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28 DAYS
MOVIE (2000) REVIEW
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 Directed by Betty Thomas
Written by Susannah Grant
Sandra Bullock .... Gwen Cummings
Viggo Mortensen .... Eddie Boone
Dominic West .... Jasper
Diane Ladd .... Bobbie Jean
Elizabeth Perkins .... Lilly
Steve Buscemi .... Cornell
Produced by Celia D. Costas (co-producer) and Jenno Topping
Original music by Richard Gibbs
Cinematography by Declan Quinn
Film Editing by Peter Teschner
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STUDIO SYNOPSIS:
From director Betty Thomas (Dr. Dolittle, Private Parts) comes 28 DAYS.
"We didn't drink it. I threw it overboard." Gwen Cummings (Sandra Bullock) is a successful New York writer living life in the fast lane and everyone's favorite party girl. She shares this roller-coaster lifestyle of hopping from dance club to bar to hangover with boyfriend Jasper (Dominic West)- handsome, magnetic and equally attracted to life on the wild side.
Life is just an exercise in debauchery-until Gwen's ungraceful display at her sister Lily's (Elizabeth Perkins) wedding, when she gets drunk, commandeers the limo and earns herself a DUI and 28 days in court-ordered rehab. There, Gwen comes face to face with a unique set of rules (like no cell phones) and rituals (like chanting) embraced by an assortment of fascinating fellow re-habbers: Eddie (Viggo Mortensen), Gerhardt (Alan Tudyk), Oliver (Michael O'Malley), Andrea (Azura Skye), Roshanda (Oscar© nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste) and Bobbie Jean (Oscar© nominee Diane Ladd).
A jaded city girl to the core, Gwen is determined not to conform. Then she meets Counselor Cornell (Steve Buscemi), who begins to break through her carefully constructed defenses and force her to take a closer look at who she really is. Ultimately, through the companionship of her group as well as a devastating loss, Gwen gradually loses her cynicism and begins the long struggle to take back her life. Maybe, she discovers, your insides can match your outsides.
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 This is a film about , bad childhood experiences, family relationship, irresponsible adult behavior, party life, addiction and denial. It is about the difficulty of facing one's self and being truthful. This is the painful struggle of liberation.
-Review by David Bruce |
ADDICTION AND DENIAL.
The film begins with Gwen waking up from a drunk in bed with her boyfriend. She immediately goes to the refrigerator for a drink. "Where were we last night?" she asks -- typical alcoholic memory lapse. "At a church bazaar," her boy friend responds, "I think the vicar spiked the punch." -- typical denial and deflection of responsibility. She is late for her sister's wedding. |
 BOOZE ON THE RUN.
Gwen and her boyfriend, Jasper, run to catch a taxi with booze in hand. Gwen leads the way. As they pass two shapely young women Jasper turns and looks. This tells us a lot about each of them and their relationship. They are both codependent and their relationship does not exist outside the bottle. |
 BOOZE ON THE ROAD.
Gwen finishes dressing in the taxi with the ever present bottle in hand. She cannot get her panty hose on. No matter, she throws them out the window. Everything bends around the addiction. The addiction is her god and the lord of her life. |
 THE CHURCH WEDDING.
Gwen and her boyfriend arrive at church for the wedding. The movie begins and ends with a sense of the presence of God. Even in the opening dialogue -- noted above -- church is mentioned. This is a foreshadowing of the divine help Gwen will later seek. |
 SISTER CLASH.
Gwen has a run in with her sister as they prepare for the wedding. "You make it impossible to love you," her sister says. This scene is important because it reveals the stressed family relationship. Note also the mirror in the background -- symbolic of self reflection. Gwen is not reflected. |
 A SUDDEN MOMENTARY REFLECTION.
As her sister leaves the room, Gwen briefly catches a reflection of herself in the mirror. She immediately turns away and darts for her... |
 ...purse to get some pills. This is Gwen's answer to the difficult statement from her sister, and the reflection of herself in the mirror. To see ourself as we are is a powerful beginning to a change in life. Gwen is not at the point yet! |
 THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
BRINGS DEATH TO THE PARTY.
Gwen is drunk. Gwen is high. Gwen is loud. Gwen is unstable. Gwen falls into the wedding cake. She laughs. Jasper laughs. The wedding guests are shocked. |
 CAR CRASH.
Gwen needs to get a new cake and dress. She strips off her gown and leaves in the honeymoon limousine. She crashes into a family home. Lots of symbolism here. She strips = the bare truth. Wrecked home = her wrecked family relationships. The crash = her life out of control. |
 JAIL OR REHAB?
Gwen goes for rehab. A very strange place for Gwen. As she arrives a group of patients are cheering God and each other as they chant, "Together, together. We can make it together. Together is better. YEAH, God!" This idea of community with self, others and God is the central guiding truth in the story. |
OFFICIAL SITE
28 Days © 2000 Columbia Pictures (Sony). All Rights Reserved. |
Bulletin Board:
ABOUT HOPE AND CHANGE
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000
From: Paul
Really liked '28 days'. As one who has been through a 12 step program I liked the noble portrayal of those involved. Every day people with everyday pains are experiencing freedom in Christ through the help of others from their addictions. Liked the movie and the strength the lead character showed in confronting life on the "outside" for the first time. A movie about hope and change. Great.
-Paul |
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