1982

I rent this movie because of the high rating. I have to say I am very disappointed. The fact that there was only ONE review on the board should tell me something. 1. The wife's change was too drastic and not justified at all. 2. The husband's actions are too perfect. He is beyond a saint, which makes it very unbelievable. 3. The wife is very unlikable. Even before the drug takes control of her. 4. I find it very hard to relate to the story. Maybe I am too naive. But the wife's actions are way beyond my imagination. I personally have never taken drugs in my life. I find it very hard to believe she was a perfect mother and then overnight became so irresponsible that she had absolutely no regards to her daughter at all. I get that drugs take control of your actions, emotions and life. But still, the change is too sudden and drastic that I find it very hard to believe.

I grew up in the 1980's, seeing firsthand, as a tween on the brink of adolescence, the devastation that crack cocaine had upon individuals and entire communities. Word on the street was that one hit and you were hooked. I already had an addictive personality, (mine were benign and included candy cigarettes and Atari), so I avoided that one hit because of shear fear. Fear was not a factor for those who found themselves helpless once the drug took control of their decisions, their emotions and ultimately their lives.

1982 takes a more intimate approach at telling the story of the very beginnings of the crack epidemic, focusing on a small, working class family that was literally torn apart and yet never fully dismantled because of the relentless, selfless, valiant efforts of Tim Brown (Hill Harper) - a man who would not allow the drug, or the conduits of that drug, to take away from him all that he truly loved and cherished. This included his beautiful wife Shanae (Sharon Leal), his very precocious daughter, Maya (Troi Zee) and his small business dreams.

The film's composition is unhindered by the usual cinematic flash and exploitative folly seen in feature films and is not at all "overly produced," which is quite fitting, considering the context of when the story takes place – a time when everyday life was very different than it is now – the 80s. The cast is top notch; the acting, superb. 1982 takes you for a ride through an emotional labyrinth of which we were uncertain to find escape, solace or safety. 1982 glues you to your seat bringing you to level of emotional investment and "presence" as the story painfully plays out on the big screen.

There are so many things I found striking about this film that this short review could easily mimic a thesis-driven cinematic analysis, so let me point out I personally found both significant and endearing – the lessons we can learn about enabling, blame and forgiveness – the complex, interwoven trio often found in situations where substance abuse is omnipresent in the very fabric of everyday life. Many of us are enablers, but we do it out of love, although its consequences result in quite the opposite. We all look for someone, something to blame in times of crisis and turmoil but often find ourselves empty-handed. We all challenge ourselves to truly forgive, because it is the only TRUE resolution, but our ego often stands in the way.

1982 both addresses and demonstrates how we can best share those lessons with children, in a meaningful way that does not belittle their feelings or disregard their own unique insight and perspectives on such intense, life-changing situations. The film provides a lens from which to view the micro dynamics of a macro level problem and clearly communicates our collective role, as members of a society - as members of a family - in the emergence and pervasiveness of the substance abuse. More importantly, 1982 offers strong messages about the efficacy of hope and the power of love – ingredients combined to form the ultimate

Overall this is a good movie, but there was zero build up to her returning to being a drug user. It was like today she's a loving mom and wife and the next scene she's crackhead. Also I would've like a little bit more action. The problems wasn't the acting it was in the writing. A good watch, but worthy of 6 - 6.5 stars in my opinion.

Excellent movie. At times, very difficult to watch. It's hard to remember the catastrophic effects of crack cocaine when it first hit the scene in the early 1980s. The story careens into heartbreak with a pretty severe crash. A man who is working to open a neighborhood laundromat suspects something is wrong with his wife. Before he can do anything about it, she disappears, falling under the influence of a former boyfriend. The man and his wife had a young daughter. The cast is excellent, the story is harrowing, the writing is good and the direction is very good. 1982 is a powerful film that will take the audience to some very unpleasant place, all the while showcasing what is decent and heroic (and often unsung) in people. I didn't know what to expect when I put this on, and got nearly more than I could handle.

This is a powerful and moving drama. I was captivated by the performances of the actors, particularly with Hill Harper as the concerned father and Troi Zee as the little girl trapped between her love for her mother and downward spiral of drug addiction that changes her into a stranger. I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to see a well acted family drama about how the power of love can keep a family together with hope even during the most trying of times.