Wordiezett So much average

Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Rexanne It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

emilyshefferMD A gripping, poignant and heartbreaking portrayal of one man's descent into the grips of addiction. All the footage is real. The editing is effective. Kirkham's raw home-video footage underscores the loneliness and desperation brought on by his drug use. His display of self-hatred and humiliation during his crack binges is both fascinating and terrifying. Nonetheless, nothing is quite as devastating as watching his wife and children suffer the consequences of his behavior. As such, the heart of this film is the love story between Rick and his wife, Tammy. One witnesses the wrenching toll it takes on her enduring commitment and almost limitless compassion for her husband. It must be stated that while this movie is thoroughly captivating (I couldn't take my eyes away for a second) it should be watched with discretion, as some of the scenes contain graphic, potentially disturbing content.

Camoo This 'documentary' lifts all the home-bred editing techniques from Tarnation, and THAT wasn't even as great a film as people made it out to be. Cue indie guitar rock with a nostalgic tone, "iMovie" cue cards over nostalgic long lost photos, break cue cards into poetic nostalgic 'faux' symbolic sentences, follow a loser over his loser life as he wallows in nostalgic introspective narrative. Did I mention he was addicted to drugs? Argh, frustrating, self indulgent filmmaking at its worst.I want to support indie filmmakers, and low budget bedroom films that make it big - I think we need more of them in the world. But I can't support this one, sorry. I just can't.

hobbyhob It was like listening to a bad AA or NA speaker, that is to say, someone who spends 97% of their time telling what is was like, and somewhat glorifying (as best one can) the so-called "high times" while spending only 3% of their time focusing on the solution and how truly life changing recovery can be when one puts as much effort into it as they did getting high.That said, it was like a car wreck that you don't want to see, but from which you simply cannot avert your eyes. Which is why I rated it as I did - had it not held me I'd have scored it much more harshly. Rarely have I seen a person so far afield from the concept of personal responsibility, which I realize is not the typical strong suit of your average addict, but I've known far more than my fair share of alkies and addicts, and this poor guy just seemed to feel that life/the employer/the wife/anyone close at hand was doing it to him! And I literally screamed at the set at one point where his son is terrified and sobbing "WILL YOU PLEASE give that poor child a hug?!!??!?" There is no doubt that the insanity that is addiction was accurately portrayed, but it was a bit much to take for the majority of the documentary. And did the wife EVER once go to Al Anon/Narc Anon? That made me want to pull my hair out as well, that she was helping him stay sick and cluelessly allowing herself to be miserable in the process.All in all, I'd recommend it, but brace yourself. I kind of let it blind side me a bit, I suppose. And it was hard to watch. The last 5 to 10 minutes was my favorite part.

Lauren Randall I have read a review that said he was doing drugs and ruining his family and career for film. Ha. I don't think so buddy. Nobody would go through that kind of hell just for future profit. I think what makes it "look" that way, is his ease in front of the camera. Someone said it was like he was documenting it, but not really living it. Sort of like a disconnection between reality and reporting.But I will say, Kirkham came off in the film as a totally self-centered addict. People who don't have experience with addiction issues (either themselves or with loved ones) will not understand this kind of behavior. That's what addicts are when they are in active addiction. He didn't like the consequences his drug use brought, and when he felt them, he lashed out at his wife, his father, and whoever else was available to blame. It is a hard movie to watch. At some points, I could not believe he was actually filming what was going on. (The cops coming to arrest him, fights with his wife, and his drunken driving and subsequent car wreck.) There are scenes where his young son Ricky was crying and upset over his father's actions. Rick used the camera at one point to document to his son what his "mommy was doing to his daddy." There are times when you just want to grab the camera out of his hands and say "GET SOME HELP!" I can see why some people would not like this film. I myself, was incensed at his self pitying and blaming. As the consequences build, he becomes depressed and suicidal. And then we once again witness him smoking crack and giving up.(Warning spoilers ahead)While watching it, I had this eery feeling that he was going to commit suicide while on camera and that would be the ending. Fortunately, he does not!What is the ending is a bit anti-climactic. We see a scene of him once again getting high, cut to some explanations of what happened in the next 6 years. (His divorce and his recovery.) Bam. Just like that he is clean. This was a bit disappointing, though I'm sure his downward spiral was much more "interesting" then his fight back, so we don't see that part.All in all, I rate it a 5. It's not excellent film making and it's not horrible. Is it narcissistic? Oh yeah. So just be prepared to watch a very self absorbed account of one man's battle with his demons.