Clean and Sober (1988)

Drugs and alcohol are a boon and a curse to the creative community. Every fan of literature, music, and theater has his pick of favorite boozy writings and tanked-up performances; on the other hand, all who claim to appreciate the arts mourn the demise of at least one inventive soul whose premature demise came about due to overindulgence in chemical inspiration. But even in excess inebriation there is a bright side: The rehab flick, typified and exemplified by Clean and Sober (1988). The cocaine- and tequila-plagued protagonist of Clean and Sober checks in for detox under completely false motives. Once inside, much like the unsuspecting viewer of this movie, he is immersed in a far more subtle and engaging reality than he had ever hoped to find. Such a slice of life is reward in itself.