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What Doesn't Kill You

Play trailer Poster for What Doesn't Kill You R 2008 1h 40m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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.

Critics Reviews

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Peter Rainer Christian Science Monitor 12/19/2008
B+
The overfamiliarity of What Doesn't Kill You is redeemed by a full-scale performance from Mark Ruffalo. Go to Full Review
Noel Murray AV Club 12/19/2008
B
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. Go to Full Review
Sam Adams Los Angeles Times 12/12/2008
3.5/5
It feels, if not like real life, at least like a movie you haven't seen before. Go to Full Review
Dave White Movies.com 04/04/2011
2/5
James Plath Movie Metropolis 06/07/2009
6/10
For a true-crime story, there's surprisingly little dramatic arc. Go to Full Review
Brian Orndorf DVDTalk.com 04/21/2009
A-
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Kathleen C Jul 4 I always like a true story. Most people have always wondered who shot Brian Goodeman, my belief is that it was Jackie who shot Brian.. Brian didn't want to work for Jackie anymore and Jackie didn't want to lose Brian and his criminal enterprise.. Great Cast, great story .. Kathleen See more Carlos Taiti Y Jun 11 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 See more Bill S May 5 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. See more Shannon F Feb 17 Excellent cast. Very well told storyline. Excellent movie all around. See more Michael R 07/04/2024 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. See more Jeffrey P 03/25/2024 A ‘guy movie' through and through, a little overly drawn out early on with a few too many unnecessary scenes. See more Read all reviews
What Doesn't Kill You

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Movie Info

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