doing my own stint in a mental institution/rehab. I had attempted suicide and was struggling with chemical and sex addiction, as well as compulsive self mutilation (cutting).

The movie really spoke to me, and I have news for you, director Betty Thomas' use of humor was right on the mark. People in rehab do make use of humor, sometimes its the only thing that keeps you sane.

I also found that sharing this film with friends and family who are trying to understand what I am going through is an effective tool, because it allows them to be detached and just observe whats going on.

I think this is one of Sandra Bullock's best films. I also think that as time passes this film will garner more and more critical approval and a huge cult following of addicts and non-addicts alike.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I loved this movie :-) I felt it gave Sandra Bullock a chance to indulge in her comedic side as well as the dramatic. Can't wait till my DVD gets here!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Cliche ridden--and the cliches are inaccurate!
Review:

Throughout the film, I asked myself, "What's the point?" Were the screenwriter or director trying to endorse treatment? Well, it was almost as obvious in the film as in real life that those in "rehab" had problems of which alcohol or drugs were a small part if at all. So the quality of the endorsement was dubious.

One accuracy I should add is that most in "treatment" smoke like chimneys with no complaints from the center hierarchy while often absolutely forbidden to use other necessary medications, ones, needless to say, far less dangerous or life threatening than tobacco!

When I saw Steve Buscemi, taken a role because it may have made him a few bucks. But he was kind of funny, though his role wasn't intentionally that way. He was typical of center "directors," whining constantly in every 12-step cliche in the book as to how "we" are all alike. I have this problem, so you have the same. "That's the way life is." Bullock acted well in rejecting that nonsense.

The romantic portion of the story was predictible. You know, Bullock's boyfriend drinks too much, is a real social animal. While in "treatment" she falls to a degree for a baseball star also in treatment who can't keep his pants on. The two guys meet and get into a fight. Then the baseball star it seems STILL can't keep 'em on, and Bullock witnesses that. That was a theme not developed at all beyond the depth of a romance novel.

Overall, I'd say the screenwriter and/or director took advantage of a fad of "treatment," something to which conventional wisdom suggests more of us should have and developed a story around it. And Bullock's character took the unfortunate step of buying into what the "treatment" honchoes told her. A person as intelligent as her character seemed to be wouldn't have bought into it.

There were new actors, and, again, some of the story is witty, so I don't totally reject the film. But take it from someone who knows: "treatment" doesn't work like that. If anyone is looking for a model of "treatment" to send a loved one, don't use this film as that model. Go to critics of the "treatment" regime, and ask them what it did for them.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: If you like Sandra Bullock, take a look at it...
Review: Gwen (Sandra Bullock) enters rehab (for alcohol), court ordered (either rehab or jail) after destroying part of a house, after she steals a limo from her sister's wedding, after Gwen pretty much ruins her sister's wedding. Gwen eventually admits up to a drinking problem while in the rehab center. And eventually becomes 'free' of the addiction to alcohol, even while her boyfriend visits and instigates use of alcohol (as in...not being supportive). A good movie all around.

As far as the DVD features are concerned...I loved the 'making of...'. I didn't like the Santa Cruz soap (that is featured in the movie). Too cheezy for me to laugh at. But if you like Sandra Bullock, I suggest picking up the movie and other than the 'the making of...', pick up the VHS as the Santa Cruz is nothing special.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: are you joking hollywood?
Review: i saw this film & i could'nt believe that i wasted a couple hours of my time on this trash i'm sorry but they should have throwin it away . personally if they're trying to make a sad story funny, did'nt work what a bomb i give it a zero once again need i say more . i enjoy miss bullock films but please steer clear of this one not worth your time or money. i recommended speed 2, the net & others. practical magic & forces of nature are bombs also.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A look at the lighter side of rehab...
Review: Don't get me wrong -- I really enjoyed this film. There is the edginess of reality to the recovery angle. I was able to go along with this humorous and emotional exploration of a very serious subject, but had some trouble with the hollywoodization of such (if there is such a word !!) It seemed to have the sense of coming from secondhand experience, not from someone who had "been there.." I found the film life affirming and a gussied up version of what the struggles of addiction and recovery are about, and therefore worthwhile. For a more in-depth view, visit a couple of Al-Anon meetings.


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