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Flicks with Hits |
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Movies about human addiction and destruction. |
| by Alex Mestas 3/27/2003 |
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I need a break from reviews. Here's my attempt at preaching. The following are the best movies about drugs and addiction. All are moving, innovative and must sees. I was inspired by the recent AMC special Hollywood High, which showcased various stars and filmmakers discussing the ins and outs of the Hollywood drug movie. So here in ascending order are the best drug movies you can go out, rent, and get depressed about this weekend. Honorable Mention
OK, so the films aren't exactly about drugs. But they are about addictions:
to love, to fame, to sex. Each film also has a character who is at first
destroyed by drugs, then overcomes them. They don't overcome in that triumphant,
I'm so special sort of way, but they do manage to come out alive and (barely)
breathing. These films rightly stand on their own merit, but for the film-nerdy
among us, they make fascinating studies in addiction. Honorable Mention #2
Sorry. One more drug movie that isn't about drugs. Two twin brothers
invent a sadistic gynecological device and unfortunately, use it. Despite
this description, it's an amazingly well written and slickly shot film.
As both brothers, Jeremy Irons gives probably the best performance of
his life. The twins begin to sink deeper and deeper into madness and addiction,
and the director catches it in all its cold hearted glory. Cronenberg
has always been a very niche filmmaker. Many, many people dislike his
films, but his they just do it for me. I love their inhumanity and coldness.
Steven Spielberg he ain't.
This is probably the most well known and celebrated drug movie of all time. In both written and visual style, the film tell three different tales of the ultimate failure of the drug war. There's the dusty yellow tale of a Mexican cop (Benicio Del Toro) trying to do good, two DEA cops trying to survive and the blue tinged tale of the US Drug Czar and his addicted daughter. All intersect and more importantly, all make a point: the "war on drugs" is a war that will never be won.
How much did I love Requiem for a Dream? It was showing in one small theater in Northern California. I drove there, by myself, at night, just so I could catch a glimpse. Two months later, it was showing for one night on our campus. I saw it again. Not only is it well acted, but there's not a more visually rich and stunning movie that I can think of. Based on the book by Hubert Selby, it's unhappy story of four lives that are cut down by drugs. Not all drug movies should be cautionary ones - Requiem manages to avoid this label because it demonstrates human addiction, not always of the drug variety.
Jesus' Son is probably the least seen on this list. Why do I list
it as the best drug movie? The film has an aura and innocence that blooms
on the screen. Billy Crudup (Almost Famous) plays Fuckhead, a drug
addicted wanderer trying to find his place in the world. The film neither
glorifies or vilifies drug use, treating it instead as simply one element
of these characters lives. It's hard to say that's it's a heartwarming
film (especially a heartwarming film where the main character's name is
Fuckhead), but it is. I never thought that a movie about a drug addicted,
unintelligent loser could make me cry, but this one did the trick. Jack
Black's cameo is great and Billy Crudup still isn't completely recognized
for his work in this role. The book by Denis Johnson is a must read: only
100 pages of small stories, so go ahead you illiterate. Jesus' Son
serves as one of the more faithful book to screen adaptations that I can
remember seeing, with the flick segmented like the book into short, powerful
vignettes. Seek out this film and watch it as soon as you can. Copyright 2003 Lights Out Films© |
