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Plot Summary
"What Doesn't Kill You" stars Mark Ruffalo (Brian) and Academy® Award winner Ethan Hawke (Paulie) as friends who grew up like brothers on the gritty streets of south Boston. They do whatever it takes to survive, living by the code of their dog-eat-dog neighborhood. Petty crimes and misdemeanors grow into more serious offenses and eventually, they fall under sway to organized crime boss Pat Kelly (played by Goodman). As Brian becomes increasingly lost in a haze of drugs and 'jobs,' even the love he has for his wife (Amanda Peet) and his children does not seem like it will be enough to redeem him. Meanwhile, Paulie plans "one last heist" but knows it will take both of them to pull it off. How can they escape the only life they know?
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
66%- Reviews Counted: 35
- Fresh: 23
- Rotten: 12
- Average Rating: 6.0/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: Rather it tells a good story well, and in the process quietly says a little something about what it means to look at the American dream from the bottom up.
Fresh: A tough, authentic street drama born, bred, and shot in the 
 no-spin zone of working-class South Boston.
Fresh: The territory is familiar, both geographically and thematically. But that doesn't detract from its authenticity and power.
Rotten: Ruffalo draws on his knack for summoning an incongruous brooding bulk from within, and the result almost sucks the air from Hawke's rangy routine of nerves and sinewy smiles.
Customer Reviews
Terrific Film
Co-writer/Director Brian Goodman has made an absolutely wonderful film. Mark Ruffalo is fantastic every second he is on screen. Ethan Hawke absolutely blows me away with what an animal he is and I mean that in a good way. He is so vicious it is scary. Even Amanda Peet (who annoys me typically) is good. The south Boston accents are spot on. The story is amazing; particularly because it is true. Real life does not usually turn out such amazing stories and when it does they become too Hollywood-ized. That didn't happen with this film. Great film and definitely recommend it for fans of "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" and "Southie."
Seriously Awesome
I can't stop watching this movie. It is a great film with fantastic actors. Mark Ruffalo blew me away and Ethan Hawke was a very good supporting actor for this film. The realness of this movie was just... amazing. And not to mention the director, Brian Goodman, actually lived and breathed what happened just makes it so much more real, the truth of this story is so overwhelmingly sad it makes me want to cry. This movie is definetly worth watching, 5/5 stars all the way.
damnn good
dammn good movie
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- $12.99
- Genre: Thriller
- Released: 2009
- © 2008 What Doesn't Kill You, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Also Available
- What Doesn't Kill You (Original Soundtrack)
- Various Artists