Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2008-03-03
I loved this film - it was well written and very well shot considering the budget and time frame.
The plot twists keep the audience guessing throughout and the intensity of the acting is enough to give anyone a headache - the dynamic between Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page is phenomenal!
A fantastic film.
strange.......2008-03-03
well i saw the adverts for this and me and my partner thought lets go see it so we did and it was NOTHING to what i thought it was, very wierd film and made some of my parts go funny (you know what i mean if your male and seen this film lol) wasnt a great film in my opinion, good acting thats why i given it 3 stars but i can think of a lot more things i can do in a couple of hours than sit and watch this again
Very good film.......2008-02-14
The way this was done with so few people was amazing. For me forget the ice why make it easier for him.
A great twist on a very nasty part of our world.
Great Film.......2008-02-10
My wife is easily bored by DVDs and will often turn them off after 10 minutes if the film does not interest her. This film kept her attention to the end.
Recommended
Seems like one of those love-or-hate films. I hated it........2007-12-01
One of my favourite (recent) films is 'V for Vendetta' which is about a terrorist murderer with whom the audience are invited to empathise and sympathise. This is one of the few aspects of that film which I dislike; it's too obvious.
Unless I missed something, this film attempts to invoke the same emotions.
But rather than terrorism being the taboo subject, it's paedophilia.
For me, just like incest, I find it relatively boring(!)
This could have made an interesting short story in one of those films made-up of several separate tales, but as a feature-length job I found it a tad uninteresting. Having clocked the plot, I couldn't really even find anything interesting to LOOK at.
Dull, boring.
Customer Reviews:
Exquisite.......2008-02-16
This is a film that will stay in my mind for a long while. Several times throughout watching it, it suddenly re-hit me that Ledger is no longer with us and it made me ache in a way I hadn't when I first heard he'd died. There's so much to talk about with Candy, but the over-riding aspect of it is the direction.
Some scenes focus on Dan and Candy (Ledger and Abbie Cornish) living in bedsit squalor, strung out, bleak and dark. But other scenes glow with Summer sun-light. From sweeping slow-motion shots of golden corn swaying in the breeze, to the two lovers kissing while the sunlight tickles their faces... it's beautifully languid; it's gorgeous. And all the more bleak for it.
Candy is broken up into 3 parts: Heaven, Earth and Hell. Heaven chronicles their relationship in the beginning, when heroin was a hobby, and when the bulk of their sustenance was sunshine and each other. In any other film, these 2 actors could play the jock and cheer-leader of the high-school so beautiful are they, which makes their inexorable slide into addiction all the more shocking. Earth is where they are bouncing from hit to hit, suffering and in pain, but still able to find themselves again if they tried to look.
When Candy becomes pregnant, they try to go cold turkey, and they are on the very brink of coming out the other side, when she loses the baby. We are shown the still-birth baby when his dad asks to hold him, and the reactions of both Ledger and Cornish will make you curl in on yourself. Tragedy shadows them both from the opening scene, but this event is what makes them really hit rock bottom, at which point we enter the segment entitled Hell. 2 minutes into Hell, I got in my car and went for a drive. I needed to be reminded that the world is beautiful, and that I wasn't alone. Such is this movie's ability to draw you in to the isolated, tiny world of the two protaganists.
Adding to the atmosphere, both beautiful and bleak, is the extraordinary score. With choral music, piano and violin concertos, all of it gentle and moving, Debussy might have scored this film were he still alive. The most poignant violin piece is slightly reminiscent of Adagio for Strings, in some ways. Different melody entirely, but with the same soaring strings that seem to sting your eyes til they inadvertently weep of their own volition.
There are no twists, no turns. No jump out of your skin moments. We are carried along relatively slowly and our intelligence isn't insulted. Candy depicts the cruelties of drug addiction, and it does so exquisitely.
