Candy
Oscar-Nominee Heath Ledger stars as Dan, a charming but reckless young poet who falls in love with Candy (Abbie Cornish), a beautiful young student who is attracted to his bohemian lifestyle. In order to get closer to Dan, Candy follows in his wayward steps of drug addiction. Their passionate relationship then alternated between bursts of ecstatic oblivion and bouts of despair and self-destruction. Hooked as much on heroin as on one another, their story becomes an intense love triangle - a boy, a girl, and a drug.
Member Reviews
Not so great - Belleville
In this movie the characters just appear with no real back story. There is little in developing what brought them to this point and it feels superficial overall. Geoffrey Rush's character feels like it was added to the mix for plot continuation and nothing else. Pretty disappointing overall.Not a story about drugs - egyptnation
I have to disagree with some of the other reviews on this site that say this movie is not gritty enough for the drug subject matter. This isn't a movie about drugs, although they play an integral role. This is most of all a love story. Even the filmmakers say so in the extra features. Many people praise Heath Ledger's performance, but it was Abbie Cornish that really struck me. Definitely see this film.Junkie Love - cathyottawa
I agree with Big J - this doesn't get nearly as gritty as it could have, which isn't necessarily wrong, but I think this wanted to make a real statement on the destruction drug addiction brings.
It does show how heroin addiction quickly escalates - from borrowing money, to stealing, to pawning your most treasured items, to finally selling yourself.
It also is successful in getting across how all consuming addiction is - it takes up every minute of every day.
But this film tends to romantisize this junkie love too much. We also don't get a true sense of their desperation, and what it does to them. For example, we know she turns to prostitution, but it's barely mentioned.
Finally, drug addicts are, well, boring. They don't do much but shoot up, laze around, find money to score, and shoot up again. The film is a little too successful in showing us this dullness.
But I will say I liked Abbie Cornish alot - she reminds me of Ashley Judd - very charasmatic. And Heath Ledger is also quite good.
It's just, when you compare this to something like The Basketball Diaries or Requiem for a Dream... it tends to fall a little short as a cautionary tale.
Member Reviews
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Not so great - Belleville
In this movie the characters just appear with no real back story. There is little in developing what brought them to this point and it feels superficial overall. Geoffrey Rush's character feels like it was added to the mix for plot continuation and nothing ...Not a story about drugs - egyptnation
I have to disagree with some of the other reviews on this site that say this movie is not gritty enough for the drug subject matter. This isn't a movie about drugs, although they play an integral role. This is most of all a love story. Even the filmmakers ...Junkie Love - cathyottawa
I agree with Big J - this doesn't get nearly as gritty as it could have, which isn't necessarily wrong, but I think this wanted to make a real statement on the destruction drug addiction brings.
It does show how heroin addiction quickly escalates - ...