For this project I will be looking at drug culture in films and seeing if addiction and drug use is represented either as glamorous or realistic. Many films use drug addiction/use as use as a stimulus or as an essential part of the narrative. Some of the films i will be looking at include:
*Sid and Nancy (Alex Cox, 1986)
*The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese, 2013)
*Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Terry Gillian 1998)
*Pineapple Express (David Gordon Green, 2008)
Sid and Nancy:
This biographical story of the British punk rock band "The Sex Pistols" ex- bass player Sidney 'Sid' Vicious and his junkie, groupie girlfriend Nancy Spungen's addiction to heroin. The film (directed by Alex Cox) was based of the book, "I don't want to live this life" by Deborah Spungen (Nancy's mother). This film certainly shows Drug addiction in realism as it shows a poisonous relationship that is truly deadly in the way they treat each other. Despite the film not being accurate according to Sex Pistols front man John Lydon, the film is accurate in its portrayal of Heroin addicts slowly decreasing mental health, and the way they see the world. Gary Oldman's portrayal of Sid is his first and one of his best, as every inch of his body has been turned into the character: skinny, covered in self inflicted cuts and bruises, blood and vomit stained clothing.
The Wolf of Wall Street:
Again, the real life story of the CEO of Stratton Oakmont, Jordan Belfort. This film is different to the previous as it Glamorizes drug uses but at the same time shows the harsh realities of what excessive drug taking will do to someone. Having been to parties post the release of the Wolf of Wall Street, I have seen people take drugs only to then quote the film itself, to me this defiantly shows that Wolf of Wall street glamorizes drug culture more than the realism. The real Jordan Belfort said upon watching the film, "it was entirely accurate".
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas:
Taking straight from the pages of the novel by Hunter S. Thompson himself, Fear and Loathing represents drug culture in the early 70s. Although this film does show some of the grim realities and situations psychedelic drug consumption will put you, the film mainly glamorizes drug use due to its director, Terry Gillian; former Monty Python star and advocate for psychedelic dug culture. Using an all star cast and great soundtrack the film makes out drug taking to be a roller coaster of emotions. It does show some realism in the way the main character has gone completely insane due to the non stop consumption of narcotics.
Pineapple Express:
When you think of Seth Rogen what do you think? Some people might say comedy films, but the majority of people will say, stoner. Rogen is a huge Marijuana advocate and is not afraid to show it. Pineapple express does not shy away from this either. Although, again it glamorizes the uses of Weed, it also shows the harsh realities of it but because Rogen advocates weed instead of being "that was horrible lets never do drugs again" he is more like "for weed, that was worth it". As a result he film and Rogen himself have become icons of the "Stoner" community.
Having looked at these films i think its safe to say that glamorizing drug taking will make the film more successful, As the last three films all were popular where as Sid and Nancy didn't even make the budget back. Obviously this is what people like to see.
