So what’s next of the Florence Pugh checklist? She’s already played Lady MacBeth, Amy March, and an Avenger. Today, she gets to be an addict; tomorrow? Queen Elizabeth? Cosette from Les Miz? Willy Loman? I dunno your process, FloPu. Ugh, I’m never saying that again. As I was saying, I don’t know your process, Florence Pugh – I imagine it’s hard to fake being an addict without some personal experience – but for now you’re a proven talent and I’ll ride along whatever wave you surf to my shore.
Of course, substance abuse is not new as a cinema topic, but it is worth note when an A-Lister decides to attack such a role. And I think we can all agree right now that Florence Pugh is an A-Lister. A Good Person does two procedural things very well: it makes us question our addict hero and it shows exactly how fragile some of the relationships and institutions we take for granted.
(As an aside, I grew up thinking American Democracy was rock-solid; all it took was the election of an a-moral narcissist –and a ton RW propaganda in the form of “news”- to show exactly how fragile American Democracy actually is)
Allison (Pugh) was thisclose to “having it all.” Engaged and happy AF, she loved her fiancée, job, home, life. It would be only a matter of time before kids came along to solidify whatever dream she had about her future.
And then there was the car accident. It claimed two future in-laws and all of Allison’s dreams. As the driver, Allison felt responsible and defensive at the same time. Many of us have been there (hopefully on a much smaller scale), unable to shelve the guilt yet most willing to deny responsibility. Who wants to look in the mirror every morning and have to admit their bullshit has a body count?
Fast-forward a year. Allison is addicted to Oxy. Her prescriptions have run out. And the vibrant, young, beautiful, “let’s-conquer-the-world” soon-to-be newlywed now fits in easily with Act III of Requiem for a Dream. Her appearance is unkempt and ill-considered; her attitude speaks directly from the addiction POV; she’s 
becoming one of these people who would do anything for another hit. In short, an addict. It’s only a matter of time before addicts alienate everybody in their life and Allison is well on her way.
Allison now lives at home with her mother. She is only welcome in intervals. Where did Allison’s fiancée go? Will mom hold strong or cave? For the audience, a lot of A Good Person is whether you can stomach Allison’s fall from grace. Is she A Good Person? Was she A Good Person? Can she become A Good Person? I can’t say that I like how much we’ve equated Allison’s look with what we’re supposed to think of her. Not everybody with pasty skin, bloodshot eyes, and self-cut hair is A Bad Person, you dig what I’m saying?
A Good Person eventually pushes Allison towards Daniel (Morgan Freeman), the father of one of the people who died in Allison’s car crash. And he is a recovering substance abuser, too. Betcha can’t see where this is going, can ya? But that isn’t the point. The point is this film is about connection and redemption. And it will almost certainly make you cry. Does Allison deserve our tears? Only if we think she’s A Good Person.
Allison was addicted to pills
To avoid all of life’s little spills
Now AA is callin’
Yet Ally is stallin’
Because after recovery comes bills
Rated R, 128 Minutes
Director: Zach Braff
Writer: Zach Braff
Genre: Movies that make you cry
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Addicts
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: The victims of addicts
