Alcoholism Treatment on the Big Screen
When it comes to portraying addictions on the big screen, Hollywood is often criticized for a less than accurate description of what drug abuse is really like. Drug and alcoholism treatment is a serious topic and there are few movies where critics can agree that live up to the real life expectations. Traffic, Candy, Trainspotting, Requiem for a Dream, and The Lost Weekend are amongst the top ranked films that seriously deal with the subject of addiction.

Struggling with Addiction Therapy
In The Basketball Diaries, Leonardo DiCaprio was praised for his realistic depiction of a young addict. As this movie was based on the real life story of Jim Carroll. The author and musician struggled with heroin addiction at the age of 13 where he dabbled in stealing and prostitution to support his drug habit. Although some praise DiCaprio for his role, others have less than kind words for the young actor. In real life, Jim Carroll spent some time at a state penitentiary and addiction therapy. After overcoming his addiction, Carroll enjoyed a successful literary career until his death in 2009. He died of a heart attack while working at his desk.

Living Sober in the Movies
Even though The Lost Weekend was released in 1945, many believe that it is a realistic depiction of an alcoholic struggling with living sober. The story chronicles the 6 year period of alcoholic writer, Don Birnam. In the end, the protagonists recognizes the two parts of his personality, “Don the writer” and “Don the drunk” and writes a novel based on his famed “lost” weekend.