''Imayhavelimitedintelligence,andlimitedabilities,''saidMr.Alpert,whohasearnednineEmmies.''ButonethingIdohaveisthatpeoplewillletmeintoplacesthatotherpeoplecan'tgetinto.''Theresultsareportraitsoflivesthatareincrediblydetailedandthereforeconvincingintheirugliness:Rob,FreddieandDelirisfall,riseandfallagaintodrugs,crime,irresponsibility,poverty,crueltyanddiseaseintrajectoriesdevoidofprime-timeglamour.Freddie,justoutofjail,desperatelycruisesandsometimesdealsheroin.Deliristurnstricksintruckswhileheryoungchildrenwaitonthesidewalk.ThesubjectsarewhiteandLatino,whichMr.Alpertsaidmadehimlessworriedaboutinadvertentlyperpetuatingracialstereotypesandallowedthefilmtoshowpeopleofallracesmakingcrucial,seeminglyinevitablemistakes.