2/5 thugs in the city
  by R. Bagula (Lakeside, Ca United States)
The whole theme of this movie seems to be we should see these thugs
as people? They are out beating up and robbing people from the time they are kids.
That they could have a family life on the other side of robbing and doing cocaine
makes them human?
I thought that the movie about modern mobsters in the big city
was just pretty nasty instead of the exciting it was supposed to be.
Aside from having a really bad plot, the acting , costumes and setting was well done.
This movie is just not one you would want to bring home
to watch after dinner.

4/5 Very Realistic Crime Drama
  by A. Blatt (Detroit Lakes, MN USA)
This is a very realistic crime drama. Of course, it is based on a true story. The acting is sincere all around and definitely draws you in.

2/5 Formulaic
  by Cary B. Barad (Baltimore, MD)
Despite a great cast, this story is another in the "South Boston" boys gone wrong genre. Morever, the first three-quarters of the film is jumbled, dimly lit and uninspired. It picks up thereafter with some suspense over the protagonist's moral quandry.

4/5 a gritty Boston tale
  by John Bowes (Oxford, MA USA)
Well told and acted. Lots of Boston scenes and faces. How did they get in jail to film this? A better than average true tale story.

4/5 Ruffalo and Hawke Shine in Crime Drama
  by The Movie Man (Maywood, New Jersey USA)
"What Doesn't Kill You" reminded me of such episodic gangster pictures as "Goodfellas" and "Once Upon a Time in America." It's an autobiographical take on the life and experiences of director Brian Goodman, who was a petty criminal and drug addict as well as a family man. From an early age, Brian (Mark Ruffalo) and Paulie (Ethan Hawke) do jobs for crime boss Pat Kelly. With no way to support a growing family, Brian sinks deeper and deeper into the world of crime until he is given the opportunity to participate in the biggest robbery of his life.
The film's Boston setting is reminiscent of "The Departed," but Goodman's film is far more modest and less complex. The best thing about "What Doesn't Kill You" is Mark Ruffalo, who has done consistently good work in excellent, mediocre, and weak films through the years. Here, he has a meaty role and makes Brian a multifaceted character, not a one-note cliché. His Brian is torn between the dishonest world of fast bucks and his responsibility to a wife and child. The film is raw and captures the desperation of the streets. Considering it doesn't boast A-list stars, a top director, or large budget, the film is an admirable achievement.
Bonus extras include deleted scenes, commentary, and a making-of featurette.