Hard Candy.

x-love/hate/tragedy-x · 16-09-2011, 08:03 PM

I watched a few nights ago and really didn't know what to think/make of it.
Any other opinions/comments.
xxx

Folded · 16-09-2011, 08:07 PM

Extremely unpleasant viewing. I didn't like it at all. But that isn't to say it's not an incredibly effective film.

Ellen Page rightly built a very successful career from it. Even as a teenager, she was phenomenal.

MunchBox · 16-09-2011, 08:14 PM

One of my favourite films.
Ellen page and Patrick Wilson are pretty amazing in it.

Muir · 16-09-2011, 09:00 PM

I really like it

BridgesAndBalloons · 16-09-2011, 09:22 PM

I thought it was great, I watched it a few times.

SPOILERS - I really thought he got what was coming to him, and the fact that the potential victim really reversed the roles of victim and abuser was good. Playing with his mind and making him believe she was doing certain things but in reality she wasn't I thought worked very effectively.

Although I realise he should have been punished it makes me wonder if punishing people in this way makes us any better than them. I'm not saying we shouldn't punish people but like Friedrich Nietzsche said "Battle not with monsters lest ye become a monster and if you gaze into the abyss the abyss gazes into you"

x-love/hate/tragedy-x · 17-09-2011, 11:38 PM

It simply left me feeling stunned...
I do think the role reversal was effective and I do think it's an extremely powerful film (that should be watched regardless) however I still cannot decide whether or not I actually liked it.

Demons To Some - Nietzsche's philosophy (although incredibly interesting) has appeared to have an extremely detrimental effect in some circumstances, for example Hitler (although it can be argued that this was due to Nietzsche's sister twisting his words). Another famous example is Leopold and Loeb (this is a quote from their defence lawyer: "This terrible crime was inherent in his organism, and it came from some ancestor... Is any blame attached because somebody took Nietzsche's philosophy seriously and fashioned his life upon it?... It is hardly fair to hang a 19-year-old boy for the philosophy that was taught him at the university?") This particular lawyer specialised in over turning death sentences (in America) by effectively arguing that to an extent a crime is cannot entirely and conclusively be a certain persons fault due to determinism and the effects of nurture.

Anyway, a lot off topic but interesting nonetheless.

xxx

BridgesAndBalloons · 17-09-2011, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x-love/hate/tragedy-x

Demons To Some - Nietzsche's philosophy (although incredibly interesting) has appeared to have an extremely detrimental effect in some circumstances, for example Hitler (although it can be argued that this was due to Nietzsche's sister twisting his words). Another famous example is Leopold and Loeb (this is a quote from their defence lawyer: "This terrible crime was inherent in his organism, and it came from some ancestor... Is any blame attached because somebody took Nietzsche's philosophy seriously and fashioned his life upon it?... It is hardly fair to hang a 19-year-old boy for the philosophy that was taught him at the university?") This particular lawyer specialised in over turning death sentences (in America) by effectively arguing that to an extent a crime is cannot entirely and conclusively be a certain persons fault due to determinism and the effects of nurture.

Your post was interesting, I hadn't read into him that much so it was interesting to read. I was merely saying though that sometimes people who go after people demanding justice and issuing punishments can be seen as no better than the people they were punishing. But that might be my own personal beliefs colouring my view.

But I don't believe that he (the guy in Hard Candy, his name escapes me) shouldn't have been punished and I did quite find appealing the fact that he got what was coming to him.

Asura · 18-09-2011, 06:11 AM

I adore Ellen Page, so naturally I had to watch everything she's been in. I really tried to like Hard Candy, but I just couldn't do it. The film just didn't really do anything for me. The actors in the film gave very good performances, though.

x-love/hate/tragedy-x · 18-09-2011, 04:01 PM

I studied him for about a year for my A level philosophy course, plus some background reading. We were mainly looking at Beyond Good and Evil - definitely worth a read although don't be surprised if you find yourself hating him passionately by the end. He has a really strange (although arguably sometimes accurate) world view. One of my favourite quotes is "What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demons To Some

though that sometimes people who go after people demanding justice and issuing punishments can be seen as no better than the people they were punishing.

This definitely has a ring of truth to it however there is the issue of the definition of justice.

SPOILERS.
No doubt what the guy (forgotten his name already!) did was wrong but was the punishment just, fitting, suitable?? Part of me thinks that castration would maybe have been more appropriate. I do like the subtle revelation at the end whereby she reveals that she has done this before and will, most likely, do it again. I think as well I would have liked a bit more background information on her (which would have maybe endeared more viewers to her cause). I also believe that they both played their parts well.

xxx

Bellatrix · 18-09-2011, 05:06 PM

Festival submissions always produce the best (and weirdest) films.

Sarahloubee · 20-09-2011, 08:23 PM

It asked more questions that it answered which, in film, is often a plus.

~*RazorbladeKiss*~ · 23-09-2011, 12:21 AM

Oh wow i love that movie. One of my favorites.
The story is so well written. The dialogues are extremely good and the performances are truly phenomenal.
And i love weird movies that makes you think.
Ellen page blows me away. Her performance completely glued me to the screen.

Still can't understand how she got an oscar nomination for Juno but not for Hard Candy.

monket · 26-09-2011, 06:00 AM

Definitely my favorite Ellen Page movie.

Field Of Paper Flowers · 08-10-2011, 07:44 PM

I love it. It's very chilling and mysterious and that's what I love about it so much. If this was a novel I wouldn't be able to put it down. I know a lot of people don't like it due to how cruel it seems but I think that's the point. It does have some uncomfortable scenes in it that can be hard to watch but I suppose they were needed to keep that eerie feeling.