The Adderall Diaries

Stephen Elliott (James Franco) enjoys the typical successes of a big-city writer hovering on the margins of true fame. He gets to pen the stories he wants — his memoir allows him to edit and shape the truth of his life to meet his needs — and he has access to ideas and people to add to his world. He’s charismatic enough to draw a reporter (Amber Heard) into his orbit, but he can’t escape the irresistible lure of his issues with his father (Ed Harris) until he starts to explore the headline-grabbing trial of a tech guru (Christian Slater) accused of killing his wife. Screenwriter and director Pamela Romanowsky (The Color of Time) adapts Elliott’s memoir, allowing the loose strands of narrative to unravel even further, approximating the downward spiral of Elliott’s blocked psyche. (Opens Friday at Esquire Theatre) (R) Grade: B-