A Thousand Junkies (2017) User Reviews

Three men in a boat. Sinking

[begob · 7/10 · 30 January 2018]

Three guys start the day in their crappy car, hoping to find a fix of heroin before the sickness sets in.

A picaresque tale! I guess the title refers to all the junkies who have followed, and are to follow, the same path. This is a nice find, and gives the impression of well studied performances from actors who have seen this behavior in people they know. The only criticism is that the picaresque encounters ain't much violent or humorous - I'm not looking for exaggeration, just the natural absurdity of desperate humans colliding at random, without moralizing. Although there is one judgmental scene, with the charming dancing daughter refusing her dad's plea for help.

The editing, cinematography and sound are all good, and the pace keeps up nicely. And the LA locations are as romantically ugly as ever, with all that sun-bleached concrete. Outstanding element is the music, which creates some romance out of the hopelessness.

I wish someone would bless America.

Just a great little movie!

[jimdan1962 · 7/10 · 4 February 2018]

First, all these guys are former addicts so the acting is top notch regarding the guys "playing" addicts. There is no real action here unless you count the action of living in active addiction which there is plenty of! There are no big names unless you count the cameos by Bill Pullman and Steven Weber. This film will not be for everybody, but I'm betting almost everyone has been affected by someone else's drug use. They really nailed the active "functioning" addict lifestyle in my opinion. It's good to have Mr. Swerdlow back, he's an obvious talent that needs to be noticed and I hope he continues writing and acting. TJ Bowen and Blake Heron are excellent, they basically play themselves I'm guessing and they have serious chops. Blake has previous acting experience but this appears to be TJ's fist time and he is just great in my opinion! It is a bit slow but it's not supposed to be fast....The main reason I like this film is because I can relate to it and the guys in it, I've been clean and sober a while now.I enjoyed this much more than many of the blockbusters being cranked out daily in Hwood.

Had more potential

[phulla · 5/10 · 18 February 2021]

This is an insight into the desperate need to score, but this had a lot of potential but failed to deliver. Felt like this was a Disney version of something that could have been a lot more.

If I was a school teacher marking a kids homework I would say "good effort but you must try harder".

Entertaining and somewhat realistic

[chipxsimon · 7/10 · 6 February 2022]

The one reviewer that said it wasn't realistic because they only had one dealer, obviously didn't watch the movie. I found the situations they were in pretty realistic having been an addict. However, they didn't look that dope sick, but that probably wouldn't have been practical for an entertaining movie. However, given their financial situation perhaps they were barely getting well and their physical addictions weren't that bad at the time. I have been there as well, heroin can be just as much mentally addicting as it is physical. You convince yourself you are sick and need a hit when you are just a little uncomfortable.

Not bad at all...

[rosecalifornia · 5/10 · 23 July 2020]

I won't do a summary since there is already one.

Keep in mind if you live in SoCal you understand this is not really a true take on junkies (most of us here have one or more in the family) - it is a joke about junkies. And yes my opinion you should be able to joke about things without Everyone jumping on the PC police wagon.

This is something not to take serious, but crack a beer eat bbq, relax have a laugh - heck they even tossed in a Russian talking about the Armenians. The three characters pretty much covered most of the personality type - there is always one junkie worried about unpaid warrants and driving.

Cinematography/scene setting was done nicely, clothing/costumes realistic. It's all just a fun average weekend movie.

Entertaining and humorous

[andron-01061 · 7/10 · 25 September 2020]

While it might not be the most realistic portrayal of heroin addicts, it's entertaining, darkly funny, and worth watching.

Dialogue contrived. Plot weak.

[bell_and_time · 3/10 · 23 October 2018]

So much of the conversation in this movie is the same. The pace of the dialogue is contrived at best and a snore at its worst. The actors feel like they're just regurgitating lines. So much of the "backstory" is soooo weak. I mean, the movie, in it's entirety, is contrived backstory or repetition of the whole "they're obviously not gonna score yet again because they have burned their bridges".

Odd voice over about how often the one guys waits for dope (some odd sincere moment)

followed by more not-scoring

followed by the one character insisting they commit a violent crime

followed by a convo about the violent characters Dad's communication with him thru email (odd sincere moment)

followed by the repetition of the above.

It's like Spun minus all the character depth, humor and side plots.

