Candy (2006)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Neil Armfield

Writers:

Luke Davies (novel) and
Neil Armfield (writer)

Release Date:

25 May 2006 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

More is never enough.

Plot:

A poet falls in love with an art student who gravitates to his bohemian lifestyle -- and his love of heroin. Hooked as much on one another as they are on the drug, their relationship alternates between states of oblivion, self-destruction, and despair.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Heroin | Despair | Call Girl | Money

Awards:

4 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Abbie Cornish	...	Candy
Heath Ledger	...	Dan
Geoffrey Rush	...	Casper
Tom Budge	...	Schumann
Roberto Meza-Mont	...	Jorge (as Roberto Meza Mont)
Tony Martin	...	Jim Wyatt
Noni Hazlehurst	...	Elaine Wyatt
Holly Austin	...	Sunglasses Shop Assistant
Craig Moraghan	...	Washing Machine Dealer
John Lee	...	Hock Shop Man
Noel Herriman	...	Celebrant
Tim McKenzie	...	Uncle Rod
Tara Morice	...	Aunt Katherine
Maddi Newling	...	Janey
Patricia Lemon	...	Wedding Guest

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive depiction of drug addiction, disturbing images, language, sexual content and nudity.

Runtime:

Australia:116 min | UK:108 min | USA:108 min | Hong Kong:108 min | UK:108 min (uncut)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA (re-rating) | New Zealand:R18 | USA:R | Hong Kong:IIB | UK:15 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Japan:R-15 | South Korea:18 | Ireland:18 | Norway:15 (TV rating) | Australia:R

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

Film Finance

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When the bank teller is counting out the money, the notes aren't in any kind of order. In reality notes would be counted from the highest note down to the lowest.

Quotes:

Candy: I wanna try it your way this time.

Movie Connections:

References Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Soundtrack:

Song to the Siren

Gritty life drama of love and drugs.

"Candy" is one of those films where you walk away feeling a little bit stunned by the awful reality it exposes. It is not a pretty film nor a pretty subject, but as another "drug" film, at least we can feel an empathy for the main characters,whilst the horror of heroin addiction is still depicted.

It is this balance that sets "Candy" apart from many other druggie pics.The love between Candy and Dan is very real. Affectionate, painful,hopeful and hopeless, it transcends the heroin story to the extent where we really hope everything will work out for them; though we're taken on the ride of rapid decline so familiar with this drug.

Much credit for this balance lies with an excellent story and direction from Neil Armfeld (more familiar with theatre in Australia), and some superb acting from Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish in the leads.Geoffrey Rush has a delicious support role as Dan's friend Casper,a "mentor" whom we suspect is a little tormented by his own influences.Tony Martin and Noni Hazelhurst round out the main supports as Candy's suffering parents,loving but helpless as they observe their daughter's descent into a world they never knew.

Like drug problems in real life, all the characters enmeshed in the mess are frail, vulnerable,emotional and ill. They are good and bad.They blame each other and themselves. They look everywhere for solutions that might work,yet we suspect the ultimate solution is too difficult.

I suspect that in years to come,this will become one of the ultimate drug pics to show to teenagers. Not hopeless like Trainspotting,nor in anyway melodramatic like so many others(Clean and sober,28 days etc..), it shows the horrors of drug addiction whilst maintaining its humanity.The ending may be disappointing for some, but it remains true to the love, hope and uncertainty central to this film and to anyone who lives with recovery.