The Blackout

REVIEW
A junkie movie star (Modine) alienates his girlfriend with his drunken abuse, and goes on a major bender. Eighteen months later, he is sober and living with a new girlfriend (Schiffer). But he's haunted by terrifying nightmares and nagging thoughts that he did something awful during his last blackout. Director Ferrara's sin and redemption tale is even more downbeat and hopeless than his usual fare, making the receptive audience for this film miniscule. However, despite the relentless nihilism and self-indulgence, The Blackout boasts effective performances (Modine is ably cast against expectations) and a perverse hold on one's attention. This is minor Ferrara, worthwhile for his fans, but no one else.