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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Glen Gordon Caron
USA 1988

 

Academy Award winners Michael Keaton and Morgan Freeman star in this gritty and critically-acclaimed drama, directed by Glen Gordon Caron (Moonlighting) . Keaton portrays Daryl Pointer, a hustling Philadelphia real estate agent with a serious cocaine addiction and a life that is quickly unraveling. He has embezzled and lost $100,000 from his employer. And then he wakes up with a girl dead of a drug overdose in his bed. Daryl checks himself into a substance abuse program, intending only to hide for a while. Plans change when he meets Craig (Freeman), a counselor who has already heard every excuse Daryl can offer, and develops a relationship with a recovering alcoholic and battered wife named Charlie (Kathy Baker, in an unforgettable performance). The story unfolds as Darryl's life begins to change...hopefully for the better. Keaton's portrayal of Daryl Pointer earned him a Best Actor award from the National Society of Film Critics, and the film itself won critical praise. More than 35 years after its premiere, Clean and Sober is a film ripe for rediscovery.

***

Clean and Sober (1988) is a drama about Daryl Poynter (Michael Keaton), a real estate agent struggling with cocaine and alcohol addiction. After a bender leads to a woman's overdose, Daryl hides from legal trouble by checking into a rehab program, initially intending to manipulate his way through it. Under the guidance of tough counselor Craig (Morgan Freeman) and through connections with fellow addicts like Charlie (Kathy Baker), Daryl confronts his denial and begins a painful journey toward sobriety. The film explores addiction, recovery, and personal accountability with raw honesty.

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 10th, 1988

Reviews                                    More Reviews                                 DVD Reviews

 

Review: Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 2:04:33.007        
Video

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 36,662,394,748 bytes

Feature: 36,287,219,712 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.92 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1967 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1967 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Warner Archive

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 36,662,394,748 bytes

Feature: 36,287,219,712 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.92 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

Trailer (1:24)


Blu-ray Release Date: April 29th 2025

Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 23

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Warner Archive Blu-ray (June 2025): Warner Archive have transferred Glen Gordon Caron's Clean and Sober to Blu-ray. Back in 2003 we compared the Warner - Region 1 and Warner - Region 2, 4 - PAL DVDs of the film, HERE. Jan Kiesser’s (Fright Night, Choose Me) naturalistic cinematography, with its muted palette, stark contrasts, and restrained camera work, visually captures Daryl’s journey from chaos to vulnerability. The 1080p transfer shows more detail surpassing the US DVD’s lackluster, flat 1.33:1 Open Matte presentation and the 1.75 PAL edition that also looks opened-up showing a shade more information in the frame. Both DVDs are notably softer. The Blu-ray has minor high-frequency edge enhancement - and can look saturated, dark, plus has much warmer flesh tones. It has some uncharacteristic green/blue/yellow hues but its a sharpness step ahead from SD although more grain textures would be appreciated. The lighting design mirrors Daryl’s emotional arc, transitioning from harsh, artificial tones to softer, more natural ones as he progresses in recovery. The HD presentation is an improvement if showing some unusual funky characteristics evoking digitization and color imbalance.

NOTE: We have added 74 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Warner Archive use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. Clean and Sober has an effective sound design that is understated but immersive. Gabriel Yared’s (The English Patient, Cold Mountain, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Every Man For Himself, Camille Claudel) score is subtle and emotionally evocative, designed to support the film’s realism without overpowering its narrative. The score is sparse, relying on piano, strings, and soft percussion to underscore key emotional moments. Yared avoids heavy orchestration, ensuring the focus remains on dialogue and performances. There is other music in the film by Archie Bell & The Drells, The Angels, Jimmy Soul, Lenny Welch, The Fleetwoods, Barbara Lewis and the ending has Van Morrison's Domino. Like the dialogue it all sounds clean and clear via the lossless. Warner Archive offer optional English subtitles (although not always accurate to the dialogue) on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Warner Archive Blu-ray offers only a trailer. A commentary would have been ideal but as the film was discarded upon theatrical release - there seems no enthusiasm for supplements despite its strong critical acclaim.

Glen Gordon Caron's Clean and Sober is a poignant and unflinching drama that explores the harrowing realities of addiction and the arduous path to recovery. Starring Michael Keaton in a career-defining dramatic role, the film delves into themes of denial, personal responsibility, and redemption, offering a raw and realistic portrayal of substance abuse. Daryl’s life is depicted as chaotic yet superficially functional. He’s charming, manipulative, and in complete denial about the severity of his addiction. His decision to enter rehab is driven by self-preservation rather than a desire for change, setting up the central conflict: Daryl’s battle with himself. The introduction of key characters like Craig (Morgan Freeman), a no-nonsense counselor, Charlie (Kathy Baker), a fellow addict, and M. Emmet Walsh, as sponsor, Richard, establishes the stakes of his journey. Clean and Sober portrays addiction not as a moral failing but as a disease that affects people across social strata, from Daryl’s white-collar world to Charlie’s working-class background. It's is a cinematic triumph - a profoundly moving, unflinchingly honest exploration of addiction and redemption that resonates with timeless intensity. Keaton’s riveting portrayal of a man grappling with denial and accountability, paired with Glenn Gordon Caron’s sensitive direction and a stellar ensemble, makes Clean and Sober a landmark drama that’s both gut-punching and inspiring. Even in light of the image wonki-ness the Warner Archive Blu-ray provides the best home theater presentation to date... if it is disappointingly underwhelming (I waited 22 years for this?) Clean and Sober is one of my top 10 films of all time - so it still gets a recommendation for the performances - despite the bare-bones status of the Blu-ray package and the video transfer anomalies.

Gary Tooze

 


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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

1) Warner - Region 2, 4 - PAL TOP

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Warner - Region 2, 4 - PAL TOP

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Warner - Region 2, 4 - PAL TOP

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Warner - Region 2, 4 - PAL TOP

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


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More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 
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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

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