The 2003 Canadian film Owning Mahowny, based on Gary Ross’s book No Limit
Roger Ebert wrote of his performance: “Philip Seymour Hoffman, that fearless poet of implosion, plays the role with a fierce integrity, never sending out signals for our sympathy because he knows that Mahowny is oblivious to our presence. Like an artist, an athlete or a mystic, Mahowny is alone within the practice of his discipline.”
On facebook on Sunday, Ross wrote: “I can tell you from personal experience that PSH was a) a stunning actor, as versatile and flawless as Meryl Streep, and b) a lovely man, generous and kind. Terrible loss and waste.”
Owning Mahowny is about addiction.
How can you not be attracted to the colorful, musical, and action-packed screens on the slot machines? They’re magical and mesmerizing. “I’ll just try it once, or twice.” Three years later I’m still trying and seven more years, my luck hasn’t changed. Perhaps I’m not trying hard enough.
Gripped by Gambling is the story of my descent into the gambling addiction and Detour is my climb out of the pit I created. Sure, everyone loves to gamble . . . if they win. But, the person sitting next to you in church, the man in line at the grocery store, or one of your co-workers; any one of these could be involved with a gambling problem. Your grandmother or your grandson may be committing a crime to support their gambling addiction as you are reading this paragraph.
Detour, available February 15th, leads the reader on my path of determination, discipline, and dedication to a new life of recovery. The challenges I faced after prison release led me to recovery and to unimaginable serenity and joy. These books would be valuable additions to everyone’s library.
I also publish a newsletter, Women Helping Women, which has been on-line for more than fourteen years and is read by thousands of women (and men) from around the world. (www.femalegamblers.info).
Sincerely,
Marilyn Lancelot