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What Doesn't Kill You

Play trailer Poster for What Doesn't Kill You R,  2008,  1h 40m,  Crime/ Drama/ Action/ Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 66% 35 Reviews Tomatometer 47% 5,000+ Ratings 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 Dec 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 Dec 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 Dec 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 Apr 4, 2011
2/5
James Plath Movie Metropolis Jun 7, 2009
6/10
For a true-crime story, there's surprisingly little dramatic arc. Go to Full Review
Brian Orndorf DVDTalk.com Apr 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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Finn S Jan 31, 2017 one of those lesser known movies thats really good worth seeing. also I like mark ruffalo alot more now.
Hermione W Jan 25, 2017 This is a surprising good film that actually slowly, but surely, improves at it goes along. Don't be fooled by advertising or the Blu Ray box, this is a slow burning drama through and through, with little to no action or much else for that matter. But it's still a gripping story nevertheless, with all the cast turning in decent performances (especially Mark Buffalo) and characters that become more likeable and interesting as the film unfolds. And there is a nice subtle, melancholy, musical score that isn't over or under used but is applied in all the right moments helping underpin the emotional turmoil of our protagonists. 3.5/5 See more
Abraham R Jan 23, 2017 Decent crime story, focusing more on the drama surrounding the various relationships in the story, but the performances are worthwhile. See more
Draco M Feb 17, 2016 Well acted gritty drama about life on the hard street of South Boston among people whose choices in life are limited.
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What Doesn't Kill You

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Brian Goodman

Director

Mark Ruffalo

Brian

Ethan Hawke

Paulie

Amanda Peet

Stacy

Will Lyman

Sully

Brian Goodman

Pat

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What Doesn't Kill You

Brian Goodman as Pat Kelly in "What Doesn't Kill You." Mark Ruffalo as Brian in "What Doesn't Kill You." Director Brian Goodman on the set of "What Doesn't Kill You." Mark Ruffalo as Brian and Amanda Peet as Stacy in "What Doesn't Kill You." (L-R) Ethan Hawke as Paulie and Mark Ruffalo as Brian in "What Doesn't Kill You." Mark Ruffalo and director Brian Goodman on the set of "What Doesn't Kill You." Ethan Hawke as Paulie, Brian Goodman as Pat and Mark Ruffalo as Brian in "What Doesn't Kill You." View more photos

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, Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 12, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 30, 2018
Runtime
1h 40m
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