Cracked Up: The Darrell Hammond Story (2018) (2018)

June 9, 2020 3:13 PM

In Cracked Up, we witness the effects adverse childhood experiences can have across a lifetime through the incredible story of actor, comedian, master impressionist and Saturday Night Live veteran, Darrell Hammond.

Behind the scenes Darrell suffered from debilitating flashbacks, self injury, addiction and misdiagnosis, until the right doctor isolated the key to unlocking the memories his brain kept locked away for over 50 years. Cracked Up, director Michelle Esrick, creates an inspiring balance between comedy and tragedy helping us understand the impact of toxic stress and childhood trauma in a new light, breaking down barriers of stigma and replacing shame with compassion and hope.

Movie's website [available to view on Netflix--U.S., as of date of post]

posted by hydra77 (2 comments total)

I admired the willingness of the filmmakers to let this story be truly harrowing instead of generically inspiring. It would be easier to take a movie about someone for whom the worst is now over, now that the healing has happened -- but Hammond does not seem entirely okay, nor should he be, and the worst may not be over for him. The result is frankly a bit of a downer, and I recommend that anyone who has been abused should tread lightly. But it's important.

Also his formulation of "mental injury, not mental illness" is a good one. I'll hang onto that.
posted by argybarg at 1:10 PM on June 10, 2020

I liked this a lot, and I'm so glad he's dealing with this stuff. I always liked him as an SNL cast member and funnyman, and I want him around and working.
posted by rhizome at 8:09 PM on December 22, 2020