Candy
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Movie Reviews of Candy
Movie Review: A Terrifying Ode to Addictive Passions of Human Need
Summary: 5 Stars
I watched the movie "Candy" because the description on back of the DVD made me think it might have something significant to say about how poets manage to cultivate their creative gifts in the face of the world's harsh and often unforgiving realities. It was actually more about fueling delusions of escape from those realities through drug addiction and placing more burdens on love than it can sometimes bear.
At the center of this brilliantly artful and emotionally powerful drama are the young hopeful artist named Candy and the would-be poet Dan. Both are emotionally damaged individuals who lead each other through a nightmare maze of drug addiction into a junkie's hell of destitution, prostitution, theft, and death.
The film, based on Luke Davies' novel, does raise some important questions about how much we can or should expect out of an individual's capactity for love. The subject more and more artists seem to be examining these days. Creative acts of poetry--such as actually writing, performing spoken word, being inspired, etc.--do not make up the core of this extraordinary film. BUT: the soul-numbing angst suffered by the principle characters does build to one dynamic slam of a poem that makes real artistic and spiritual sense out of Candy's and Dan's horrible personal ordeal.
Actress Abbie Cornish absolutely astounds in her portrayal of the title character. The exceptionally gifted Heath Ledger provides yet another off-the-chain performance that demonstrates why he's destined to eventually win the Academy Award that eluded him for "Brokeback Mountain." Other ensemble members, including the phenomenal Oscar-winning Geoffrey Rush, Noni Hazlehurst, and Tony Martin, are never anything less than perfect in their supporting roles.
by Aberjhani
author of I Made My Boy Out of Poetry
and The Harlem Renaissance Way Down South
Movie Review: A Poignant Little Drug Drama
Summary: 5 Stars
"Candy" is a poignant little drama dealing with both drugs and a relationship, and more specifically the drugs that affect that relationship.
Heath Ledger gives one of his best performances as Dan, a heroin addict who meets Candy (Abbie Cornish), at first a young innocent girl. Immediately, Dan and Candy become inseparable wanting to do everything together. Pretty soon, Candy is also a heroin addict and the couple are scrambling to get money to feed their habit...Meanwhile, there is their friend Casper (Geoffrey Rush, who gives Oscar-worthy supporting work) who both encourages them to quit, but supplies them when they need any.
Now, I've seen a lot of drug movies, great ones (Requiem for a Dream, Spun, A Scanner Darkly, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Jesus' Son, etc.); But never until this one have I seen a drug movie that could actually convince people to stop doing drugs or to never do them at all. The filmmakers went incredibly realistic for their portrayal of drug use and how it affects people and many of the scenes were painful to watch. The withdrawal scene in particular is agonizing, as is the following "labor" scene...All the performances in this film are incredible; Especially Ledger, Rush, and Cornish. The script, based on a novel by Luke Davies, doesn't go for all the cliches that have made up many other movies before it. "Candy" is a movie that had it not been such a small production, it could've scored some Oscar nominations...This is a great little film and I highly recommend that if you're reading this you see it.
GRADE: A
Movie Review: Prophetic, Beautiful, Honest, & Heartbreaking
Summary: 5 Stars
Reminiscent of Aleister Crowley's novel Diary of a Drug Fiend, Candy is a work of art. Those who have actually felt the gnawing desperation along with the highs of love and drug addiction will appreciate this film for it's authenticity and vulnerability. When one is addicted to anyone or anything nothing else matters, literally. Reviewers using the word cliche feel pretty clever I imagine. However there are no cliches in this movie for this is exactly how it is. The physical and emotional torture these two young actors endured to make this movie should emphasize how important they felt this project was. There are scenes that make you sit up in panic a moment after Candy asks to "try it your way", lean back in a daze trying to keep it from turning into dizziness as they circle each other in a blur, laugh at the pathetic hilarity as they load a washer into the trunk of their car and head to the pawn shop, feel the rush when they kiss as if they haven't seen each other in years or when the hit hits the bloodstream, the fist clenching grief of parents struggling to keep their composure as their baby girl lies to their face, and finally the deep sigh as the credits appear knowing that this is how it must end whether we want it to or not. If you are interested now please watch it. If you understand what I've been saying you really should own this film.Movie Review: Ledger and Cornish Give an Oscar Worthy Performance
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know about you, but Candy chilled me. From beginning to end, I wanted nothing more then for the two characters to continue their mad, intense, romeo & juliet style love. I will not give the story away, but you'll cry, you'll cry and long for the kind of love seen on the screen. Ledger, who hypnotized audiences with his recent Oscar winning performance as the Joker in the latest Batman movie, broke my heart as the passive Dan. And Cornish won it as sweet, self destructive Candy. I will say, that no story of love and drug addiction has ever been more engaging. The chemistry between the two is riveting and doesn't feel forced. The story line, while intense, never becomes unrealistic. You don't get that over the top, "we gotta make you cry" feel while watching it. But you will cry, and you will feel. And at the end of the movie, you don't feel manipulated. 5 stars. Wonderful film.Movie Review: One Powerful Film --- Highly Recommended
Summary: 5 Stars
From the very opening credits all the way to the final, oh so touching scene, this film had me mesmerized throughout. The story...the acting...the direction...the production values...all are extremely well done. This film is based on the book Candy, which I understand is largely autobiographical (and watching the film, one has this impression). I'd seen Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain (another devastating movie), and I must say that his performance here is every bit as accomplished; Abbie Cornish is also excellent. The fact that this film deals so openly, so honestly with addiction to hard drugs, I can only imagine, is the sole reason why it's never gained such wide appeal here in the US. This is a shame since Candy is not merely a 'drug film,' it's incredibly, wildly romantic, for instance. At least the Australians got it as it won all the big awards down under- as it well deserved.