Suggested Movie Selection

These movies are just some examples of real and fictitious stories about different mental ailments. They are suggested here as a way to see a perspective on any of the different mental health issues that can affect people, such as alcoholism or substance abuse and dysfunctional families.

Accidental Tourist (DVD)

Starring William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Geena Davis, Amy Wright, David Ogden Stiers. 1988.

Plot Synopsis: After the death of his son, Macon Leary, a travel writer, seems to be sleep walking through life. Macon's wife seems to be having trouble too, and thinks it would be best if the two would just split up. After the break up, Macon meets a strange outgoing woman, who seems to bring him back down to earth. After starting a relationship with the outgoing woman, Macon's wife seems to think that their marriage is still worth a try. Macon is then forced to deal with many decisions.

Clean And Sober. Starring Michael Keaton. 1988.

Plot Synopsis: Michael Keaton plays Daryl Poynter, a hot shot real estate agent who just happens to have a cocaine and drinking problem. One morning, he wakes up to find a dead woman in his bed (someone he had been partying with the night before) from a cocaine overdose. He also just happens to receive a phone call from his employers telling him a huge sum of money is missing from one of his accounts. In a panic, Daryl decides to check into a drug rehab to hide from the law, where he meets tough cookie Morgan Freeman. A recovering addict himself, he now works as a drug counselor, and knows all the tricks Daryl tries to pull. Soon Daryl discovers he just might be in the right place, after all.

Desert Bloom. Starring Jon Voight. 1986.

Plot Synopsis: The story involves Rose Chismore's youth. She flashes back and remembers her coming-of-age. Her recollections are sometimes less than sweet, particularly those of her troubled and alcoholic step-father. Her memories of Robin, her first love, are much happier and she also recalls her colorful Aunt Starr -- who's visit is fun but also detrimental to her family's health. The setting of 1950s Las Vegas' bomb testing is increasingly significant to the development of the story.

My Name Is Bill W. Starring James Garner. 1989.

Plot Synopsis: Based on the true story of Bill W. (James Woods), a successful stock broker who's life falls apart after the stock crash of the 20's must come to grips with his alcoholism. He forms a support group with fellow drunk (James Garner) that would eventually become Alcoholic's Anonymous.

What About Bob? Starring Bill Murray. 1991.

Plot Synopsis: A new patient appears at a psychiatrist's door. He has every possible insecurity in the world. The amazingly successful shrink gives him a copy of his new book, Baby Steps, and goes off on vacation. Bob, the patient, discovers where the doc has gone and appears at the vacation site, forever changing the shrink's family relationships.

When A Man Loves A Woman. Starring Meg Ryan. 1994.

Plot Outline: An airline pilot and his wife are forced to face the consequences of her alcoholism when her addictions threaten her life and their daughter's safety. While the woman enters detox, her husband must face the truth of his enabling behavior.

Mommie Dearest. Starting Faye Dunaway. 1981.

Plot Synopsis: An account of the life and times of one of our greatest actresses as seen through the eyes of an adopted darling daughter. The huge burden of following in the footsteps of Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway) by daughter Christina (Diana Scarwid), who by desiring to please her mother brings an almost insurmountable load of pressure to bear on her.