The title "Things We Lost in the Fire" for most of the movie seems to be a red herring, because the audience never gets any glimpse of a fire, but it becomes important near the very end. There had been a fire, in the garage, that destroyed many family keepsakes, pictures and such things. But they were only "things", and that is one of the lessons here.
Halle Berry stars as Audrey Burke, very happily married to Brian Burke (David Duchovny). They have two sweet children, a boy 6 and a girl 10. When Brian dies unexpectedly one night on a quick run to get ice cream, suddenly their whole world is turned upside down. The main story here is how they will be able to deal with it.
Benicio Del Toro is superb as Brian's friend since age 2, Jerry Sunborne, who also happens to be a former lawyer who has messed up life by becoming a heroin addict. Brian visits Jerry periodically, because he is a nice guy who values the act of helping others. Maybe, just maybe, his influence will help motivate Jerry to save himself.
The movie is difficult to watch at times, but the characters seem very real, and we are able to identify with their plights. Superb movie.
SPOILERS: Brian's "good guy" personality gets him killed. Coming out of the store at night he sees a man beating a woman. He rushes over to pull him off, has him count to 10 to calm down, but the man pulls a gun and kills Brian. Jerry is motivated to clean up his life. Audrey asks him to move into the garage, still unfinished from the fire, but with a bathroom. Jerry has a positive impact on the kids, but a misunderstanding has him leave, he has a relapse, but all pull together to help him dry out. Eventually all of them are able to remember Brian for the positive things he gave them, "accept the good", and move on with life.
Halle Berry stars as Audrey Burke, very happily married to Brian Burke (David Duchovny). They have two sweet children, a boy 6 and a girl 10. When Brian dies unexpectedly one night on a quick run to get ice cream, suddenly their whole world is turned upside down. The main story here is how they will be able to deal with it.
Benicio Del Toro is superb as Brian's friend since age 2, Jerry Sunborne, who also happens to be a former lawyer who has messed up life by becoming a heroin addict. Brian visits Jerry periodically, because he is a nice guy who values the act of helping others. Maybe, just maybe, his influence will help motivate Jerry to save himself.
The movie is difficult to watch at times, but the characters seem very real, and we are able to identify with their plights. Superb movie.
SPOILERS: Brian's "good guy" personality gets him killed. Coming out of the store at night he sees a man beating a woman. He rushes over to pull him off, has him count to 10 to calm down, but the man pulls a gun and kills Brian. Jerry is motivated to clean up his life. Audrey asks him to move into the garage, still unfinished from the fire, but with a bathroom. Jerry has a positive impact on the kids, but a misunderstanding has him leave, he has a relapse, but all pull together to help him dry out. Eventually all of them are able to remember Brian for the positive things he gave them, "accept the good", and move on with life.