MOVIE TITLE: The Addiction of Hope

This drama will premiere in Los Angeles at the famous Laemmle on November 14 .

RATING: PG (With 3 F-bombs and adult topics, I would rate this an R.)

LENGTH: 1 hour 43 minutes

SPONSOR of Today’s movie review:

This is the same fan the two main women in film use for their hot flashes!

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3Wr6f2x

IN A NUTSHELL:

The Addiction of Hope is a quiet, character-driven drama that explores what happens when the dreams that once fueled our ambition start to fade, and we’re left deciding whether to keep chasing them or to finally let them go.

The story follows Jo Stock, a once-celebrated actress who now finds herself standing at a crossroads. She’s older, wiser, but not quite ready to surrender the spotlight. Her sister, Lynnie, is facing a serious health crisis, and their relationship forces Jo to confront what really matters: family, purpose, and the uncomfortable truth about her own addiction to “hope.”

The movie has also been an indie festival favorite scooping up Best Feature at Santa Fe and Tryon Film Festival, and Best Original Screenplay at Richmond International Film Festival. The film is produced by Martin A. Gottlieb, Anne-Marie Johnson and David Marroquin.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be completely bored. This is an adult “talking movie”.
Some profanity with 3 F-bombs
Talk of cancer and suicide
Some crude comments

THEMES:

Well-placed hope vs. false hope
Letting go
“Women of a certain age”
Hollywood
Change
Gender
Race
Age
Family health
The choices we make
Resilience
Identity
Alternative medicine
Adoption

THINGS I LIKED:

First of all, I love the title! Hope is my favorite movie theme, so when the studio invited me to review the film, I was intrigued!
Anne-Marie Johnson delivers a layered, heartfelt performance as Jo. She captures both the confidence of a woman who once commanded a room and the quiet ache of someone realizing the world has moved on without her. Her chemistry with Harley Jane Kozak, who plays her sister Lynnie, feels genuine, like two women bound by both love and old wounds.
The film’s greatest strength is its honesty. It doesn’t sugarcoat aging, ambition, or disappointment. Instead, it lingers in the in-between moments, those pauses in life when nothing dramatic happens but everything changes. The title itself is a clever paradox: hope can keep us going, but it can also trap us when we cling to it too long.
The pacing is slow, but intentionally so. The director gives each scene room to breathe, allowing us to sit with the characters rather than rush past their emotions. The cinematography mirrors that tone, subdued, warm, and intimate, like watching a memory unfold.
At its core, The Addiction of Hope asks a universal question: What happens when our hope becomes the very thing holding us back? It’s a theme that will strike a chord with anyone who’s ever faced disappointment or reinvention. Beneath its gentle surface, the film challenges us to recognize the difference between faith that moves us forward and wishful thinking that keeps us stuck.
The Addiction of Hope is not about fame, but about the quiet courage it takes to accept change. It’s a film that rewards patience and reflection, offering no easy answers but plenty of honesty. For viewers who appreciate stories of redemption, self-discovery, and sisterhood, this one leaves a lasting impression.
Shari Belafonte and Susan Rattan have minor roles. It was good to see them in something again!
Lovely soundtrack.
The scene at the 1 hour 25-minute mark sums up all of the points the film tries to make.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Because the movie leans so heavily on mood and introspection, some viewers may find it a little too still or quiet. Those hoping for major twists or fast-paced storytelling might lose patience. The film’s subtlety is both its strength and its limitation — the emotional depth is there, but it requires the viewer’s attention and empathy to feel its full weight.
Women will definitely be able to relate to this film more than most men.

FUNNY LINES:

“Older people can murder younger people. Trust me; I’ve thought about it!” – Jo (Anne-Marie Johnson)

INTERESTING LINES:

“There’s a natural progression of things in life, Jo. You and I are progressing naturally.” – Roger (Alan Rosenberg)
“I’m certainly not the same person I used to be.” Jo (Anne-Marie Johnson) “Who is?” – Lynnie (Harley Jane Kozak)
“He’s figuring it out.” – Jo (Anne-Marie Johnson) “We’re all figuring it out.” – Jake (Alex Weed)
“If something bothers you, you change it.” – David (Martin Grey)