Drug Movies Lined Up

On the surface, movies about drugs (users, traffickers and the related culture) might seem cheap n' tacky exercises in exploitation. But quite the opposite is true. Some of cinema's best stories are to do with the human drama of addiction, whether to heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, alcohol, or, the thrill of the score and not getting caught.

Starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick Days Of Wine & Roses (1962) was a controversial excursion into the lives of two alcoholics struggling to maintain their love for each other by overcoming their mutual love for the 'demon drink'. Billy Wilder's Lost Weekend (1945) predated that controversial film with Ray Milland fronting up as an otherwise respectable writer who goes on a three-day bender. Gus Van Sant took a less realism-based tack with his breakout film Drugstore Cowboy (1989), a road movie about four smash n' grab amphetamine addicts starring Matt Dillon. (It also included a cameo by real-life "junkie", author William Burroughs). Adapting James Vogel's novel to the screen Van Sant injected this entertaining drug story with a distinct dreamlike quality that reflected his art school background.

But even to this day perhaps the drug movie to end all drug movies is Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990) which combines organised crime with addiction, trafficking, law enforcement and a heady, excessive lifestyle. It covers all the main reasons why we secretly love to watch these films. Based on Nicolas Pileggi's autobiography Scorsese transformed his mafia-drug-runner-turned-FBI-informant story into a sprawling operatic opus filled with violence, tension, excess and real human drama. There may not be another drug movie to top Goodfellas but these stories make such good films let's hope there'll always be one that has a damn good try.

Ten Drug movies to watch on DVD

Another Day In Paradise (R18+)  1999 Saving In the tradition of "TRUE ROMANCE", "Another Day in Paradise," the new film from acclaimed director LARRY CLARK (KIDS) is a sexy and thrilling portrayal of a makeshift family of professional theives on a cross-country crime spree. James Woods (Mel) and Melanie Griffith (Sid) give outstanding perform...   more View trailer

Blow (MA15+)  2001 Saving He was just a small town boy who became the most powerful drug lord in the United States. His name was George Jung, the man first responsible for bringing cocaine to the American people. From poverty and suburban obscurity, to untold wealth, power and infamy, this is the amazing true story of the ma...   more View trailer

Days of Wine and Roses (PG)  1962 Saving This, in its own terrifying way, is a love story. Blake Edwards directs this powerful study of the effects that alcoholism can have on an otherwise loving relationship. Jack Lemmon and Lee Remmick star as Joe and Kirsten, a couple who fall in love, get married and have a baby. This happy...   more

Drugstore Cowboy (M)  1989 Saving Crime is a way of life for Bob (Matt Dillon) and his wife Dianne (Kelly Lynch). Their lives are fuelled by an addiction that drives them from state to state robbing pharmacies for pills and thrills. Bob is a legend in his own right, honoured by his fellow gang members for his cold, tough and st...   more View trailer

GoodFellas (R18+)  1990 Saving When Martin Scorcese, one of the world's most skillful and respected directors, reunited with two-time Oscar-winner Robert De Niro in GoodFellas, the result was one of the most powerful films of the year. Based on the true-life best seller Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi and backed by a dynamic pop/rock...   more View trailer

Lost Weekend, The (PG)  1945 Saving The Best Picture of 1945 has lost none of its bite or power in this uncompromising look at the devastating effects of alcoholism. Ironically, this brilliant Billy Wilder film was almost never released because of poor reaction by preview audiences unaccustomed to such stark realism from Hollywood, bu...   more View trailer

Permanent Midnight (MA15+)  1998 Saving Brace yourself for this emotionally riveting story about the dark side of success in Hollywood. Based on the highly praised autobiography of the same name, the story of a hot television writer who learns the high cost of fame first hand.   more View trailer

Rush (R18+)  1991 Saving How far do they go before they've gone too far? What happens when two cops stop loving their job... and start living it? Rush is an emotionally riveting, powerful and unsparing film (scripted by novelist Pete Dexter) exposing the plight of two narcotics officers who cross the line and become...   more View trailer

Traffic (MA15+)  2000 Saving Received with unanimous critical acclaim and the winner of multiple awards around the world, TRAFFIC is the new masterpiece from Steven Soderbergh, the brilliant director of 'Erin Brockovich' , 'Out of Sight' and 'The Limey' . Interweaving three complex stories about the...   more View trailer

Trainspotting (R18+)  1995 Saving "Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family..." This is the story of Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) and his so-called friends - a bunch of losers, liars, psychos, thieves and junkies. Hilarious but harrowing, the film charts the disintegration of their friendship as they proceed seemin...   more