← Back to Reviews
in
Candy
(directed by Neil Armfield, 2006)
Candy was a rare experience for me. I was very touched by this film and yet it didn't even really require me to stay focused on it. But you can easily pick up on its sincerity and deep, emotional honesty. This is a poetic movie that deals with a young couple in their 20's that are both ravaged by intense drives to self destruct. The villain in their lives is heroin while the dark forces behind their lives is madness and family dysfunction. Heath Ledger stars as Dan, the boyfriend to Candy, played by Abbie Cornish. This is their tragic tale.
The film is divided up in three parts: Heaven, Earth and Hell. Heaven sets up the story with Dan and Candy already together and already in ruins. She works as a prostitute, he doesn't work. They are highly addicted to heroin and Dan's father, Casper (Geoffrey Rush) is gay, lonely and also addicted. Candy has a more typical family, a mother and a father that love her dearly, but Candy's mother is a nightmare -- she picks on Candy about everything, she screams and rants and gives disgusted looks at Dan. Dan and Candy do a lot of stealing and they live in shabby dwellings. They might as well be homeless bums.
During Earth, the events of the movie get more intense and jaw dropping. There's a pregnancy and a depressing end to the pregnancy. Hell seemed like everything was about to pick up for once, but Hell wasn't supposed to be ironic, and we do see Hell.
If you're a person who hates the sight of needles going into arms, you might feel squeamish at times during this movie, as the only way to shoot up with heroin is with needles going into veins in the arms. If you're a person that likes naked flesh, Heath Ledger shows his ass crack a lot (and full ass at one point) and Abbie Cornish shows her breasts a few times.
It's terrible knowing that Heath Ledger is no longer with us. There were moments in Candy where I couldn't help but think about the way Heath died. He was a gorgeous creature and a gifted performer. This could have been a very bland movie, but Heath gave it so much life. As for Abbie Cornish, I didn't think she made the movie and frankly, I hated her character, but there was definitely very good chemistry between her and Heath. Their sad, depressing, tepid romance kept me glued to my seat until the end credits.
Nebbit, I think you would probably like this movie as it's an Australian movie and it also deals with mental health issues, but I also recommend this movie to everybody. It's sublime.
(directed by Neil Armfield, 2006)
Candy was a rare experience for me. I was very touched by this film and yet it didn't even really require me to stay focused on it. But you can easily pick up on its sincerity and deep, emotional honesty. This is a poetic movie that deals with a young couple in their 20's that are both ravaged by intense drives to self destruct. The villain in their lives is heroin while the dark forces behind their lives is madness and family dysfunction. Heath Ledger stars as Dan, the boyfriend to Candy, played by Abbie Cornish. This is their tragic tale.
The film is divided up in three parts: Heaven, Earth and Hell. Heaven sets up the story with Dan and Candy already together and already in ruins. She works as a prostitute, he doesn't work. They are highly addicted to heroin and Dan's father, Casper (Geoffrey Rush) is gay, lonely and also addicted. Candy has a more typical family, a mother and a father that love her dearly, but Candy's mother is a nightmare -- she picks on Candy about everything, she screams and rants and gives disgusted looks at Dan. Dan and Candy do a lot of stealing and they live in shabby dwellings. They might as well be homeless bums.
During Earth, the events of the movie get more intense and jaw dropping. There's a pregnancy and a depressing end to the pregnancy. Hell seemed like everything was about to pick up for once, but Hell wasn't supposed to be ironic, and we do see Hell.
If you're a person who hates the sight of needles going into arms, you might feel squeamish at times during this movie, as the only way to shoot up with heroin is with needles going into veins in the arms. If you're a person that likes naked flesh, Heath Ledger shows his ass crack a lot (and full ass at one point) and Abbie Cornish shows her breasts a few times.
It's terrible knowing that Heath Ledger is no longer with us. There were moments in Candy where I couldn't help but think about the way Heath died. He was a gorgeous creature and a gifted performer. This could have been a very bland movie, but Heath gave it so much life. As for Abbie Cornish, I didn't think she made the movie and frankly, I hated her character, but there was definitely very good chemistry between her and Heath. Their sad, depressing, tepid romance kept me glued to my seat until the end credits.
Nebbit, I think you would probably like this movie as it's an Australian movie and it also deals with mental health issues, but I also recommend this movie to everybody. It's sublime.