What Doesn't Kill You

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What Doesn't Kill You

R

Released Dec 12, 2008

1h 40m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

47%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Friends since childhood, Brian (Mark Ruffalo) and Paulie (Ethan Hawke) do whatever it takes to survive in their hardscrabble South Boston neighborhood. Crime has always been part of their lives, and now they find themselves on the payroll of a hoodlum named Pat Kelly (Brian Goodman). While Brian sinks deeper into the criminal cesspool, Paulie plans one last heist, one that he hopes can pull them both out of their dead-end lives.

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Mark Holcomb

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

The overfamiliarity of What Doesn't Kill You is redeemed by a full-scale performance from Mark Ruffalo.

Rated: B+

Dec 19, 2008

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Noel Murray

AV Club

Goodman doesn't allow even a hint of postmodernism or self-consciousness to creep into What Doesn't Kill You, and though the movie's various heists and shootouts are gripping, they aren't especially kinetic or stylish.

Rated: B

Dec 19, 2008

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Dave White

Movies.com

Rated: 2/5

Apr 4, 2011

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James Plath

Movie Metropolis

For a true-crime story, there's surprisingly little dramatic arc.

Rated: 6/10

Jun 7, 2009

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Brian Orndorf

DVDTalk.com

Kill You, while stewing in the juices of unapologetic formula, is a more of a direct injection of stark criminal behavior punctuated by exhilarating performances and a soulful dedication to the moody rhythms of despair.

Rated: A-

Apr 21, 2009

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Carlos Taiti Y

Filme: Redes do Crime Assistido: 11/6/25 Elenco: @markruffalo @ethanhawke @amanda.peet @donniewahlberg Modelo: #drama #policial Duração: 1h 40m Ano: 2008 Minha opinião: O filme tem como protagonistas Paulie (Ethan) e Brian (Mark). Este filme retrata uma vida de quem constroi sua vida neste caminho da criminalidade, dos vícios, prostuições, dramas familiares e relacionamento entre pai e filhos e com esposa. Mais o periodo de prisão, e a dificudade de conseguir se integrar na sociedade após a prisão. E que as dificuldades desta adaptação e a realidade da vida aqui fora, fazem olhar para o passado e voltar novamente a antiga vida. E o filme retrata esta realidade muito bem. E o drama do vício no crack e dificuldade de sair desta situação. Até o momento que se torna um divisor de água, em tomar a verdadeira decisão de mudar e saber que a luta diária para não retroceder, e viver uma que muitos vivem, mas de forma honesta e estar com os filhos. Tudo isso sendo mostrado por Brian e a excelente atuação de Mark Ruffalo, com certeza o seu melhor aqui. E temos Ethan sendo aquele escudeiro de Ruffalo neste filme, amigo e compreensivo. Vale apena assistir? Com certeza, um filme que assisti sem pretenção nenhuma, mas me surpreendeu. Nota: 8.75

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/11/25

Full Review

Bill S

Great actors all around. The story is typical of Southie activities and the way of life for guys who don’t want anything better. The characters suffer from their environment and lack of wanting to change while the women try to make a normal life from it all. Having enough experience with the area myself leaves me no surprises in just another story that shows how the guys are just hustling around pulling small time scams to get by. In my experience there’s a lot of heart in the community.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

Full Review

Shannon F

Excellent cast. Very well told storyline. Excellent movie all around.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/25

Full Review

Michael R

I wasn't expecting to like this movie as much as I did but man, was it good! Ruffalo portrayed the South Boston hoodlums I know very well without going over the top. Hawke was excellent too. I liked this movie a lot.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/04/24

Full Review

Jeffrey P

A ‘guy movie' through and through, a little overly drawn out early on with a few too many unnecessary scenes.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

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little m

What a wonderful acting especially mr Hawke

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

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Brian Goodman

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Synopsis

Friends since childhood, Brian (Mark Ruffalo) and Paulie (Ethan Hawke) do whatever it takes to survive in their hardscrabble South Boston neighborhood. Crime has always been part of their lives, and now they find themselves on the payroll of a hoodlum named Pat Kelly (Brian Goodman). While Brian sinks deeper into the criminal cesspool, Paulie plans one last heist, one that he hopes can pull them both out of their dead-end lives.

Director: Brian Goodman
Producer: Bob Yari, Marc Frydman, Rod Lurie
Screenwriter: Brian Goodman, Donnie Wahlberg, Paul T. Murray
Distributor: Yari Film Group
Production Co: Bob Yari Productions, Battleplan Productions
Rating: R (Drug Use|Brief Sexuality|Language|Some Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 12, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 30, 2018
Runtime: 1h 40m

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