I saw the original 1958 film about the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous starring Richard Egan (Voice in the Mirror) and had no idea Hallmark made a television remake thirty years later. In My Name Is Bill W., the story wasn't exactly the same, but you'll still see an alcoholic destroying his marriage until he sobers up and finds that talking to other alcoholics is the best way to stay on the wagon. It's an interesting story, but William G Borchert's script was pretty uneven. Scenes connect without any continuity, characters are never seen from again without explanation, and there are large jumps in the plot cutting out important segments. For example, all of a sudden, James Woods holds up a large hardcover book with his name on it, and we're supposed to just accept the fact that he's written and published a book. More of the running time is spent on James's pre-sobriety years than his process in creating AA. I would have loved to have seen him putting together his first group meeting, creating the 12-step program, or making the organization official throughout the country.
For those who are more interested in a "Susan Hayward-esque" drama, James Woods gives a terrific performance. Any child of the 1990s only knows him from Hercules and Riding in Cars with Boys, so I highly recommend you rent a few of his heavy dramas from the 1980s. I had no idea he had such intense energy or could show such deep pain on the screen. Of course he has all the classic alcoholic scenes, from staggering and singing to drying out while being tied to the bedposts, but the real tour-de-force comes from the subtleties and the intimate admissions of his feelings. He reveals to his wife, JoBeth Williams, that he likes himself better when he's drunk. He knows he should stop, he knows he's hurting her, and yet, all he wants at that moment is a drink so he can become the man he likes. If he doesn't sound like the most likable fellow in the world, it's because he's not. In scene after scene, he's portrayed as selfish and in-the-moment. Even when he sobers up, he's still the same selfish man he was when he drank. Changing addictions, he becomes obsessed with talking about his sobriety and surrounding himself with like-minded people, and he still doesn't prioritize his wife.
I loved the attention to detail in the film. From the cars to the authentic-looking outfits, to wallpaper and the tiniest props (the old National Geographic magazines), I was totally immersed in the 1920-30s setting. Every time JoBeth Williams was on the screen, she got to wear a very pretty dress and time-period hairstyles. While I did criticize the script a bit, this movie is totally worth watching for James Woods's performance.
For those who are more interested in a "Susan Hayward-esque" drama, James Woods gives a terrific performance. Any child of the 1990s only knows him from Hercules and Riding in Cars with Boys, so I highly recommend you rent a few of his heavy dramas from the 1980s. I had no idea he had such intense energy or could show such deep pain on the screen. Of course he has all the classic alcoholic scenes, from staggering and singing to drying out while being tied to the bedposts, but the real tour-de-force comes from the subtleties and the intimate admissions of his feelings. He reveals to his wife, JoBeth Williams, that he likes himself better when he's drunk. He knows he should stop, he knows he's hurting her, and yet, all he wants at that moment is a drink so he can become the man he likes. If he doesn't sound like the most likable fellow in the world, it's because he's not. In scene after scene, he's portrayed as selfish and in-the-moment. Even when he sobers up, he's still the same selfish man he was when he drank. Changing addictions, he becomes obsessed with talking about his sobriety and surrounding himself with like-minded people, and he still doesn't prioritize his wife.
I loved the attention to detail in the film. From the cars to the authentic-looking outfits, to wallpaper and the tiniest props (the old National Geographic magazines), I was totally immersed in the 1920-30s setting. Every time JoBeth Williams was on the screen, she got to wear a very pretty dress and time-period hairstyles. While I did criticize the script a bit, this movie is totally worth watching for James Woods's performance.