Karen K

I happened to be looking around on You Tube TV and caught this movie right at the beginning. I knew the male character always dies in the end and I’m not into tear jerkers so I avoided this movie for years. But yesterday, I was up to a good cry so I watched this movie. It was far better than I expected. It was artfully done. The acting was exceptionally good from all. The most gripping moments were when Ally visits Jack at the rehab and questions if he really wants her when he isn’t on booze and drugs and maybe clean she’s not attractive to him. The other is the visit Ally’s manager makes to Jack the day he dies. Then, Jack stopping Ally right before she leaves for her show, one last look. It was clear Jack had decided he was much more of a detriment to Ally alive than dead. He realizes what the manager said is true. He can’t trust himself to stay clean. So he decides it’s best for all for him to go. That’s a powerful 10 minutes of film providing a window into the suicidal state of mind. I worked with a man who shot himself at 36. He was an alcoholic. My cousin’s husband shot himself at about the same age. The aftermath for both families (and friends) was horrible. It’s something they never get over for the remainder of their lives. I always thought it was selfish of those two to kill themselves and that they were absolutely not thinking of the impact their act was going to have on loved ones. I thought they were only concerned about making their pain go away. What the Jack character showed was how someone gets to that point believing they are so broken they are only negatively impacting their loved ones so their absence is just best for all. They are convinced there is no other way. What the movie does not do well enough is showing the aftermath. That would probably have made the movie so depressing no one would want to watch that. For people contemplating suicide who truly love their family I would ask that they research the aftermath and seek additional help before their action. The family members and friends would do anything to go back in time and help the person. If you truly love family and friends give them the opportunity to help you