Damn, RDJ was excellent in this role, along with the entire cast, especially James Spader as the unconscionable drug dealer. It was a weighty film with an important message. Where were all the awards?
Yeah.... as a dad.... holy crap! I tear up everytime I see this. It blew me away how real it felt the first time. RDJ makes you feel like he could be your son. And the dad... you can feel what he's going through. The desperation, the pain, and the love for his son.
This is an incredible accurate interaction between an addict and their family member. If you’re siding with the addict here, you have no idea what it’s like to be lied to, manipulated and stolen from by an addict. Remember in the movie there is a little brother living at home too.
My god. As A father, I can only imagine this fathers pain. He's losing his son, and he knows it, to protect other members of his family. It must be unimaginably painful, knowing there really is nothing he can do if his child is unwilling to help himself, other than protect his family from the son he can't help.
As someone of his generation who grew up watching RDJ, you are correct and we all knew it even back then. I've been watching his movies and following his career since the 1980's. (both me and my husband separately and then together).
@@jeanmarienadal7268 brutal but he has another kid--you have to protect your children-- even from their other children. Drugs just ruin lives and destroy families
I became the son Now I’m a mom And can’t imagine ever not being there for my baby But seeing what I put my mom through And how strong she is being there for me no matter what... My God- being a parent who really loves their child... I understand And pray to God I don’t have the experience of my mom and this guy’s father. 💔💝
@@whitetailhuntaI truly hope you were able to overcome your troubles, in all seriousness. I don't wish that on anyone, having friends and family some who made it, some who didn't sadly and some that are still struggling. We're all human and make mistakes
of all the roles Robert has played, this one is still the closest to who he was as a person at the time they made this movie........it took many years and many setbacks, but he got clean and made it to the other side of life.............he deserves all of the happiness life has to offer when you do the right things..................he is truly an amazing actor and an even more amazing person.
I thought he was so spoiled and lucky to get multiple chances but when I saw what he went through with his own Family, it makes alot of sense. His comeback was to film what tina turner's and marvin gaye's comeback was to music. Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys got so many chances but they felt enough is enough and would die three days after xmas.
"Trust Is The First Thing You Ruined!" He was so right on Julian's Father. When you do bad things to Family/Friends it's nearly impossible for them to trust you again.
This was a very good film, I remembered his performance as very strong but had forgotten about this particular scene. It's too bad his real life ended up mirroring this character in ways that we all know about but he's done admirably digging himself out. Great actor.
Being a Father, this scene hurt so much. To see the Father have that stern wall up because that trust is gone but he just can't let go of his son when he knows he needs help. Its a helpless feeling to pretend not to care yet you care immensely. The way he said "can you stay clean for one week". He wasn't even asking for him to sober completely. Dude lost ALL hope and just needed a week to at least know its possible. Then see him hug break down and hug his son so damn hard. The fact he still died in the end, It destroyed me what his Father was gonna go through after he Just got his hopes up.
Well yes, but his son clearly needed so much help. I can understand that it could be frustrating that you are trying your best to help someone out of this dark path they had led himself down. But giving up on them, even after how tired and frustrated you are, is never the option. Even when they get mad themselves, and frustrated, and say they don't need your help. Because WHEN they recover, 'cause mostly everyone who had people that never gave up on them, are always grateful that you stuck with them even when they were being horrible to them. Especially when they are your own kid, as a parent you should give them all the support and help they need even when they seem to get worse or like they are struggling, because eventually they do get better when they have all that support. And seeing them healthy, happy and nothing like they were before, is just the best feeling anyone, a parent, a sibling, a friend, will feel knowing they helped in a way to make sure this loved one get better
It seems like this guy did more as the "tough father" than Bob's real-father did. Downey himself called this film "a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Future".
I saw this as a kid and HATED IT. I could not relate AT ALL!! Now as an adult, I live in LA, and have known many addicts. I watch it now, and go “FUUUUUCCCCKKK....”
Same here - couldn't relate to this level. Then....I worked in the 'scene' and that consisted of all of these people. Still couldn't relate even though the decison-makers would constantly remind me by saying, "Just visiting?" But I received an education that I would never have acquired otherwise.
Yeah.. I was a teen when I saw it and could not relate on any level.. but the car scene at the end has haunted me for years.. remembering how broken this character was.. very few actors have that ability to make you "grieve" for a fictional character they played who you had *less than zero* in common with
I watched this right after watching an interview with Robert Downey. In it, he spoke of this particular scene in this particular movie as being a major turning point in how he saw himself as an actor. As a human who has been up against powerful obstacles and tribulations, one cannot help but be moved. Not just by the character in the story but as all of us looking for love and support and our own identity.
I was in that very position! Hopeless addict, couldn't even say how far I was in debt, commitment to my drug gang, things weren't looking good! 2 years go by, I Got Clean! Broke away from the people, glad to say I'm still alive an my family is well, Drugs Destroy full stop! Make the decision that you will stop and you will! Try do a favour for yourself please. Otherwise it's as sad as the scenes in this movie! DON'T BE ONE!
Hi Daniel, good to hear you made your way out. I lost dear friends to alcohol and drug addiction. Not that alcohol is not a drug, but that is how we take it. The best to you!
I was Julian...I truly believed AT THE TIME I was telling the truth about trying. He truly believed AT THAT MOMENT he could try. This is such an authentic portrayal.
