"Candy"
Director Neil Armfield
ThinkFilm
The worst feature of addiction is that it can be to anything:
sex, drugs, rebellion. In his new film, Heath Ledger indulges in
all of them, but “Candy” turns out to be the most
lethal.
Starring Ledger and Australian newcomer Abbie Cornish as the
title character, “Candy” chronicles the demise of young
lovers lusting after the needle.
Candy is a sinfully gorgeous middle-class artist who
simultaneously falls for Dan (Ledger) and his harrowing heroin
habits.
In this love triangle of boy, girl and drug of choice, the bond
between Candy and Dan must overcome poison, poverty and
prostitution.
Though she’s yet another blond bombshell to be exported
from Australia ““ her hunky co-star opened the floodgates
““ Cornish makes a stunning American as the wild child. Though
her character’s self-centered choices inspire feelings of
contempt and disgust, Cornish brings to the role a forgiving sense
of charm.
Even the gratuitous breast-baring every twenty minutes redeems
itself through Cornish’s ability to turn the overt sexuality
into understated humor.
When the landlord comes to collect rent from the struggling
couple, Cornish, naked in bed with Dan, sits up nonchalantly,
negotiating a way to delay their payment.
Her flippant attitude becomes her appeal and her bare breasts
become an afterthought ““ for that scene, at least.
Ironically, it is when she is wearing clothes that she becomes a
distraction. Her wardrobe is a puzzle in logic; how can she afford
to look so chic when they can barely scrape together enough money
to eat and satisfy their heroin addictions?
Regardless, Ledger takes center stage by his expectedly riveting
performance.
As the lad who is just trying to keep his head above water, he
plays the part with a knowing sigh and a telling expression.
Each obstacle he comes across, whether it be in calming a
pregnant Candy suffering from heroin withdrawal or in robbing a man
for all he’s worth, Ledger never overdramatizes, never
understates. His fight to keep his marriage together is felt, not
seen.
The plot may not be original, but it is raw; the film presents
the gritty living quarters, the questionable sources of income and
instability of day-to-day living that result from an inescapable
drug habit. The film is an eye-opening look at the power of
addiction ““ to heroin, to people and to Candy.