Shooting Sizemore

Watch Shooting Sizemore

  • 2007
  • 1 Season
  • 6.3  (62)

Shooting Sizemore is a reality television series that aired on VH1 in 2007, documenting a significant, transformative period in the life of the accomplished actor, Tom Sizemore. Known for his roles in acclaimed productions such as 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'Black Hawk Down', Sizemore's promising career took a notorious turn due to struggles with substance abuse and legal issues.

The program traverses the rocky path of Sizemore’s sober, post-rehab existence while also highlighting events that led to this personal course correction. It is an intimate, raw, and profoundly revealing glimpse into the troubled life of a Hollywood actor, struggling to reclaim his lost destiny.

Unfolding at a time when Sizemore was grappling with serious personal issues that included a 2003 conviction for physically abusing his then-girlfriend, as well as drug abuse, the series explores his journey through therapy, court appearances, and the daily struggle for sobriety.

Shooting Sizemore is a powerful portrayal of the debilitating effects of addiction and the often-tortuous road to recovery. It stands as a testament to Sizemore’s determination and resilience in the face of adversity. It strikes a delicate balance between the past and present, presenting a relentless and honest portrayal of an individual battling his demons head-on, amidst looming legal judgements and social stigma.

Set against the dreamy backdrop of Hollywood, the series teeter-totter between the profundity of Tom's personal struggles and the glitz of the entertainment industry. It captures his strive to reconcile personal issues with the demands of his professional life, testing his relationships with industry insiders, and navigating the fervent media attention his struggles garnered.

The series has a documentary-style format, charting the rise, fall, and attempted resurrection of Sizemore's acting career. It intersperses present events with footage from his past, providing key context to the path he has treaded.

At the heart of Shooting Sizemore is the complex character of Tom himself, conflicted yet tenacious, bearing the weight of his past misdeeds while aiming for a fresh start. His journey is often turbulent, filled with controversies, but it is also marked by hope and his continual effort to carve a place for himself in an industry that's all too quick to dismiss the fallen front-runners.

One of the intriguing aspects of the show is its exploration of Tom’s dual existence – the famed, talented actor on one hand and the troubled individual battling addiction on the other. At its core, Shooting Sizemore is a story of confrontation and redemption, a compelling exploration of a man’s struggle to rebuild his professional persona while fighting personal demons.

The raw and unfiltered nature of the show is both endearing and chillingly authentic. It provides the audience with an immersive peek into Hollywood's underbelly, juxtaposing the glitz of stardom with the actors' real-life struggles.

Shooting Sizemore also showcases the impact of addiction on family life and personal relationships. It vividly depicts the challenges that Sizemore’s ex-spouse and children face, his skirmishes with the legal system, and how the accompanying mental stress continues to cast a long shadow over these relationships.

Finally, it places Sizemore at the epicenter of questioning society's treatment of fallen stars and addiction. He emerges as a compelling, sympathetic figure caught in the crosshairs of his mistakes and the need for personal and professional rehabilitation. Despite his shortcomings and roiled past, the series grants an empathetic look at a man figuring out his life in the gaze of the public eye.

In conclusion, Shooting Sizemore is a gripping reality series, which meticulously unravels the journey of an actor from the point of view of his stardom as well as his vulnerabilities. It is a stark contrast to the pristine image of Hollywood, showcasing the war of an individual against his own self, addiction, law and societal norms; all under the intense public scrutiny. It is a testament to the human spirit and the struggle for second chances, making it a captivating watch. While it offers no easy answers, it certainly raises pertinent questions, making it a must-watch for those interested in the human aspect of Hollywood's glittering façade.

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Seasons
The End of the Beginning
6. The End of the Beginning
February 18, 2007
Tom decides to move into a friends' guest room in an effort to begin saving up his money. He suddenly gets a hankering to run around downtown Los Angeles and re-live the experience of filming 'Heat' with Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer. In the process of reminiscing, he beings to re-live his sordid past, and how he alienated the Director Michael Mann. Nevertheless, life appears to be brightening up for Tom, as he gets lead in a good film, makes amends with old colleagues, and gets invited to an Emmy party...his first Hollywood event in over three years.
Stumbling
5. Stumbling
February 11, 2007
Luree manages to get a nearly comatose Tom back to the safety of a hotel room, and Tom awakes the next day to find his face battered from his fall. To top it off, Tom has a parole meeting, complete with drug test, that very morning. Humiliated and frightened, Tom vows to pull it together once again and makes amends to the book agent over dinner, where they agree to publish Tom's autobiography.
One Small Step
4. One Small Step
January 28, 2007
In Montreal, Tom calls his ex-girlfriend in an attempt to retrieve his car that she used while he was in rehab. Tom's home video footage retraces their tumultuous relationship, and Tom's pain and longing for her is evident. Tom shoots his final scene in the movie, and when the director calls a picture wrap, Tom is overcome with emotion as the film crew cheers for him. Upon returning to Los Angeles, Tom agrees to a dinner meeting with a book agent. Nervous about the meeting, Tom drinks alcohol, while on prescription meds, and arrives incoherent and falling-down drunk. Episode ends on a suspenseful note as Tom lies helpless on the sidewalk in front of a well-known LA restaurant and a panicked Luree tries frantically to help him.
Manic Panic
3. Manic Panic
January 21, 2007
With a huge effort, Tom manages to pull himself out of his depression and returns to the movie set. In his downtime, Luree tries to cheer him up by taking him golfing. Tom's new sober companion, Scott, begins to get under his skin, and Tom and Luree ditch him the next day. However, fun is fleeting as Tom is moody and unstable and begins to obsess about his legal woes, falling into another depression fueled by his fear of the possibility of going to jail.
Holy Quit
2. Holy Quit
January 14, 2007
We are taken to the Montreal set of the ironically titled "Bottom Feeder", the low budget horror flick Tom has agreed to star in as his first project out of rehab. The demands of acting sober and Byron's constant, irritating presence prove too much for Tom. He fires Byron and experiences a nervous breakdown on the set, threatening to walk off the film and quit acting altogether--an act which would put the final nail in his battered career.
Clean and Sobering
1. Clean and Sobering
January 7, 2007
The series begins with Tom's emergence from 90 days of court-ordered rehab. Sober and humbled, he is committed to kicking his addictions and making a comeback. His welcome home party takes the less-than-festive form of a court date to try and overturn his battery conviction of Heidi Fleiss.
Description
  • Premiere Date
    January 7, 2007
  • IMDB Rating
    6.3  (62)