Fresh and Exciting

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

An Exercise In Nonsense

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Less Than Zero is movie that is based on a book about drug addiction in Beverly Hills. Although it has not aged all that wellI it does boast a solid cast made up of stars of that time, a few names that have stood the test of time and are still relevant today. The performances were on point, especially that of Robert Downey Jr in the role of a heavily addicted addict.As far as drug/addiction movies are concerned this is a decent addition to the list. It does hold a strong sense of realism, but is not overly engaging and the writing is subpar, but entertaining enough to be worth a watch.It is a time capsule back to the 80's drug scene of Los Angeles, with a gritty portrayal of drugs. I have not read the novel which the movie is based on, so as far as the adaptation, I cannot speak confidently on that aspect. In conclusion, it's an adequate movie about addiction that relied too heavily on the performances from the cast. Worth a watch, but nothing overly memorable other than the nostalgic soundtrack.

I wouldn't be the first to say drugs are in and a problem throughout American society. With the legalization of the pot in Washington, Oregon, and soon to be Alaska in 2015, drugs can be political and are often talked around my high school; for example "If weed should be legal or not". I will also say high school is where sadly I am most exposed to drugs. You know who the drug dealers are, who's been arrested over it and I can't tell you how times in my study hour I have overheard a story about a local party involving the drugs and alcohol.Yes, there are stoner films but films that have a plot of a person dealing with a drug addiction are not that common. It is hard to an find audience for these films which have a depressing atmosphere. The one film that should always to mind with drug addiction though is Less then ZeroBlair (Jami Gertz), Clay Eaton (Andrew McCarthy) and Julian Wells (Rober Downey Jr.) are all college age kids during Christmas time in affluent Los Angeles. Blair and Clay are a former couple who's relationship faltered after Blair cheated on him with Julian leaving all three friends in a awkward stance. During this Christmas break, we learn that Julian now has a severe drug problem and sometimes sleeps on a cliff on a beach due to the fact that's his parents kicked him out of the house. Julian also can't pay off his drug debt to drug dealer Rip (James Spader). It is part drug film, part relationship film.Truthfully, these are somewhat simple lead characters. These are characters who are trying their best to get away from high school problems and are trying to get a foot in the real world. It is the Downey character who is the most interesting. Director Marek Kanievska does a good job of making you feel like you have already known Julian. With some great acting by Downey, you are truly frustrated with his antics and you have no confidence that he is going to stop buying drugs like says he will. You do want him to get better because you miss that cocky, smart-ass character that briefly appears before he becomes stoned and strung out. It is hard to like Blair because of the cheating and she could possibly go down the same road as Julian but she eventually does find herself. The McCarthy character doesn't have much substance compared to the others and he is truly the only character with a clean record and you do have respect for how he tries to save his friend. Released in 1987, we do see the 80's fashion/style, and 1980's Los Angeles culture is a major theme in the film. These are all kids who parents never had money troubles, who think it is normal to wear suits and dresses every day and drive flashy cars. This rich culture is presented to us in a way that fits very nicely into the drug plot.Less Than Zero won't seem to be a stand-out film. It is mostly remembered for being an 80's film and some of it's cast and an ironically Downey had severe drugs problems afterwards in the 90's but we should remember Less Than Zero more for how well it is made. It is a close to flawless movie with to the heartfelt message that never gives up on what it is trying to say.

Ignore the negativity about the comparison to the book. If you want a book review, go to Amazon.As a film it does what it does magnificently; thru and thru, from extreme to sublime via ridiculous - but as many point out, if you witnessed any clubbing in LA in the '80s, or any of 'the scene', then this movie holds an unpleasant mirror up to those views.RDJ is simply brilliant. McC & Gertz fantastic. Spader, preparatively oily.10/10 for this one folks. Anything less is discussing the % of the cut, to be honest.*Sniff*

If anyone has seen this film you can see that it is a darker version of "Pretty In Pink." In "Pretty In Pink" Andrew McCarthy played Blaine, here it is Clay, (both times he is the good guy) and James Spader played the bad guy. There it was Steff, here it is Rip. The main reason to watch for me is Jami Gertz (Blair). I first noticed her on "Facts of Life" (as "Boots"), and I was hooked. I have seen 16 films of her (and except for "The Lost Boys" this is her best). I have read that Bret Easton Ellis did not like this adaptation of his book. Probably as a gay man, Jami Gertz was not his idea of a love interest, well as a straight guy, she was mine (although certainly not a nice wholesome girl). I give this film 9/10 stars (mostly for Jami and the soundtrack).