The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Australia seems to have plenty of money to invest in movies about drug addicted people. Over the years the FFC have poured huge funds into many (often overly artsy) drug-related projects and I would imagine the returns might be relatively small (if any). Candy is a mixed bag about Dan (Ledger) a poet (of what we never really find out) and Candy (Cornish) an art student who just about never seems to work or attend class. These two lovers are said to be deeply committed but their foul language towards each other leaves much to be desired. Character development is non-existent and it feels like the film might perhaps have been considered too long, so some intro scenes could possibly have been dropped. Both Candy and Dan squander all their finances on heroin till they end up stooping so low as to prostitute themselves or rob people to fund more poison. Yet again, it seems Mum and Dad are hinted at being the culprits who 'may' have caused some of this fall from grace but, at no time do we see any evidence for this. Dan and Candy are intelligent & young enough to lift themselves out of their difficulties - often saying they want to stop, but again, do nothing but move deeper into the abyss. Nonie Hazelhurst is very good as Candy's concerned mum but all efforts by both parents are ignored.The movie seems to be saying drugs are bad - keep well away, yet each time anyone hits up (and there are many) it's all covered by long loving close-ups of everyone being transported into ecstasy (go figure...) Sets are cheap and photography varies from good to mediocre. The only minor thing that sets this apart from any other of its type might be some haunting music tracks. The main performances are good of their type but sadly enough (for Ledger at least) this may have been too close to home realities (?) The ending tends to play out like it was an afterthought and is not very convincing - considering these two were supposed to be lovers of high degree, perhaps this might have been handled better? Extremely depressing (intended or not) and not one to be seen again, ever! Some may be emotionally moved but sadly, many will want to move as far away as possible.

After his Oscar-nominated performance in Brokeback Mountain and before his posthumous Oscar win for The Dark Knight, the late Heath Ledger turned in another award-worthy performance in Candy, a searing and intense 2006 drama that was the most harrowing look at the horror of drug addiction since Requiem for a Dream.This is the story of Dan (Ledger), a talented poet who is doing nothing with his gift and Candy (Abbie Cornish), a struggling artist who has also put her talent on the back burner due to her relationship with Dan and their addiction to heroine and how it has completely dominated their lives. All of the questions related to addiction are addressed here in an in-your-face manner that is quite disturbing. Not only do we get to see Candy prostitute herself in order to support t heir habit, but we also see Candy challenge Dan to do the same. It's aggravating as we watch the hypocritical Dan get high with money that Candy earned on her back but he's unwilling to do the same. There is one surprisingly clever vignette where Dan happens upon a wallet on the front seat of a car and when it contains no cash, goes through an extremely elaborate ruse in order to extract the information he needs from the owner in order to use the credit cards that were in the wallet. As clever as Dan is here, it is also a little pathetic because you find yourself wishing that he could be this resourceful doing something positive or productive.What is so riveting about Dan and Candy's story is that we can tell from the beginning of the film that their relationship is doomed, but it doesn't keep the viewer from becoming completely enveloped in their story. We watch as they actually marry (the camera smartly pans the guests during the vows and the various reactions are telling) and watch the intensely mixed emotions from Candy's parents when Candy announces that she is pregnant. Her father's reaction to the new is just gut-wrenching. It's sad watching how Candy's parents can see that Candy's relationship with Dan is beginning to destroy their lives, but hold their tongues so long that when they finally confront the truth, it's too late.The most telling and most pathetic aspect of Dan and Candy's story is their constant talk about changing their lives and their half- hearted attempts to stop using so that they can. The scenes of Dan and Candy trying to quit cold-turkey, documented in days, is not an easy watch, but a realistic depiction of the physical effects of heroine and how the body craves it like medicine. Director Neil Armfield does not shy away from these scenes and the camera-work from above their bed is extremely effective.Ledger delivers a brilliant and intensely unhinged performance as Dan, which includes a credible British accent. Ledger pulls out all the stops here, making Dan a dangerous combination of smart and sexy and pathetic. Abbie Cornish is blistering and explosive as Candy, the addict who wants to blame Dan and anything else she can think of for what she's going through, in deep denial about the depth of her own addiction. Geoffrey Rush does a small but flashy turn as Dan and Candy's friend/dealer/enabler, whose willingness to help Dan and Candy feed their addiction seems to be stemmed in his sexual attraction to Dan.This is a bold and uncompromising look at drug addiction that pulls no punches and offers no easy answers, but is riveting entertainment for those who are game, thanks to evocative direction and brilliant performances from the stars.

