Like a debilitating flu strain, the summer blockbuster film barrage is now officially upon us, causing terrible hallucinating symptoms. Before long our cinematic senses will be duped into believing that a big budget with hot stars and larger-than-life special effects are what make a truly great movie. To inoculate yourself from this affliction, I recommend taking in one of the few quality films to be released among the mega-flick season. That way, you can keep fresh in your mind the basic blueprint of a good movie and avoid making regretful comments like, "Wow! Sandra Bullock deserves an Oscar for Speed 2!" The first film I prescribe in Drunks.

Drunks, directed by Peter Cohn, is based on a successful off-Broadway play by Gary Lennon. It is the story of Jimmy Epstein (played by Richard Lewis), a recovering alcoholic who skips out on his Alcoholics Anonymous meeting after reluctantly telling the group his "war story". Jimmy's wife recently passed away, leaving him in a state of complete vulnerability. To escape his pain, he returns to the relative comforts of bourbon and his heroin-addicted ex-girlfriend. As the movie chronicles Jimmy's fall from the wagon, it periodically shows the activities of the AA meeting. The group members, comprised of people from virtually every rung of the social ladder, from drug-addicted street kid to successful doctor, each tell their story about coping with alcoholism. In terms of emotional tempo, the tales range from mildly amusing to downright depressing, displaying a real depth in what proves to be an excellent adapted screenplay.

If you haven't already guessed, the tone of this movie isn't exactly upbeat. But, it is not a complete downer either, thanks to some fantastic performances form Faye Dunaway, Dianne Wiest, the late Howard Rollins, Amanda Plummer, indie-film queen Parker Posey, and the incomparable Spalding Gray. Although the story of a self-destructive alcoholic invariably draws comparisons to Nicolas Cage's Oscar-winning role in Leaving Las Vegas, Richard Lewis's portrayal of a similar character is superb. It becomes obvious to the viewer from watching this film that its purpose is not only to provide social commentary on the evils of alcoholism, but also to give Lewis the chance to showcase his range as a performer. Much like Robin Williams before him, Lewis has ascended from being a neurotic stand-up comedian to becoming a serious dramatic actor.

So, if seeing Drunks doesn't help preserve your ability to judge film quality this blockbuster season, you may need some stronger medicine in larger doses: rent Citizen Kane and The Godfather and call me in the morning.