Candy (2006)

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.

Director:

Neil Armfield

Writers:

Luke Davies (novel), Neil Armfield (screenplay)

Stars:

Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish, Geoffrey Rush

6 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Abbie Cornish	...	Candy
Heath Ledger	...	Dan
Geoffrey Rush	...	Casper
Tom Budge	...	Schumann
Roberto Meza Mont	...	Jorge
Tony Martin	...	Mr. Wyatt
Noni Hazlehurst	...	Mrs. 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

Storyline

This story is a narration from an Australian man who falls in love with two kinds of Candy: a woman of the same name and heroin. The narrator changes from a smart-aleck to someone trying to find a vein to inject, while Candy changes from an actress, call girl, streetwalker, and then a madwoman. Starting in Sydney, the two eventually end up in Melbourne to go clean, but they fail. This leads them to turn to finding money and heroin, while other posessions and attachments become unimportant.

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Plot Keywords:

sex in a bathroom | prostitute | miniskirt | sex in a car | sex in the backseat of a car | 

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Taglines:

Candy Is Dandy But Sex Won't Rot Your Teeth.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 May 2006 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Candy - Reise der Engel

Filming Locations:

Hillsdale, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$202,744 (Australia), 26 May 2006, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,646, 19 November 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$44,720, 4 February 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Finance, Paradigm Hyde Films, Renaissance Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min (uncut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In an interview, Heath Ledger discussed using his own cigarette addiction as a means to understand heroin addiction for this film.

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Goofs

The trailer for "Candy" has the following caption: "When love breaks all boundries." This is a misspelling of "boundaries."

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Quotes

Candy: Do you know what I do here, Dan? I have sex with men that I hate.

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Connections

References The 400 Blows (1959)

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Soundtracks

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Barbie Dolls
Performed by Pizzicato Five
Courtesy of Columbia Music Entertainment, Inc

User Reviews

Accurate, intimate and very watchable

You could write this off as another story about addiction and the destruction resulting from it, but there's more here. The love story between Ledger and Cornish is a constant throughout, with a great line on how their addiction affects not only their own relationship, but their relationships with others: parents, friends, acquaintances.

Abby Cornish is especially good as the art girl turned junkie prostitute; her fall into addiction and the changes it makes in her life are much more effective than Ledger's portrayal of a junkie in love.

The parents in the movie are excellent, from subtle facial expressions to drag-out fights with their dope fiend daughter. They act much as you would expect parents to act, or at least hope they would act.

The ending dropped the ball a little, but maybe they ran out of budget. In any case, I would watch it again. It's realistic, gritty, romantic and a good case study of how drugs can ruin the most intense love.