Gritty, Hilarious, Darkly Honest Drug Movie

[Videoverdose · 10/10 · 16 July 2018]

This is the most honest and important drug movie since Trainspotting or Drugstore Cowboy, only grittier and more confined to a day-in-the-life-of three addicts. A road movie for junkies, and a hilariously dark niche comedy. Personally, I dug every minute of it, and I hope more people check it out. Three junkies drive around LA in a beat up Volvo, on a mission to score heroin before the pained desperation of dope sickness takes over. Written, directed, acted by recovering addicts (director and star Tommy Swerdlow is a veteran Hollywood screenwriter who met the other guys in rehab) this gives the characters and situations an unfiltered authenticity. Sure, there's exaggeration for entertainment's sake, but the brilliant thing about this movie is how it uses humor to portray the 9-5 job of being a junkie without glamorizing or trivializing the life. It's the drug movie America doesn't know it needs right now. The film was shot guerrilla style on the streets of LA; busy avenues, rugged alleyways, and indoor swap meets, where real-life extras stand in the background of the shot, intrigued by the camera. This kind of filming gives the scenes a real-world grit and is a testament to the its indie spirit. The cast is brilliant. Many scenes are confined to the beat up Volvo, but the chemistry between the three leads makes whatever's happening (or not happening) fun to watch. The trio (Tommy, Moshe, and Blake) are obsessed with getting money to score drugs, and that crucial necessity is the glue that holds them together. The subject matter may be darker than Mexican tar but the witty banter and irrational antics keep things moving at a swift pace. There's more than a few clever moments of character development as well, where each character slips beyond the surface to unveil their deeper dimension. The score's comprised of acoustic Mexican folk tunes and instrumental jams that compliment the urban landscape well. At a time when our nation is in the grips of an opioid epidemic, when 100+ people die of overdoses each day, it's still taboo to be a drug user. It's still taboo to talk about addiction in an honest way. We can't sweep this reality under the flag no more, and whether you believe in the power of cinema or not, it takes guts and heart to make a movie like this. Kudos to The Orchard for putting this movie out, and to the filmmakers for making it.

Terrible and unrealistic

[metalsmith-03284 · 1/10 · 22 January 2020]

Nothing about this movie rings true, which is death to a low budget movie. These characters are not guys who woke up needing a shot, whoever wrote and/or directed this is clueless. So addicted you wake up in the morning and need to get high but only have one dealer? Stick with the boys instead of going it alone? Any review that praises this as getting addiction right is written by a shill. Skip it, this is crap

VERY Realistic actually... characters are playing themselves who they used to be... literally

[sampsonart · 10/10 · 17 November 2020]

The boneheads who are saying this is unrealistic either have no experience or don't understand that these are what you call "functioning heroin addicts" and yes they do exist and this is EXACTLY how it is for some. Of course it didnt show the really really bad side of the addiction because these guys n this movie aren't at that stage yet with their problem.. these guys are totally functioning addicts

Also for anyone saying it wasn't realistic, watch the interview with the 3 actors about their characters. They all play themselves (Bill Pullman even plays himself hahaha) and the director (who plays Tommy in the film) is reflecting on his actual life as he was a heroin addict for like 20 years and met the other two characters in AA/NA kinda like how it shows in the film. So this movie is about their experience as addicts so the people saying it's not accurate are just ignorant and don't know what they're talking about because this IS how it is and obviously how it was for them..(their acting was great too because they were playing who they used to be) The only people who will appreciate this film are those who have been there or have been through addiction and can relate in some aspect. Opiate addiction can be pretty unique on its own and like I said not all heroin addicts are homeless gutter dwellers who are dying in an alley. If you can relate at all to this film, you will more than likely love it. Very underrated flick and I applaud the director and writer and everyone else who made this film happen. Great job guys!!

Going nowhere...

[imseeg · 5/10 · 5 November 2023]

3 addicts desperate for drugs, trying to score some hit, for 80 minutes on end. It couldnt excite me...

Not a terrible movie, but a rather tedious one. It wouldnt even have been bad that nothing much happens, IF ONLY the actors would have been superb. But they werent...

We do get to see a 2 minute long appearance by Bill Pulmann though, and it was his name on the credits that made me curious in the first place what kind of movie I had missed with him. But I had missed nothing in particular...

Average story, average dialogues, average acting performances, average direction, average photography. Plain average and kinda tedious. Not even witty in any kind of way, while it was probably intended to be comical...

