The harrowing effects of drug addiction.

Rating: 8/10 (15 March 2002)

First off, this is not a perfect film. It's flawed, it's manipulative, the quick-cut editing and garish visuals are kind of a way of dressing up an oft told tale, it often exploits its subject matter and is never quite the breakthrough that Aronofsky's "Pi" was. However, that said, it does exactly what it sets out to do--horrify audiences with scary and nightmarish visions of a culture mostly dependent on addiction in one form or another. If ever there was an anti-drug film or a film preaching against substance abuse, this is it, but it doesn't really limit iself to just one type of addiction is you pay attention. I agree that it should be mandatory viewing for teenagers, but the MPAA stupidly slapped an NC-17 rating on Aronofsky's vision...so much for a "message" movie breaking through to the people it would most likely help.
The Academy Awards should be downright embarrassed for awarding Julia Roberts the Best Actress award for "Erin Brockovich." Roberts slaps on a push-up bra, shows her cleavage and pouts a lot and that's the extent of her performance (the woman just has little acting range). Burstyn blows her out of the water, supporting nearly the entire emotional weight of this film on her shoulders, but how can she compete with "America's sweetheart" finally doing a film with the slightest hint of substance? I don't get why Roberts won and neither does any other competent human being, but my hunch is that she was being rewarded for her beauty, charm and the fact she brings in so much money for film studios. So what, right? The award is for the best performance and you simply will not see a better performance than Burstyn's here.
They also skipped out on nominating Jennifer Connelly, who's just excellent in support as lead Jared Leto's girlfriend reduced to turning tricks for a high. She's much more naturally beautiful than Roberts, but has thus far in her career, pretty much refused to sell out to Hollywood and has taken some pretty risky roles. That's really admirable and I look forward to seeing her in other things. And I should also note that Marlon Wayans proves he deserves to act in better movies than SCARY MOVIE.