Mediocre.......2008-02-07
This film is very unusual! It jumps around a lot, and is hard to follow if you are not paying complete attention! Other than that, it's a bit of a bittersweet storyline since the main character actually died in real life from drug abuse I believe!! I would say that the book is far better, the film adaption tries too hard...
Excellent acting raises this above the average drug addiction tale........2008-01-10
Abbie Cornish once again proves that she is an incredibly talented young actor, and Heath Ledger is excellent too.
It's a story that's been told many times before, but their portrayal of a young couple in love spiralling deeper and deeper into drug addiction is exemplary. This is a gruelling film that spares us none of the details of the humiliation and indignities addicts will put themselves through to feed their habit, yet it's told with such compassion and complete lack of judgement, that you desperately want these two young people to pull through and live 'happy ever ever'.
Add to this great direction, clever camera work and a moving supporting performance from Geoffrey rush and you've got a film that's well worth watching.
Good but nowhere near the book of the same name.......2007-06-26
Despite the involvement of its author, Luke Davies, Candy is a film which doesn't really do justice to its source. It isn't a bad film in its own right (in fact it is good, if you like films about junkies), but it's not one that I would have chosen to watch if I wasn't such a big fan of the original book (I've read it a lot of times, and it's fresh every time).
So, what makes the book so much better? For starters, the book's protangonist is the narrator throughout the novel, and Davies' beautiful prose encourages us to identify with him. In the film, there is hardly any narration, so we see Dan primarily from the outside, where he cuts a much less attractive character. In Davies' novel, we see Dan as he sees himself, as a poet, an adventurer, enlightened and free from societal constraints (though obviously shackled to his habit, a doomed and tragic Romantic anti-hero). In the film we see him just as the world sees him: a sweaty, scruffy, self-deluded junky. Thus the novel brings us much closer to the protagonist, and as a result, the film is far less involving than the novel. Another side effect is that much of the book's pathos and (especially) humour, is totally lost.
Secondly, the book is written as a series of disconnected vignettes, each of which could stand as a piece of short fiction in its own right, whereas the film discards many of these and contracts others into a much more linear narrative. The book's characters are similarly removed, collapsed or changed, for reasons of economy. For instance, Dan's brother is collapsed into Schumann, and Casper makes an early appearance as an older homosexual addict, then continuing to act as a 'port in a storm' throughout the rest of the film. In the book, Casper (a younger man and not portrayed as gay) appears near the end to show Dan how to make heroin, and there is no mainstay character representing any kind of stability or older rolemodel. Since 'Candy' is an adaptation, these changes are forgiveable, and probably necessary. Maybe it's even admirable that so much could be squeezed into a standard-length film, while still maintaining the suitably meandering pace, but so much good stuff is missing its not suprising the film is not such a treasure-trove of memorable scenes as the novel. Examples: Crop Failure, Crabs, Problems with Detatchable Heads, Drought, and the bit where Candy and Dan have four way sex with Kojak and Lucy... ok you got me, I just wanted to see that bit! These are all parts of the novel that are missing from the film.
Overall the film has a relatively constant, sombre, downbeat, doped-up mood, which is absolutely fine, as far as it goes. The novel, in its own words, is a 'profusion of colours', frequently lurching from funny to grim, wonderous to sad, within the space of few pages.
I did not dislike this film. It was faithful to the book in its own way, and was well-made and artful. I just wish it was possible to make films the way books appear in my mind! Verdict: rent the film, then buy the book!
superbly acted by ledger and cornish - conveying so much emotion without words.......2007-02-02
This is a great film exploring the power of addiction, in drugs, in love, this film explores similar material to Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, but without the use of the visual tricks. which makes them both worth a watch as this film uses a more poignant story-telling style than RfaD's aggressive clips. Obviously the nature of the material (heroin addiction) means that its not going to be the type of film where you leave the cinema beaming from ear to ear or crying with laughter, but equally the message isn't as dark as it could have been (or indeed as it was in RfaD). The score is good, the acting solid for all the major parts and despite the simple story, it keeps you interested throughout - its well paced to allow for good character development whilst still giving you the impression that you're going somewhere with it. The end is extremely poignant and believable, definitely one of the best films I saw in 2006, along with Volver and Little Miss Sunshine.
