Terrible business, terrible addiction. These drug movies will make you think - Lifehacker

13. Pineapple Express: Sitting, smoking

Pineapple Express

• USA, 2008.
• Black comedy, crime.
• Duration: 114 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.9.

Courier Dale Denton delivers subpoenas to people. To relax at his leisure, he regularly smokes weed. One day Dale witnesses a showdown mafia. He tries to hide, but accidentally dropped a joint with a new drug "Pineapple Express" leads the criminals on the trail of the hero.

This witty comedy was created by old friends James Franco and Seth Rogen. And with all the humor of what is happening, the drug becomes the cause of the main problems of the hero.

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12. Cloudiness

A scanner darkly

• USA, 2006.
• Science fiction, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.1.

Undercover cop Robert Arctor has long infiltrated the drug addict environment. His mission is so secret that it excludes any personal contact with liaisons. But Arktor is so addicted to drugs that he begins to suspect even himself of betrayal.

Director Richard Linklater is known for his unconventional approach to filming. To convey all the madness of the hero, who is under the influence of intoxicating substances, the picture was filmed with live actors, and then turned into animation using rotoscoping technology. Therefore, objects in the frame easily change shape, and the character of Robert Downey Jr. turns into an insect in one scene.

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11. Basketball Diary

The basketball diaries

• USA, 1995.
• Biography, drama, crime.
• Duration: 102 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.3.

Sixteen-year-old Jim Carroll writes good poetry and plays basketball well. But over time, he becomes more and more addicted to heroin. And this leads to degradation, and then to prison.

A film in which he played one of his first popular roles Leonardo DiCaprio, based on the autobiography of musician and writer Jim Carroll. Fortunately, the latter eventually managed to overcome his addiction, although he had to go through many difficult tests before.

10. A handsome boy

Beautiful boy

• USA, 2018.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.3.

Journalist David Sheff learns that his son Nick has become a drug addict. It would seem that there were no prerequisites for this: his parents always supported him, everything was fine with his studies and life. David remembers what his son used to be like and tries to cure Nick from addiction.

"Handsome Boy" is also based on a biographical book. The picture shows an unusual perspective on the problem of drug addiction. Nick's addiction here is not a consequence of dysfunctional parenting or problems. The emphasis is shifted to the personal relationship of father and son, and the magnificent Steve Carell and Timothy Chalamet perfectly cope with roles.

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9. Moonlight

Moonlight

• USA, 2016.
• Drama.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.4.

Black Shyron lives in Miami - a city ruled by drugs and money. From birth, the hero has to fight for survival and look for at least some kind of moral guidelines in order to maintain humanity in himself.

The painting that received “Oscar"For the best film in 2017, covers three periods of the life of the protagonist. But alas, they are all partly related to drugs.

8. Traffic

Traffic

• USA, Germany, 2000.
• Crime, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 147 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.6.

The picture reveals the topic of drug trafficking from three different angles. Chief Justice Robert Wakefield starts a war against drug traffickers. In parallel, they tell the stories of a Mexican police officer and the wife of a major drug lord.

The film is based on the 1986 British TV series Heroin's Way. Like the original, Traffic allows you to see the fate of people associated with the production and sale of drugs, and those who are trying to stop illegal business.

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7. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

• USA, 1998.
• Drama, comedy, adventure.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.6.

Journalist Raoul Duke travels to Las Vegas with his lawyer Dr. Gonzo. Duke plans to write an article about the Mint 400 race. But due to the large amount of drugs, the trip quickly turns into a psychedelic trip. Then the heroes go to the casino.

The film is based on the famous almost autobiographical book Hunter Thompson. Starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro studied the biographies of prototypes in detail. Depp even lived with Thompson for several months and exchanged his car for one of his own. It is no secret that the author of the novel used drugs, and in the film they perfectly managed to convey the altered state of the main characters.

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6. Cocaine

Blow

• USA, Mexico, 2001.
• Drama, crime, biography.
• Duration: 123 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.6.

Ambitious George Young goes to jail for the marijuana trade. Released, he takes on a more serious business and soon becomes the largest cocaine dealer, having addicted many famous people to the drug.

The plot is based on real events of the 1970-1980s. The charming Johnny Depp was invited to play the role of George Young. But still, the figure of this man, who did business even with the famous Pablo Escobar, remains ominous.

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5. French liaison

The french connection

• United States, 1971.
• Drama, crime, action.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.7.

New York police officers Jimmy Doyle, nicknamed Popeye and Buddy Russo, learn about the imminent delivery of a large consignment of drugs from France. They need to track down the bandits and understand exactly how they transport the goods.

This film is also based on real events, or rather, on their artistic retelling in the book by Robin Moore. The film shows interestingly that some people transporting drugs are not even aware of their participation in criminal operations.

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4. Gangster

American gangster

• USA, UK, 2007.
• Thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 157 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.8.

After the death of the head of the Harlem mafia, his assistant Frank Lucas creates his own drug cartel. It smuggles heroin directly from Southeast Asia using a unique smuggling method. Lucas' affairs are going uphill, but the principled cop Richie Roberts is after him.

The tough crime drama was shot by the famous Ridley Scott ("Alien", "Gladiator"). And the main roles were performed Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington. But even more interesting is that the story of the unexpected friendship between the drug lord and the policeman is real. The authors of the picture were consulted by the real Richie Roberts and Frank Lucas.

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3. On the needle

Trainspotting

• UK, 1996.
• Drama, crime, comedy.
• Duration: 93 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.1.

The film tells about the slacker Marc Renton and his friends from Edinburgh. All of them are united by a common problem - drug addiction. Some of them are trying to quit, while others simply do not imagine themselves sober. But the life of each of the heroes inevitably goes downhill.

Director Danny Boyle directed the iconic and almost landmark film based on the novel of the same name by Irwin Welch, in which the life of addicts is told from the first person. Twenty years later, exactly the same team of director and leading actors gathered to shoot the sequel to Trainspotting - 2.

2. Requiem for a Dream

Requiem for a Dream

• USA, 2000.
• Psychological drama.
• Duration: 102 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.3.

Sarah Goldfarb tries to lose weight in order to get on a popular TV show, but ends up addicted to amphetamines. Her son Harry and his friend Tyrone want to get rich selling drugs. Girlfriend Harry Marion dreams of opening her own fashion store. The plans of all the heroes are destroyed by a destructive addiction.

Role in the film Darren Aronofsky considered one of the best screen works Jared Leto. Indeed, the drug addict Harry in his performance looks lively and charming. That is why his self-destruction seems to be a real tragedy.

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1. Face with a scar

Scarface

• USA, 1983.
• Crime, drama.
• Duration: 170 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.3.

Cuban criminal Tony Montana planned to tie up with a criminal past and start an honest life. But circumstances force the hero to again get involved in dark affairs. Soon he becomes the largest drug dealer and himself addicted to cocaine.

Painting by Brian De Palma with Al Pacino starring is considered a real classic of crime movies. Drug lord Tony Montana has become a symbol of a man who strives for power with all his might, but cannot resist temptations.

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