Viewed at Berlin, February. 14, 2006 Heath Ledger Rides Again -- The big conference of the day came at the six-thirty mark, after a press screening of "Candy" which features "Brokeback Mountain" star Heath Ledger. Needless to say, Heath being one of the hottest actors around today, everybody here was anxious to get a look at him close-up, and were certainly not disappointed as the young Australian actor was most forthcoming and open in response to the questions fired at him from all sides of the room. In the current picture Heath plays a rather hopeless heroin addict who falls in love with a very beautiful young lady who marries him and also, into the bargain, picks up his smack habit. Before long she (the "Candy" of the title) is working as a fifty dollar a shot prostitute to finance the couple's collective need for the drug. Pert blonde actress Abbie Cornish is a real find and actually steals the show (more or less) from top -billed Ledger.This fetching gal looks something like a cross between CharlizeTheron and Scarlett Johanssen, and besides her astounding good looks, can also act! The entire "Candy" team was on hand, including the two stars, director Neil Armfield, the writer of the novel on which the screenplay was based, the screenwriter, and a couple of producers. Only Geoffrey Rush, who was the main supporting actor, (as an addicted professor of biology) was absent.Considering that "Candy" is pretty much a straight-forward story of drug addiction and how it ruins young lives, I found it rather depressing with nothing new to say on the subject. Heath Ledger really doesn't have that much to do in the pic other than look pained most of the time with that now patented "Brokeback Mountain" look of deeply suppressed anguish, In this film, however, the pain is not so suppressed as Heath breaks out into tears on several occasions. One of the cute questions from the audience was "How do you manage to cry so easily on cue?" — shrug — <<"It's part of the job.>> In person Heath Ledger does not come across with the aura of a Movie Star, but rather as a good old boy who enjoys his job — acting — and does it pretty damn well. One droll question from an Asian lady in the audience -- obvious but inevitable -- was "does it feel very different to kiss a man (as in Brokeback Mountain) and to kiss a woman, as in this film?" Heath elected to take the question seriously and went on at length about his role in the Ang Lee "gay cowboy" picture, concluding that, once you get over the initial embarrassment, "It's just a case of kissing another human being, the main difference coming down to the stubble" — which brought a roar of appreciation.

Why are all movies, to my knowledge, that contain the word "candy" so hard? Yeah, it's apples/oranges to compare Candy to Hard Candy, yet both deal with both extreme and adult topics. And both are very good films.Romantic couple Candy (Cornish) and Dan (Ledger) are, for lack of a better term, degenerate druggies. They will do anything, including prostitution and deception of family, parents and friends to get their hands on their next injection. Candy shows signs of wanting to change and better herself while Dan just wants what Candy wants as he deeply loves her.Though a pregnancy wouldn't normally help these addicts, it shows signs of change. But, (SPOILER) due to a highly realistic, albeit incredibly disturbing, miscarriage, they're back to their old ways. Something's gotta give and we, the audience hopes/yearns for just that. Which of the drug duo will make that choice? The choice for the clean generation? Although this movie can be extremely hard to watch at times, it's a beautifully shot and great experience for anyone wanting to produce, direct or write an independent film. The cinematography was wonderful, music mesmerizing, the acting top notch, the poetry was beautiful, even the dialogue can be funny at the most unexpected times (SEE: the doctor.) In addition, it sealed my belief that Ledger will go down in history of the late greats that died WAAY before their time, such as James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and River Phoenix. All of them, including Ledger, were improving with each and every role until their untimely deaths. (For example, Ledger's role in Candy was good, his acting in Brokeback Mountain was great and he was absolutely excellent in The Dark Knight.) These are the normal heroes you'd root for. Antiheroes, in fact. But, you do yearn for a better tomorrow. You want them to succeed and in turn, you'll want to continue watching to make sure they (or the situation) improve. Not to give anything away, but the singular word you see in the opening, then middle and then followed in the third act pretty much shows you what you're in for. So, sit back, and enjoy what real "Artsy" or "Independent" cinema's all about.It's about heart. It's about character depth, originality and believability. It's about movement and a statement. This movie has all those qualities and more. Despite the harsh subject matter – not for the weak hearted, yet it deserves a recommendation. See this movie.Side Note (Spoilers Ahead): One of the best aspects of the movie was that we're introduced to Dan as a straight, but accepting, individual. In one scene, Candy wants Dan to sell his own body, namely to other males, as a way of him contributing to their drug habit and so that Candy doesn't have to do all the work (no pun, but really, she's the only real source of income and that's by prostitution.) He has a problem with it up front, as he's, duh, straight, but eventually gets himself enough high to ask his druggie and gay friend (a wonderful performance by Geoffrey Rush) on what to expect and/or do during a "gay experience." His reactions are sincere, and believable and it was refreshing to see someone on screen that's portrayed as heterosexual actually be that way. (Eventually, he chickens out on his first attempt.) Too many times I see someone "tell" me they're not gay on screen, but within minutes, they're banging some dude. And even more unbelievably wonderful about Ledger in this role, is his ability to play on either side of the fence, i.e. Brokeback Mountain, where he played a convincingly confused gay male to a 100% straight male in Candy. And he did both with two completely different points of view.This made me respect him all the more. As well as mourn his passing, once again.