Sweet Nothing

REVIEW
A depressing but well-intentioned look into the life and mind of a Bronx crackhead, Sweet Nothing is based on diaries found in a New York apartment. The first (and weaker) half of this low-budget film depicts how Angelo (Imperioli) gets caught in the vicious cycle of drug addiction. When he finally decides to kick the habit, the film -- like its protagonist -- begins to recover. Suddenly, the clichés disappear and Angelo's downward spiral starts earning the viewer's sympathy. Imperioli gives a full-bodied performance as Angelo, inhabiting the edginess of a man who can not resist the highs and lows drugs provide. Offering an unromanticized view of addiction and recovery, Sweet Nothing sometimes misfires, but at least maintains the courage of its convictions.