Best Film to End Drug Prohibition

[bubbakid · 10/10 · 4 February 2018]

Amazing story about the futility of the drug war. While not as graphic as it could be this film clearly demonstrates how the criminalization of a medical issue impacts us all. While it does have some funny bits the message is clear...end this drug war now.

Very close to my experience. Rewatch for the sequel.

[mps-09977 · 8/10 · 7 February 2021]

I know some people have said this movie is unrealistic, but it was more or less pretty similar to my experience. It's been over a decade since I lived that life, but it brought back some painful memories and reminded me how lucky I am. I thought the movie did a great job of portraying what most days are like for a addict. I have been all of these characters wrap into one. Most days are the same as the day before. So, if you want to see the sequel, just rewatch this movie. Side note: Seems as though no matter where you live the dope man takes forever. Every addict has the same experience. "I'm 5 min away.... No go here instead, I'm 15 min away... I'm coming over the bridge I'm 10 min away" Just goes to show, they sell drugs for a reason. Because they're horrible businessmen.

Reality is harsher but this isn't reality, this is a movie.

[deloudelouvain · 8/10 · 21 February 2020]

I get it that some other reviewers call this unrealistic, I really do. They probably saw their share of desperate junkies, I did as well, so comparing their life to this movie just doesn't work. The reality of heroin addiction is much worse and harsher than shown in this movie. But nevertheless A Thousand Junkies is well made, it's interesting to watch, it has some decent acting, and even though they don't look like hardcore-beyond-saving heroin addicts there are very recognizable stereotypes portrayed in this movie. The constant lying, the fake promises, never having a dime in their pockets, always looking to con, steal or do whatever it needs to be done to get their next fix, it's like watching the daily routine of any street junkie. I've lived in a big city, saw dozens of those zombies, knew some personally that drifted away from being normal to become a waste of space, so for that the story is accurate, but the reality is just so much worse. A Thousand Junkies is just a soft impression of addiction but it's enjoyable to watch.

Phenomenal; Honest; Engaging; Tragic

[SantaCruzReviews · 9/10 · 24 July 2021]

Honest portrayal of 3 guys desperately spending the day trying to cop some dope to "get well". Written, directed and acted by guys who have lived the life, suffering from addiction. Comic moments come up throughout the film, easing the tension the film creates for the viewer as these guys spend their work day stooping lower and lower to get what they desperately need.

Awesome Movie

[JakeRfilmfreak · 9/10 · 16 March 2023]

Independent filmmaking at it's finest in my opinion. A straight laced honest portrayal of drug addiction, and the hoops one will go through to get them. The premise of the movie is very simple and to the point.

Tommy, T. J, and Blake, are three friends going around town all day trying to get their fix.

Tommy Swerdlow did an awesome job writing and directing this movie. The dialogue is realistic, and the characters really make you feel for their situation. Although funny at times, it does a good job of not sensationalizing addiction.

I love this movie, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys good indie movies.

one of the very best

[niyadkassim · 10/10 · 2 February 2018]

This is one of the very best movies of 2017.better than trainspotting 2 .i dont normally review movies.but i have to write this here man.this is a very very good movie

Extremely authentic

[chadledney · 9/10 · 20 May 2021]

Three junkies team up to take the sometimes difficult task of just getting "straight" to start their day. To accomplish that task they must first find a way to fund the mission, then find a dealer (no dealer can tell time by the way). Run all over town trying to meet said dealer. The whole time all three are getting sicker from the the withdrawal of Heroin by the minute. This continues until you physically cannot function, at least for me in my experiences. Raw gritty truthful dialogue of how the drug consumes your life. The real hard truth brought to your living room.

Very accurate portrayal

[snowman-31315 · 9/10 · 15 May 2023]

This movie seems more like a documentary or hidden camera show just following regular addicts around lol. As a former user and someone who still goes to the methadone clinic I can 100% say this is realistic. It actually felt like i was watching a movie of myself and a few buddies who literally did half the things in this movie. Of course they exaggerated and condensed the timeframe to fit it into movie format. These things do happen but it's usually not all goin to happen in the same day. The dialogue is accurate, hilarious, and these guys did a spectacular job showing a day in the life of. To the people saying they wouldn't be doin all this because they'd be too sick. This is how I was, some people are basically useless and can't go more than a few hours without turning into a sniveling puddle of human waste but others were one shot a day guys who were able to function for a while not looking like a million bucks but still able to hold it together to get well. This movie definitely isn't for everyone and if you've never been there and done that you probably wouldn't care for it but for guys like us this was pretty good.