Not all candy tastes sweet. (Candy (DVD))

Member Name: bamamo

Product:	Candy (DVD)
Date:	01/08/08 (54 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good acting, fairly gripping

Disadvantages: A bit depressing, some viewers may be offended/squeamish.

Candy was released in 2006 and tells the story of two young lovers, artist Candy and poet Dan, becoming more and more involved in drugs, in particular the use of heroin. Candy is played by Abbie Cornish (SOMERSAULT) and Dan by Heath Ledger (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, A KNIGHT'S TALE). Before watching this movie I had not seen any of Abbie's previous work, but was always impressed by Heath's acting, and after his sad death by accidental overdose in January decided to catch up on some of his work I hadn't yet seen.

The film is based on the novel Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction by Luke Davies, which can be found from £4.83 on Amazon Marketplace or in good bookshops. I have yet to read the book but after watching the film I would be interested to see how similar the two are, it comes with excellent reviews.

I cant comment on the appearance of the box as I watched a rental copy, but I looked up the cover on Amazon and it has a fairly sappy picture of the two intertwined and the title in a cheery green. Looking at the cover you could be forgiven for thinking it was a straightforward love story, but the film is entirely more gritty than that.

The movie starts with a dream-like sequence of the two spinning around on a ride while the titles roll and mellow music plays (Song To The Siren - Paula Arundell). Once the film itself starts, early on Candy decides she wants to begin shooting heroin rather than snorting it. Her friends try and dissuade her and urge her to stick with what she knows, but she insists and almost overdoses. When she comes round she says it was the best high she has ever had, and so the downward spiral begins....

Without giving too much of a spoiler, throughout the film things turn more and more for the worse, firstly with Dan and Candy struggling to fund their habit. It begins with seemingly small gestures such as pawning jewellery and goes right up to Candy selling her body. At several points throughout the film the characters seemingly wonder what their life has come to and touch upon stopping, but keep going. The two characters have inreasing troubles with each other also, from being deep in love to little squabbles to bigger, more frequent fights, to Candy not standing the sight of Dan, blaming him for getting her involved in something she, from a good family, wouldn't otherwise have got caught up in.

Overall I found the film entertaining, despite its grim nature, although at times disturbing as I for one feel a little uncomfortable watching footage of drug use, particularly involving needles (sometimes I couldn't look!). Not being a heroin addict myself, I can't comment on how realistic this all was. The storyline wasn't hugely complex, but it didn't really get boring because I felt I wanted to keep watching to see just how bad things got, and to what extent it continued.

The film is rated 15 which I feel was appropriate. Obviously the content of the film is largely based around intravenous drug use, there is also swearing throughout and some nudity, sex scenes and conversations of an adult nature. Some viewers may feel that the content warrants a higher 18 rating, but I feel that throughout the film there is a strong anti-drugs message and a shock element, therefore it could be wrong to stop slightly younger viewers from seeing it. While it does touch on how amazing Candy and Dan feel while they are on drugs, it doesn't really glamourise using heroin and focuses far more on the darker side - problems caused by and getting off the drug.

The acting throughout is in my opinion very good, seems a shame that the film didn't become well-known. when it was released here, no doubt overshadowed by Hollywood releases at the same time as Australian films often are, or Heath's great success in Brokeback Mountain the previous year.

Candy is currently priced at £6.97 on Amazon.co.uk, but can be found at most good DVD shops on or offline. It is also currently on Youtube in parts. I didn't check out any of the special features on the disc, but they are as follows:

Trailer
Scene selection
Cast and crew interviews
Behind the scenes footage

Summary: A good insight into the downward spiral drugs can start, whilst still being fairly entertaining.