As a kid watching this I didnt get why julian just didnt get off drugs. I also didnt get why the dad was so tough but u can see he loves him he is just tired. As u get older u totally understand. Addiction is a disease that owns u. They say the best thing a parent can do is not enable & cut the kid off until they get help or theyll drag u & ur whole family down. It's very sad. Scary that rdj became this guy in real life. His story is the most inspirational recovery story I've ever seen. He got clean & worked his way to the very top. He has a lovely wife & 2 beautiful children. He has a grown son too that I'm sure he has a great relationship with now. He became iron man & that was the biggest comeback in Hollywood. He was doing a list big movies. Without rdj the marvel empire would not be what it has become. They should kiss rdj's ass & send him 600 hundred Rose's every year on his bday. That's how important he was & iron man was in kick starting all 100 movies lol that have made billions.
One of the most depressing 😪 alongside very saddening scenes of the film,the father was such a good man to give his son so many chances and still he disappointed him,such a tragically, depressing movie of the late 80's🎬 😢.
I remember watching this with my foster mom when it came out…I was a young kid at that time…now that I’m older I can see how this was needed…although it hurt to have your father tell you that you can’t stay in his home..the dad was not going to be an enable her for his son…..times have changed …and not for the best 😢
There is a real special bond between a father and son. It’s just different and special. So saying this, as an attic, speaking as an attic: We never meant to hurt anyone. Especially our fathers. The scene is very real. Ive looked my father in the eyes meaning every word I’ve said, and basically saying, we never meant to hurt anyone. I’m just an alcoholic. And the way that father cried hugging him at the end, just means, that this man sees his son. He loves him. Just know that most addicts, it’s a disease, and we really don’t mean to hurt anyone. So whatever we can can get, it means everything.
Story of the prodigal son... I never truly believed that going back to God would be as simple as walking up and he throws a banquet for you I kind of picture it more like this.
Man when he said can you stay clean one dam week and RDJ said I could try I lost it. I’m not real good at feelings and empathy or sympathy but man I felt that. I knows it’s a movie but the realness of it hits hard. I been there and pray I never and mean ever go back.
Robert Downey Jr. In real life got so messed up he broke into a house and fell asleep in a young kids bed because he thought it looked like the home he was raised in. I think that he is an awesome actor and this is his best role ever. It's just crazy how his own personal life became kind of like Julian's.
It would be a couple years later but I grew up like these kids, it was always around. The money from my parents or friends parents always funding it. The parents that stop helping are the ones that care, then there are those that say it might be my kid but the money will always be there so they don't live like your kid (debt, whoring, stealing.) Ha! The upper class addicts. What a tragedy.
I t reminds me of The Late Dennis Wilson Of The Beach Boys. They Yelled, Pleaded, Threatened, almost cried. They wanted him to get his life together like Brian did with one of the most amazing rehab in Music History. They washed their hands of him and on December 4 1983 his 39th Birthday he lost it all. Broke Homeless, and estranged from his entire Family. On December 28th Three Days after Xmas he drowned in Santa Monica, CA after a Drug & Alcoholic Addicted Accident.
@James Williams YEs but so did Julian. The biggest mistake that happened was that he got his Trust Fund too early. What does an 18 Year Old Child know about running a Nightclub. As for The Money Dennis Wilson didn't make the Same "Bank" that Brian Wilson or their Cousin Mike Love did because he didn't Write or Co-Write any of their Biggest Hits. HE thought because he was "Family" and because he suggested they do Surfing Songs, he was instrumental to the Group's Success. He found out that David Ruffin (The Temptations), Florence Ballard (The Supremes), and Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones), found out the Hard Way you "can" be replaced. If I were the Father, I would have sent him To The Hospital asap. If they put him in Camp Summit Shock in Upstate, NY for 90 Days, his Father wouldn't recognize him when he left. They wouldn't have felt sorry for him, they would have made him look at his life, maybe make him cry like a baby, he would have exercised, shared barracks with 23 other guys, have his area clean and neat like the Army, and done intense counselling.
You feel sorry for Jullian b/c he was drug addict and I think it was because his mom died when was 4 yrs old and it just tore him up and he did drugs to numb himself and he had a record deal and he owned 50,000 to a drug dealer played by James Spader and he just wanted to talk his dad and he just wanted to come home. The father Trust was the first thing you ruined and then the father said "Can you stay clean for 1 month!?" Jullian was a mess and way beyond help and I think that when he died when he was palm springs that was the best thing for him b/c the only people cared about him were Clay & Blair and nobody else came to his funeral. Jullian was a tragic character and it was because he failed in life and he made mistakes and bad choices and he did drugs to numb himself from whatever mess he created and his family wanted nothing to do with him. This is a person that really hit rock bottom and I also remember another movie called Leaving Las Vegas just like this story about a man named Ben who hit rock bottom. This is sad and Robert Downey Jr proved to people that he could act. He was funny in Weird Science but I liked him better as Tony Stark and an Avenger now.
As a former alcoholic I can say this is horrible to watch. There are so many who genuinely want to change, but nobody gives them a break anymore. That's what parents are there for. A guy that rich could have taken him to deserted island and watched him himself. Still better than watching a casket go into the incinerator.
as a 60 year old grandfather im still living this...my son brian...raised his kids for 3.8 years...gave them back to his suboxin wife. 3 months ago..monday brian reappears needing 40 dollars desperatly(for brakes on truck) gave it to him said he would pay it back friday..its saturday morning 3:37 am i cant sleep...yesterday at 1 in the afternoon feturned from yoga class to discover between the matress and box spring of my bed...357 revolver ,loaded with carring case missing.trust ? undescrible emotions,shitty to say the least.
