Incannerax What a waste of my time!!!

Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Nicole I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

morrison-dylan-fan After first seeing him in Zodiac on the big screen,it has been wonderful to see Mark Ruffalo become a part of major franchises and Oscar winning Dramas,whilst also noticing Ethan Hawke get back on track with a mix of Horror (the first Purge and Sinister) and major Art House projects such as Boyhood. Talking to a family friend about films he recently recorded off TV,I was shocked to find out about a rarely mentioned title that teams Ruffalo up with Hawke(ye),that led to me finding out what doesn't kill you.The plot:Growing up poor in Boston,teenage friends Brian Reilly and Paulie McDougan become petty criminals for gangster Pat Kelly. Growing up with Kelly, Reilly and McDougan become a part of his inner circle over the years,with the only thing that the guys turn down being armoured vehicle robberies. Trying to keep a family together with his wife Stacy,Brian finds the temptations too much to resist,and becomes a druggie. Whilst picking up some TVs that "fell" off the back of a truck,the guys are caught by an undercover cop who has had his eyes on them for years. Sent down for 5 years in the big house,Brian and Paulie start to find out that what doesn't kill you, will make them stronger.View on the film:Running out of hospital in the freezing cold for another "hit" Mark Ruffalo gives an incredible raw performance as Reilly.Spending his whole life working for Kelly with McDougan,Ruffalo subtly captures Reilly's awareness of being in a Noir tar pit,but also a burnt-out mind-set of getting free from the next mob/drug hit. Joined by a wonderfully expressive Amanda Peet as Reilly's wife Stacy, (plus a side order of two Wahlberg's for some Boston spirit) Ethan Hawke gives a great fragile performance as Paulie,who Hawke makes stand out to Reilly by holding Paulie with an optimism that is always on the horizon,but never reached.Bringing his life story to the screen,co-writer/(with Donnie Wahlberg and Paul T. Murray) co-star (playing his former boss!) director Brian Goodman & cinematographer Chris Norr (who reunited with Hawke for Sinister) roll into Boston on a wave of blue collar Neo-Noir hovering above a frosty atmosphere of streets covered in snow that give Reilly and McDougan's "tasks" an ice cool shine. Cracking the door open to Reilly's fractured married life, Goodman gives the title a rustic tone,picking up corners of fading walls and keeping a distance to show the full misdeeds of the Noir duo.Falling into cinemas as the studio went bust,the screenplay by Donnie Wahlberg/Paul T. Murray and Goodman fittingly presents a Noir Drama whose edges bleed with an impending sense of doom. Spanning 8 years,the writers brilliantly bring the world pushing Reilly and McDougan's out into the Noir darkness into focus with clever underhanded ways,from the cost of living in their old neighbourhood becoming un-affordable,to Reilly completely missing major family events behind bars. Tightening the grip drugs and crime have on the friends,the writers strip any darkness to expose the hopeless Noir pit that they are trapped in,as Reilly and McDougan discover what does kill you.

leonblackwood Review: I was quite looking forward to this movie because of the cast and the promising advert, but as usual, I found the movie pretty disappointing. The film starts off well, but then it slows down and gets a bit boring. All of he actors put in good performances and the storyline was quite interesting, because it was true, but it takes a while to get going. The 2 main characters seem to get away with everything without any comebacks, so its turns out to be, in some ways, quite predictable. I was hoping for a violent Goodfellas, but the pace was too slow along with the storyline which could have been a lot better. Watchable!Round-Up: Since 2008, Mark Ruffalo's career has blossomed by staring as the Hulk and doing a good job of it. The movie doesn't seem dated, but there was quite a few gangster movies out during this period which is why it was a good choice to bring the movie to DVD now. It doesn't fall in the same category as some of the classic gangster movies that came out during this period, but it does show a more that some people do eventually grow a conscience after doing bad throughout there life's. For entertainment, it did lack the whole "Bad Man" flavour, which was a shame because they had all of the ingredients. Maybe the director chose to stick with true events except for going for the shock value.I recommend this movie to people who like there crime/Boston gangster movies which is based around 2 lifelong friends. 4/10

Petri Pelkonen Brian and Paulie have been buddies since childhood.They have to be tough if they wanna survive in the streets of South Boston.The local crime boss takes them under his wings.Brian becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol, which causes some friction between his wife and two young sons.The writer and director of What Doesn't Kill You (2008) is Brian Goodman.It's based on his own story.Mark Ruffalo is terrific as Goodman's alter ego, Brian Reilly.Ethan Hawke is amazing as Paulie McDougan.Amanda Peet is superb as Stacy Reilly.Will Lyman is very good as Sully.Goodman himself gives a marvelous portrayal of Pat Kelly.NKOTB's Donnie Wahlberg does great job as Detective Moran.Donnie was also writing the movie.Angela Fearstone plays Katie.Edward Lynch is Jackie.Lindsey McKeon plays the part of Nicole.Dramatically this movie works in many places.The relationship portrayed between Brian and his wife is one of the working material.What also works is the character development.There is also some harsh realism portrayed in this movie.It doesn't glamorize the lifestyle the people are living here.It doesn't give you a message it's good to be a hood, or the drugs work.It's saying that once you're living that lifestyle, it's better to get out of it.As soon as possible.

sorin_baias Welcome to one of the most "real" films Hollywood managed to spit out in these recent years. And by "real" I don't mean only the fact it was true to it's original story.The shots of a snowy Boston, the overall tense atmosphere, the fast pacing (at some points) and Hawke's and Ruffalo's depiction of petty criminals/street thugs, all contributed to making this one seem believable and to seem to relate to any of us. *What doesn't kill you* succeeds in transmitting more than one message and to tell more than one story. It manages to include the notions of family, friendship, addiction, fear, and all of it while keeping us on the edge of our seats.**Here be Spoilers** The film doesn't really shock but imo it does leave a bad aftertaste, Ruffalo's portrayal of an addict is saddening for the viewer and so is watching him talk to his sons. However that is intended as Ruffalo managed to make Goodman look like a vulnerable man, that experiences frustration and remorse in the later stages of the film.Ethan Hawke has an easier job playing Paulie, Goodman's friend, nevertheless not easy overall, Paulie is seen with a smile on his face most of the times, whenever he isn't talking about some business and has less responsibilities than Goodman, being single. He seems to be the more lively one of the two, hesitation not being in his vocabulary.Amanda Peet plays Goodman's wife and although she sure tries, for me it wasn't a brilliant performance, there's just something about her that doesn't spell *housewife*, even in the shadow of Hawke and Ruffalo she manages a decent performance.The first title choice, aka *Real Men Cry* would of been a more inspired one as it fits the film way better, they don't only cry but they end up paying the bills too. *What doesn't kill you* has a down to earth ending without a *hurray* for the villains and although there might of been some other moral to this one I think it proves that life can be harsh on whatever side of the law you situate yourself.