Duane Hopwood

Duane Hopwood is a 2005 film featured in the Sundance Film Festival starring David Schwimmer and Janeane Garofalo, with a supporting cast featuring Judah Friedlander, Dick Cavett, Susan Lynch, John Krasinski, Rachel Covey, and Mia Dillon. The movie was written and directed by Matt Mulhern and released by IFC Films in November 2005.

The film's plot centers on the title character (Schwimmer), an alcoholic whose life is spiraling downward rapidly after his divorce from Linda (Garofalo).

The movie, writer/director Matt Mulhern's second film, was well received by critics, named by Roger Ebert as "one of the best movies of 2005." He also said that David Schwimmer gave a "career-transforming performance." IFC did not release the film in New York City or Los Angeles, focusing instead on Philadelphia, Tucson and Kansas City. HBO released the DVD in April 2006 and Showtime and The Movie Channel began the cable run in December 2006.

Duane Hopwood (David Schwimmer) is a father sharing custody of his two young daughters with his ex-wife Linda (Janeane Garofalo).

The film opens with a montage showing Duane's slide into alcoholism: starting with a happy family meal; moving onto a scene of him drinking casually at home; then a scene of him drinking in a bar after work; then coming home drunk, leaving the car with the door wide open and half on the curb while he is crashed out on the bed—still in his work clothes from his overnight shift as a floor manager or "pit boss" at Caesars Palace casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The montage culminates when Duane is pulled over after continually swerving across the road. Duane is drunk, but the policeman, a close friend, offers to take him home. Duane agrees but his friend's leniency changes after Duane tells him his daughter is in the back seat.