What Doesn't Kill You (2008)

Two childhood friends from South Boston turn to crime as a way to get by, ultimately causing a strain in their personal lives and their friendship.

Director:

Brian Goodman

Writers:

Brian Goodman, Paul T. Murray

Stars:

Ethan Hawke, Mark Ruffalo, Brian Goodman

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Ruffalo	...	Brian Reilly
Ethan Hawke	...	Paulie McDougan
Amanda Peet	...	Stacy Reilly
Will Lyman	...	Sully
Brian Goodman	...	Pat Kelly
Donnie Wahlberg	...	Detective Moran
Angela Featherstone	...	Katie
Edward Lynch	...	Jackie
Michael Yebba	...	Roundman / Old Lady (as Mike Yebba)
Brian Connolly	...	Sean
Nathaniel Smyth	...	Mark (5 Years Old)
Oscar Wahlberg	...	Mark (10 Years Old)
Thomas Regan	...	Young Paulie
Johnny Serret	...	Young Brian (as Jean Pierre 'JP' Serret)
George Khoury	...	Delivery Man

Storyline

An armored car is robbed by three men. A passing police officer and one of the robbers exchange fire. The robber is Paulie. In a flashback we follow him and his closest friend, Brian, as they grow up together in South Boston. They're tough guys, thugs, doing jobs for the local boss and chaffing to do more. Paulie's the leader. Brian drinks too much and free bases, ignoring his wife and two young boys. Life-changing events lead him to try to go straight, look for work, take what comes his way, and go to A.A. meetings. He struggles. Paulie shows him the plans for the armored car job. Will they do it? "I am who I am," Brian tells his wife. Is crime his only skill?

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Plot Keywords:

drug abuse | person in a car trunk | man dresses as a woman | man wears a wig | friendship | 

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Taglines:

Everyone has a choice. Every choice has a consequence.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, drug use, some violence and brief sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie is based on Brian Goodman's own life up to the mid 1990s.

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Goofs

In the scene where they were scoping out the armored truck, they start the car to follow it. However, we can see the car start rolling forward before we hear the ignition is turned and put in gear.

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Quotes

Brian Reilly: It's like a morgue in here. I wanna be dead like you guys.

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: The Avengers Special (2012)

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Soundtracks

Buzzard Luck
Written by Swamp Dogg (as Jerry Williams)
Performed by Swamp Dogg
Courtesy of S.D.E.G. Records
By arrangement with MS-Pro

User Reviews

Gritty and True.

What doesn't kill you, makes perfect sense for this film. It seems Paulie and Brian (Ethan Hawke and Mark Ruffalo)do everything they can to survive in South Boston.

Growing up together, Brian and Paulie go through everything to be able to live and raise families. This gritty story can't be more realistic, with the real life events come to life.

Living in tough times is relatable to more people than realised, that's why this story really hits home, with brilliant screen play by to of the most highly underrated actors, Ethan Hawke and Mark Ruffalo.

7/10 for this gritty drama.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 September 2009 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Real Men Cry

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$44,872

Company Credits

Production Co:

Battleplan Productions, Yari Film Group Releasing

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1