42
Metascore
16 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- Romanowksy has gamely hacked through Elliott’s purposely messy and tangential material to craft a workable portrait of pain and addiction, one that’s bizarrely entertaining even in its most brutal moments, good enough for at least one hit.
- 60At first, Elliott’s struggle does not seem like promising material for a movie, and some might be unsatisfied by the shifting, inchoate nature of the film’s forward trajectory, but at a certain point the narrative begins to coalesce around the idea of taking responsibility for your own life, and Romanowsky makes this seem like a refreshing or at least tough-minded theme.
- 50Slant MagazineChristopher GraySlant MagazineChristopher GrayIt's too busy skipping through subplots to do much more than gloss over such heady issues as the fundamental subjectivity of truth and self-identity.
- 50New York PostSara StewartNew York PostSara StewartA well worn trope that’s tough to elevate beyond eye-roll level.
- 42The A.V. ClubKatie RifeThe A.V. ClubKatie RifeOn a purely technical level, the film is fine, if overly reliant on indie-movie clichés. It features some good performances from proven actors, and touches on some interesting philosophical questions.
- 40The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeThe Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeFirst-time feature helmer Romanowsky has a hard time distinguishing between the things that draw her to Elliott's story and the things that make him pathetic.
- 33The Film StageJohn FinkThe Film StageJohn FinkAn ironic work of filmmaking, The Adderall Diaries explores the relationship between truth, narration and influence, yet resorts to cheap devices rather than observant truth.