Customer Reviews:
Funniest movie I've seen in years!.......2008-03-09
Though perhaps not to everyones taste, Strangers With Candy will appeal deeply to John Waters fans and general trash addicts. I thought it was one of the funniest things I'd seen in years, and laughed from the first frame to the last. The wife thought it was tasteless, offensive, tacky drivel. Which to me was kind of the point.. definitely a cult film in waiting.
Not as bad as other imply.......2008-02-25
While this movie isnt exactly deep and moving, its an easy going and light hearted movie that is really pretty funny at some moments.
It might never win any awards but it will definitely raise a few laughs, if like me, you have the sense of humour that allows you to find humour in most things.
I watched this film purely because Im a fan of Alexis Dziena (she plays a tiny part in this film) and Im glad I watched it, it was a good laugh.
BBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!.......2008-02-23
most rubish film in the entire world it was rubbish if you dont beleve rent it out like us you will fall asleep in the first minuet worst film in the world of films
UK DVD:
- Hearts And Bones - The Complete Series 1-2
- Hotel Rwanda
- Housewife 49 [2006]
- Howards' Way - Series 1 [1985]
- I Am Sam [2002]
- I Claudius - Complete BBC Series (5 Disc Box Set) [1976]
- Kidulthood Special Edition
- Lady Chatterley (2 Disc Collector's Edition) [2007]
- Lorna Doone
- Lynda La Plante - Trial And Retribution [1997]
UK DVD List
UK DVD
![Hard Candy [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21CNtgvDKvL.jpg)
All World Cinema
|
World Cinema
|
Categories
|
DVD
|
Video
![Isolation [2005]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000KLR3CM.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Isolation [2005]
![Pretty Persuasion [2005]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000HCO5A2.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Pretty Persuasion [2005]
Blood Trails (2006)
![Snuff Movie [2005]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000MCH79I.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Snuff Movie [2005]
![Mouth to Mouth [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000UCD4L0.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Mouth to Mouth [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
![Hard Candy [2006]](http://www.bill88.com/buy.gif)
![Candy [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21zLyv5gtVL.jpg)
![The Sin Eater [2003]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00013YQCO.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Four Feathers [2003]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00006LA7J.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Ned Kelly [2003]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00014WAE4.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Two Hands [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000QUEKAK.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Casanova [2005]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000F8ZLDS.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Andy Warhol - A Documentary Film [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21HQHVTBTYL.jpg)
![Andy Warhol: The Complete Picture [2002] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000087EY4.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Superstar - The Life And Times Of Andy Warhol [1990]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00008DI4R.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Strangers With Candy [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/310Xt3gnosL.jpg)
![Strangers With Candy: The Complete Series [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000EWBNM8.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![The Breed [2006]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000S6UZEW.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Cocktail [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/314E05QR97L.jpg)
![Candy Stripers [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31DA7TQPNZL.jpg)
![Vicious Vixens [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000LXH0D6.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Chainsaw Sally [2004]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000KB48DO.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Strangers With Candy: The Complete Series [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31K1EFAAQZL.jpg)
![Strangers with Candy [2005] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000HC2OBO.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Strangers With Candy [2006]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000TR6BA2.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Hard Candy [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21ZFJZ690EL.jpg)
![Skeeter [1994] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000H5U6N4.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![The Woods [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000H5TH0W.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Bug [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000T5O48K.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![The Texas Chainsaw Massacre [1999]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00004T0ZY.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Stardust [2007] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000WZAE1I.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Candy [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31BEDEEEZML.jpg)
![The Shopaholics [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31YFHRK2C0L.jpg)