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28.7.13

Film Picks: Drug Movies

Hello ALL!
I get asked sometimes for movie recommendations. This prospect makes me incredibly excited yet also horribly flustered. There are so many great films out there - trying to narrow down a couple is almost impossible. So I'm picking themes now. 

Film Picks: Drug Movies
Drugs. For something so destructive I can't help but be attracted to the idea of them (don't do drugs, kids).  As modernized human beings we sometimes forget to be introspective - at least, more introspective than we have to be to get by. That's why I have a nice collection of drug films, because they let the viewer dig into the human psyche without having to experience it themselves. Highs/lows, uppers/downers, withdrawals- it's nuts. So without further ado, here are my top drug movies at the moment. 

Christiane F. (1981)
This German film is a true story about a young Berlin girl who frequents the '70s disco club scene. She meets a boy, Detlev, who she tries to get closer to by getting deeper into the drug culture. This film is graphic - a nice mix of heroin, barf, and prostitution. That and David Bowie pretty much did the whole soundtrack AND guest starred in the movie. It'll make you sober. 
(P.S. Here is a Crystal Castles album on Youtube with footage from the film, amazing.)

Enter the Void (2009)
This  film is literally a trip. If you have Epilepsy you best steer clear of this one. The movie tells the story from a first person POV of a drug dealer who gets shot during a bust. During the rest of the movie we see his perspective of limbo - or the void. The camera hovers over the city, seeing all of the chain reactions of his death. Paz de la Huerta plays his sister (AMAZING) and Olly Alexander (from my Skins post)  plays one of his best friends. This movie is super graphic as well, but worth it. Harmony Korine raves about Gaspar Noé (the director), so if you're looking for some new inspiration, check out his other stuff too.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Darren Aronofsky's best work in my opinion. The story shows the intertwined lives of 3 people and how they fell deeper in the drug world. A old granny thinks she is fat and buys diet pills from a sketchy doctor* which gets her addicted to uppers and essentially turns her crazy. Her story made my view the world differently. It's disturbing. My So Called Life fans see Jared Leto play a weed smoking drug dealer who shoots up heroin into a black and blue infected arm, too. Beautiful movie, awesome soundtrack, definitely worth a watch.

Trainspotting (1996)
One of those classic cult movies. Stars Ewan McGregor (young and cute) as well as Johnny Lee Miller. This movie, although it has it's gritty parts, is definitely more of a black comedy than anything. It's sort of a good time until it isn't. It will make you laugh and then cry. My favorite scene is when Ewan literally falls into the carpet after shooting up heroin (nice FX work!).

Across the Universe (2007)
One of my favorite movies of all time. It's a musical romantic drama set in the late '60s. I don't even like musicals and this movie MOVED ME. Julie Taymor (director) got the rights to a boatload of Beatles music and beautifully told a coherent story through each song. A young African American boy sings Let it Be during the 1967 Detroit Riots while later a reluctant Vietnam soldier sings I Want You (She's So Heavy) while carrying Lady Liberty through a Vietnam swamp/jungle. Fuck, BONO IS IN THIS MOVIE. There's some pot smokin, LSD drinking (don't drink the punch), and possibly some shroom action taking place in this movie, but I included it mostly because of the pure creativity of Taymor. You see scenes of proper '60s school dances transition to bonked out collage style circus acts. You have to check it out. 

Go (1999)
I've done a Film Muse on Go before, so I'll leave that post HERE. This movie is sort of like Run Lola Run where it loops over multiple times and shows different perspectives. It's a story about a drug deal for a rave gone bad. This movie stars our very own Katie Holmes as well. Cool soundtrack, cool people, cool cinematography, and definitely underrated. 

Prozac Nation (2001)
I admit, I get sort of territorial over this film. It's a rare gem, truly. It isn't a trip like Enter the Void, in fact, I think the only street drugs used in this film are ecstasy and weed, but this film is more about the pharmaceuticals: Prozac. It's a trigger movie, so watch out. It's true story of a young Harvard bound college journalism student (Christina Ricci) with a history of mental illness. She drives herself to become manic, pushing away everyone she loves (mother- Jessica Lange, friend - Michelle Williams). Prozac is seen as a method of breathing space in the end of film (not a substitute), and I wanted to include that because I don't think we have enough films about that type of situation. I cry every time I see this movie. Jessica and Christina's acting is heart wrenching.

If you have some drug movie recommendations for me, let me know in the comments! Hopefully I can take this series onto Youtube. I'm thinking about doing a post on '90s cult movies next. 

Keep it cool, 
Lauren Rose
Curbside Fashion 




27 comments:

  1. Hi Lauren!

    I've read the book written by Christiane F. and let me tell you: is way more powerfull than the movie. It really makes you think twice when someone "offers" you something to try.
    Great picks. All of this movies are very emotional and amazing at the same time.

