On July 5, Lionsgate studios released The Adderall Diaries, an artistic film directed by Pamela Romanowsky with a cast led by James Franco and Amber Heard. The story is meant to be dark and dangerous but comes off dull and disturbing at best.
The movie is based on a true-crime memoir by Stephen Elliot. Franco plays his character and the storyline revolves around his writer’s block and drug addiction. He becomes obsessed with a murder case and how it intertwines with his own abusive family drama. He falls in love and struggles with the truth of his childhood memories. Was he the hero or the villain in the life he lived? Things don’t add up. He’s incredibly damaged, but was it his father's fault or his own?
The movie moves slowly. It's graphic and disconcerting. Elliot’s character feels insincere and unlikeable. I simply couldn’t root for him as he destroyed the lives of those around him. The movie tried to be deep with multiple story lines, but it felt crowded and forced. Overall the story felt as shallow as the main character’s personality.
I really wanted to like this film. I’m a James Franco fan and it included other decent actors such as Ed Harris, Cynthia Nixon and Christian Slater. However, the casting couldn’t overcome the poor script and superficial characters. If you’re looking for the next great American drama, keep looking. This certainly isn’t it.
See the trailer for The Adderall Diaries:
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