Do I Smell Propaganda???

Rating: Null/10 (9 October 2003)

*Possible Spoilers* This film was so hyped up that I (stupidly) bought it without renting it first. I figured that any film about the horrors of addiction had to be worth buying, especially considering the amazing reviews that this "movie" had received. Boy did I make a mistake. After sitting through the first hour of this "movie", I couldnt wait for it to be over. Don't get me wrong, the film displayed a genuine moral message, that addictions, no matter what form, are destructive. Yet I found the overtone of the film to be far more hellish than the reality that we live in. For instance, the doctor who gave the speed to Sarah (the old woman) was totally indifferent to the fact that the pills he gave her were causing psychotic reactions and were highly addictive. And when Harry went to the hospital after his arm had become severely infected, the doctor didn't give a s**t that Harry was near death, he called the police without treating him first. The doctor acted like he'd never seen dying smack addict before. It was entirely unbelievable and frustrating. The scene in which Marion was performing for all of those businessmen was absurd. She f*cked another woman in front of dozens of cheering perverted businessmen just for a fix. This scene contained just one of many generalizations that the movie established, such as: all businessmen are greedy testosterone driven rapists, all doctors are out to get your money, and don't give two s***s about you, and all drug addicts will either end up in prison, resort to prostitution, or spend the rest of their lives in a psych ward after failed shock therapy, which by the way is rarely ,if ever used any more. The movie offered no alternate endings or situations that suggest positive solutions to overcoming addictions. This movie screamed "IF YOU DO DRUGS YOU WILL DIE!!!" at the viewer. Now I'm no drug advocate, but give me a break. The movie might as well have consisted of God coming down from the heavens and pitching all drug users into the fires of hell. Its propaganda either way.
In summary, highly overrated, and way too far fetched to be taken seriously.
4/10, just for trying.