Disappointing for a Heath Ledger movie
Added 11/2/2009
Ok, I've always been a huge fan of Heath Ledger. I didn't like this movie. Too much drugs for me.
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Favorite movie ever
Added 9/20/2009
This movie is what made me fall in love with Heath. The entire cast is brilliant. Breaks my heart every time I see it, especially the ending. Beautifully written, Luke Davies is a phenomenal poet/author. I can't get this movie out of my head, it's so haunting. Candy's mother (Noni Hazlehurst) is so perfect for her role, and Tony Martin, Candy's father, made me cry. I don't understand why this movie isn't more popular
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creative yet honest, emotional and even unforgettable
Added 9/3/2009
Candy is easily one of the best films about people addicted to heroin (or even drugs in general) that I've seen in quite some while. Although the two young lovers in this story are hooked on heroin, they are also hooked on each other and it is through their relationship that we get a very special focus on them as human beings with value and worth and not just two junkies who are difficult to like or possibly even identify with. Extra points get thrown in for outstanding performances by every actor in this movie, Heath Ledger as Dan and Abbie Cornish as Candy are completely convincing as are Geoffrey Rush as Casper, Tony Martin as Candy's father and Noni Hazlehurst as Candy's mother. The cinematography works wonders for this movie and the choreography reflects good judgment. The plot moves along at a good pace and I was never once bored. The script was well written and the musical score enhances the experience quite a bit.
When the action starts, we quickly meet bohemian poet and heroin addict Dan (Heath Ledger) who has a touching love affair with his girlfriend Candy (Abbie Cornish). They are both hooked on heroin when the picture starts but we get the distinct sense that there might be a real chance for Candy to kick the habit; Dan is already much too hooked to be able to quit without professional help. We see Dan and Candy love each other, fight with each other, drop into their friend Casper's (Geoffrey Rush) home for heroin or money to buy heroin, and we also see them alternately trying to avoid or tap Candy's parents for money. Candy's parents gradually begin to suspect Dan and Candy are using drugs when Dan has a trip and falls asleep on a coach as someone is speaking to him at their wedding reception although Candy is too far gone by that point to admit to her mother than she and Dan are junkies.
Unfortunately, the situation for Dan and Candy only gets worse; and this is a great reason why this film shows people why they would want to quit using heroin and drugs in general. Dan and Candy are so hard up for money to buy drugs that Candy turns to prostitution for money; and even though Dan doesn't like that he wants his heroin more than he wants Candy to be only with him.
Dan and Candy try to turn their lives around and quit when Candy discovers that she's pregnant--but will they be able to do it? They're quite hooked and not in any drug treatment program; but wow, how they try hard. Candy's parents continue to be kept in the dark; and Dan has no relationship at all with his parents so they practically don't even know he's alive much less using drugs or about to be a father. There's another question, too--what role will Casper play in their efforts to kick heroin? Will Casper do the right thing and withhold the drug from them or will he cave in himself? After all, Casper himself uses the drug even as he is given a great job teaching at a local university. No spoilers here--watch and find out!
The DVD comes with a few extras; two good ones are a short featurette about "Candy's poem" and the brief but very enjoyable "making of" featurette.
Overall, Candy is one outstanding movie that ranks very high in my book. I highly recommend this for fans of the actors in this movie; and people interested in the themes of drug addiction, love and the good and the bad that can come with love will enjoy this film as well.
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Half an interesting Movie
Added 5/16/2009
For this viewer, the film starts to gain momentum when Ledger tries to fake his identity on the phone and cash in on someone else's credit cards. Then, the miscarriage scene gives some force. But there is way too much predictability in the script, and fairly two-dimensional acting from the two leads. Given the girl's interest in painting and drawing, it seemed a bit inconsistent, at the scene of her breakdown, that she chose to scrawl volumes of highly charged prose poetry(far superior to her doodlings and indebted to the C19th French Symbolists) on the house walls. Her acting in these moments of heightened intensity just don't convince.I've now seen Cornish in three recent films where she plays very similar loser/confused adolescent types. Hopefully more directorial skill will lift her stakes. I've never been a Ledger enthusiast, apart from Brokeback Mountain(and not having seen his post-humously awarded role), where his inarticulateness, and internalised dilemnas were perfectly married to the intent of Ang Lee's film. That said,the parting of ways in he final cafe scene was poignantly satisfying
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beautiful depression
Added 4/21/2009
I bought this a while ago from blockbuster and finally watched it last night. I was brought to tears by just the opening scene on that carnival ride where the two play like kids madly in love with eachother. After that i was hooked. i think ledger's performance in this was better than in the dark knight. Abbie Cornish was outstanding. She had an everyday kind of beauty to her that made me attracted to her, but this naivety that repulsed me about her. Rush seemed to be in a comfortable role, but perfect and stylish. I felt the presentation was an honest one and sincere to the despairities.
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