What Doesn't Kill You Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Nov. 26, 2009

What Doesn't Kill You

Release Date: Friday, December 12, 2008 Limited

Ethan Hawke, Mark Ruffalo, Amanda Peet, Paul T. Murray, Rod Lurie, Bob Yari, Marc Frydman, Brian Goodman, Brad Jenkel, Donnie Whalberg

R Crime N/A

2.7

71% WILL SEE

29% WON'T SEE

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Plot

What's the story about?

Brian and Paulie are two young punks running loose on the hard streets of South Boston. Coming from separate but equally broken homes, the boys bond of friendship makes them brothers. They do whatever it takes to survive, living by the code of their dog eat dog neighborhood.

As Brian (Mark Ruffalo) and Paulie (Ethan Hawke) get older, petty crimes and misdemeanors grow into more serious offenses. Eventually, they fall under sway to the organized crime boss Pat Kelly (Brian Goodman) who runs the felonious backroom businesses and illicit trades in Southie. They also find themselves the targets of unwanted attention from Detective Moran (Donnie Wahlberg) one of Boston’s finest. And Brian in particular becomes lost in haze of drugs and rebellion. Even the love he has for his wife Stacy (Amanda Peet) and his children isn't enough to redeem him.

In time, the friends find themselves in jail – just a part of doing business on the mean streets they call home. Although not gone away forever Brian and Paulie are incarcerated long enough to learn a few lessons, but will they lead to changed lives on the outside? A storm of trouble is brewing: Paulie has big plans to liberate them from their life of crime – just one more job – one last heist – a bold and potentially violent daylight robbery. But Brian has used his time in jail to make amends to his family and get clean. When Paulie comes to him for help, Brian must face the biggest challenge to his code of honor that he could ever imagine: stand by his friend or salvage his family … he cannot do both!

"What Doesn't Kill You" reveals the true life drama that writer/director Brian Goodman underwent in his struggle to honor the people he loved – on both sides of the law.

Crime Drama Gangster

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Top Cast

The lead cast starring in What Doesn't Kill You.

Mark Ruffalo
Mickey 17, The Avengers
Ethan Hawke
The Black Phone 2, The Black Phone
B
Brian Goodman
D
Donnie Whalberg
Amanda Peet
2012, Please Give

Crew Behind the Film

The What Doesn't Kill You behind-the-scenes crew and production team.

The film's director Brian Goodman last directed Black Butterfly.

Director: Brian Goodman
Screenwriters: Brian Goodman
Paul T. Murray
Producers: Marc Frydman
Rod Lurie
Bob Yari

Studios: Yari Film Group
Production Company: Battle Plan Productions

Additional Information

MPA Rating: R Restricted for language, drug use, some violence and brief sexuality
Runtime: N/A
Tagline: Not available
Also known as: Real Men Cry
Language: English

All Trailers

Official What Doesn't Kill You movie trailers and clips.

No trailers available.

Production Details

What we know about the What Doesn't Kill You movie production.

Key Facts

Based on Brian Goodman's life.

Production Updates

Dec 2004

Completed

The film was tagged as Completed.

Release Dates

When was the film released?

What Doesn't Kill You was released in limited movie theaters on Friday, December 12, 2008. There were 9 other movies released on the same date, including The Day the Earth Stood Still, Doubt and Delgo. As a limited release, What Doesn't Kill You was shown in select movie theaters in major markets.

United States

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