DRUGS AND BEHAVIOR: MOVIE AND BOOK REVIEW ASSIGNMENT

DUE DATE: Nov. 24, 2009

I. Guide for writing reviews

A. Briefly describe and summarize the film.

B. Relate the film or book to material from the course. For example, you might discuss what drugs were used, how they were administered, what the effects of the drugs were and so on. What sort of information about drugs was presented?

C. Evaluate the film with regard to the role that drugs played in the story. Were drugs glamorized or vilified? Did the film present accurate information about the drugs? If not, what errors were made? What was the social/cultural climate of the story, and how this influence the portrayal of drugs.

D. Note other interesting, puzzling or noteworthy aspects of the story that relates to drug issues.

E. Your review should be typed, and should not exceed 3 double-spaced pages.

F. A similar review of any web site that focuses on drugs may be developed for a small amount of extra credit

II. MOVIES

28 Days Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortenson. 2000 PG-13 (drama). Sandra Bullock plays an alcoholic in treatment

Across the Universe Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood 2007 (musical) Coming of age in the seventies set to the songs of the Beatles 

Altered States William Hurt, Blair Brown. 1980 R (scifi). A scientist explores his primal nature.

American Gangster Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe 2007 (drama) A detective works to bring down the empire of a heroin trafficker

Annie Hall Woody Allen, Diane Keaton 1977 PG (comedy).Neurotic comedian falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall

Basketball Diaries Leonardo DiCaprio 1994 R (drama). High-schoolers slide into addiction

Blow Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz 2001 R (drama). The rise and fall of drug dealer, George Jung

The Boost James Woods, Sean Young. 1988 R (drama). Sales rep. And his wife spiral down to addiction.

Bright Lights, Big City Michael J. Fox, Keifer Sutherland 1988 R (drama) Midwestern Kid meets New York fast-lane and cocaine.

Candy Heath Ledger 2006 R (drama) Young lovers become addicted to heroin

Charly Cliff Robertson, Claire Bloom 1968 PG (drama) A man's retardation is "cured" temporarily by a scientific experiment.

Clean and Sober Michael Keaton, Kathy Baker, Morgan Freeman1988 R (drama) Yuppie coke-addict hides in rehab. clinic.

Dazed and Confused Jason London 1993 R (comedy) High school drug use

The Doors Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan 1991 R (drama) The story of the famous rock group; lots of rock and drugs.

Drugstore Cowboy Matt Dillon 1989 R (drama) Young "junkies" rob drugstore to support their habit.

Easy Rider Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson 1969 R (drama) Two cyclists searching for "the Real America"

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Johnny Depp, Cameron Diaz 1998 R (comedy?) Hunter Thompson's psychedelic road trip.

Groove Lola Glaudini, Hamish Linklater 2000 (comedy/drama) Follows the club life as a group of young revelers arrange and attend a rave.

Harold and Kumar go to White Castle 2004 (comedy) John Cho Young marijuana smokers get the munchies.

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay 2008 (comedy) John Cho Further adventures of H & K

Hustle and Flow  D.J. Qualls 2005 R (drama) A Memphis pimp and drug dealer trys to make it as a rap star

Homegrown Billy Bob Thornton, 1998 R (comedy/drama) Three inept marijuana growers try to keep business alive after their boss's death.

How High Method Man, Redman 2001 (comedy) Two marijuana growers translate their horticultural gifts into scholarships at Harvard.

I'm Dancing as Fast as I can Jill Clayburgh, Joe Pesci, 1982 R (drama) Valium addiction of TV journalist Barbara Gordon

The Insider Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, 1999 R (drama) Powerful fact-based drama about tobacco whistle blower.

Leaving Las Vegas Nicholas Cage 1996 R (drama) A dark chronicle of alcoholism

Maria, Full of Grace Catalina Sandino Moreno 2004 (drama) R A young Colombian women is seduced into the world of cocaine smuggling.

Permanent Midnight Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Hurley 1998 R (drama) True story of a heroin addicted TV writer.

Pineapple Express Seth Rogen, James Franco 2008 R (comedy) A stoner and his dealer flee after witnessing a murder

Prozac Nation Christine Ricci. 2001 R (drama) Portrayal of the effects of clinical depression and the drugs used to treat it.

Pulp Fiction John Travolta, Uma Thurman Samuel L. Jackson, 1994 R (drama) Vivid portayal of drug use and violence

Rachel Getting Married Anne Hathaway 2008 R (drama) Young woman returns from rehab to face her family

Ray Jaime Fox. 2004 PG-13 (drama) Biography of blues singer Ray Charles and his struggle with heroin addiction.

Reefer Madness 1936 U (doc) Originally a documentary on the dangers of the killer weed.

Rent 2005 Anthony Rapp, Rosario Dawson R (musical) Bohemian New York City in the 1980s

A River Runs Through It Tom Skerritt Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, 1992 PG (drama) Brothers maturing in Pre WWI - Montana.

The Rose Bette Midler, Alan Bates 1979 R (drama) A star falls under the influence

Requiem for a Dream Ellyn Burstyn 2000 R (drama) A dark look at the depths of addiction

Rent Rosario Dawson 2005 PG 13 (drama) An adaptation of the musical dealing with HIV and addiction

Rush Jason Patric, Jennifer Jason Leigh, 1991 R (action) Young narcotics agent is drawn into violence, addiction

The Salton Sea Val Kilmer, 2002 R (action) Moody crime thriller, set amid the seedy milieu of methamphetamine users and dealers in Southern California.

Scarface Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer1983 R (drama) Updated version of gangster - classic, Cuban refugee becomes Miami cocaine kingpin

Sid & Nancy Gary Oldman, Chloe Webb 1986 R (drama) London's 70's punk scene; tracks the relationship of Sex Pistols' Sid Vicious and girlfriend Nancy Spungen

Spun John Leguizamo 2003 R (comedy?) Dark, twisted, comedy that follows the lives of a group of speed freaks.

Sugar Hill Wesley Snipes 1994 R (action) City battles drug lords

Thank You for Not Smoking William Macy 2006 R (comedy) Spin doctor for big tobacco clashes with anti-smoking forces

Traffic Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones 2000 R (drama) US Drug czar discovers his daughter's addiction

Training Day Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke. 2001 R (drama) A veteran officer escorts a rookie.on his first day with the LAPD's tough inner-city narcotics unit.

Trainspotting Ewan McGregor 1996 R (drama) Dark tale of heroin addiction in Scotland

The Untouchables Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, 1987 R (drama) Federal agent battles the Mafia in 20s-era Chicago.

Walk the Line  Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, 2005, (drama) The life of Johnny Cash, drugs and alcohol abuse

When a Man loves a Woman Andy Garcia, Meg Ryan 1994 R (drama) A happy home threatened by a wife's alcoholism

Wired Michael Chiklis, Ray Sharkey 1989 R (drama) Biographical account of the destructive life of comic actor John Belushi

Woodstock Joan Baez, Jefferson Airplane Joe Cocker, The Who, etc. 1970 R (music) The original 4-day long rock concert.