    Have a nice day! Love you!
    Patrícia Salomé

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    1. Thank you Patrícia! I haven't read it! I heard that the book was even really popular with the youth of Berlin of the time. I'll give it a read soon.
      -Lauren

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  2. wait didn't the granny in requiem for a dream get told about the diet pills through her elderly neighbours who had also referred her to the doctor that had been prescribing them whom she later goes to, to be prescribed the same medication. ??

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    1. Yes! You're right. I just keep on hearing "Feed Me Sarah" bit in my brain! Editing*
      -Lauren Rose

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  3. Cool post! I actually own Across The Universe but I'm not into musicals either so I've never watched it.. -.- but I'll definitely have to check it out!! The only drug related movie that I can think of is one that I watched recently which is The Basketball Diaries.

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    1. I haven't seen that! Young Leo, right?
      -Lauren Rose

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  4. Lol I've always had a slight infatuation with drug movies, but I'm actually quite picky about them. I've only seen a few of the ones on this list. I couldn't get through Trainspotting, it was just too ridiculous :D. My favorite is Christiane F. I'd say for recommendations: Candy // it's got Heath Ledger and some blonde girl. It's not that great, but worth watching if you're into the ever so classic tale of romance ruined by heroin. Have you seen Blow with Johnny Depp? I'd say that's just kind of a classic. Let's see...Party Monster is basically about drugs & 90s club culture. Plus, it's based on a really interesting true story. I can't think of any others I've seen right now, but I'm interested in watching that one you've mentioned with Christina Ricci --it seems interesting.

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    1. Thank you for your recommendations! I haven't seen Blow either. I just watched Party Monster recently - it was so low budget that I loved it. And yes! Check out Prozac Nation. You won't regret it.
      -Lauren Rose

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  5. i love how your blog has become my movie and fashion inspiration lately. its like when i wanna watch a movie, curbside fashion it is.. haha keep up the good work <3

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  6. amazing choices! you should totally watch spun. That movie is a trip but completely beautiful at the same time.

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  7. Lauren, have you seen Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas? Judging by the list above, I would think you would have at least heard about it, but it's an insane, drug-filled roller coaster of a movie that I just adore. I also love the movie Blow (haha, both feature Johnny Depp), it's well-made in my opinion and also heart-wrenching.

    And, dare I say, the classic '50s Disney animation of Alice in Wonderland? It's my favorite "innocent" psychedelic movie. Totally takes me on a trip every time I watch it. Anyways, thanks for this post :)

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    1. Yes! Such a good movie. But I haven't seen Blow surprisingly!

      Alice in Wonderland used to make me super depressed as a child for some reason - the part when she is in the woods and is all alone omg. That movie is DARK! Sick though, truly.
      -Lauren Rose

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  8. Ah, i was gonna recommend spun but i see someone beat me to it:p debbie harry and billy corgan make appearances, though. it's a pretty good time in my opinion.

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  9. I think my favorite drug movie is The Basketball Diaries -- I see somebody already mentioned it here! Definitely go watch it, Leo's performance is heart-wrenching.

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  10. Hey Lauren! I love your list! I just wanted to briefly add Monkey Warfare, which mostly involves a pot dealer getting involved with a young radical, it's also a Canadian film! I saw it when I was really young and loved the bike scene with the Weird War song but I watched it later and the whole film I thought was great. It's challenging to find though. Here is a link to the bike scene, I feel the trailer gives too much away! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTwAMVmosXE

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  11. hey, have you ever seen the panic in needle park? 1971, al pacino... i think you'd like it, and it's totally on netflix.

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  12. Party Monster --such a fucking weird/amazing film

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  13. Party Monster --such a fucking weird/amazing film

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  14. This is not a drug movie, just a movie recommendation in general. I think you would like the film "Beginners". If you haven't watched it yet, you should. x

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  15. Hey lauren,
    I really think you should check out the movie SLC Punk. I think you will fall in love with it, it is one my favorite films and in my eyes brilliant. Tell me what you think:) PS: love when you do film muses and videos about your favorite films etc. -sonia

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  16. also SLC punk falls under the category of a drug movie.. and amazing movie

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  17. Aloha lauren, HUMAN TRAFFIC. worth a watch, its a classic movie with funny scenes that would happen in any session like weed politics, who are they going to pass the joint to next? and the best quote from any movie "the milky bars are on me" it makes you want to take drugs and rave your ass off.

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  18. loved this post, i will obviously watch every single film.

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  19. If you havn't seen Candy with Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish you definately should. I think it's technically a love story but its a total gem. One of my favorite movies of all time.

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  20. I used to have a drug problem... but now I got a steady connect.

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