What Doesn't Kill You
User Score
5.4 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 4 out of 13

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  1. JayH
    Apr 26, 2009
    7
    Powerful but very heavy, exceptionally well acted, gritty, realistic and believable. Fine cinematography, good direction. Good job overall. The characters are well defined.
  2. bobs
    Sep 13, 2009
    10
    More like an 8, but gotta try to skew that dopey user rating - makes us all look bad. This was a fine film - can't wait for Goodman's next.
  3. Tss5078
    Feb 22, 2013
    6
    This was a pretty intense movie, but it felt as though as I watching it in fast forward. What Doesn't Kill You is the story of two brothers, who grow up in poverty and whom turned to organized crime to survive. For fifteen years, they did what they were told, but with the boss on his way to prison, they decide to go off on their own. Admittedly, it's a tremendous story that follows the paths of these brothers over the course of the next few years, the problem was that in this movie, years translate into about 10 minute intervals. Instead of giving us a complete and accurate portrayal, the director decided to cut the story into small fragments, usually no longer than a minute or two. Something is said, something happens, and then were on to another something, when? where? who knows!? The movie moved so fast and was so choppy, that it left my head spinning. Despite the confusion, it was pretty entertaining and Mark Ruffalo gives an unbelievable performance. Here's another example of a guy I've seen around, never thought much of, who randomly shows up in a B-movie and just makes the whole film worth watching. If you're able to keep up, and this movie doesn't confuse you into an absolute stupor, it's not bad. The story is solid, the cast is good, and it has it's moments, but again only if you can get passed the ridiculous pace the director has decided to set for us.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    83
    A tough, authentic street drama born, bred, and shot in the no-spin zone of working-class South Boston.
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  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Peter Brunette
    100
    With Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke registering personal bests in the performance category as well as playing magnificently and ultraconvincingly off each other, What Doesn't Kill You, a true story that is powerful and completely riveting from beginning to end.
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  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Nicolas Rapold
    40
    Goodman's movie tends to limp along.
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