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?

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

They didn't choose a life of crime. They came from it.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama

---

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.

---

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.

---

Quotes

Brian Reilly: Hey five grand is five grand.
Paulie McDougan: It's embarrassin!

---

Connections

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

---

Soundtracks

Funktastic Galactical Rock
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

This is a very underrated film.

This is a very underrated film. I think its a shame it never has gotten publicity. I randomly picked it up on the fly for free a local library on DVD and was amazed that I never even have heard of it. There are no gimmicks or high wire stunts this was true to life. We need more of these films to rejuvenate what the cinema has become lately. I was thoroughly impressed on all levels with this film. This could of done very well in the box office if it had marketing at the time. Sadly CGI and fake acting has trumped modern cinema lately. This gritty true to life story beats them all hands down. I give it an 8/10, simply based upon the rehashing of older story-lines together. It still holds its own charm. Rent this movie and you will be surprised how well it was done.

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