Austin Hartline
Film -Allan Carter
February 24th 2014
“Perhaps, this is a film about the escapism that we look for in drugs, alcohol and sex?”
In my opinion, I don’t believe that this movie is solely about drug use and sex, but more about greed and other strong cinematic themes, but I would like to highlight the main character Andy, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman; an executive of a real estate office who embezzles money for his drug addiction and expensive lifestyle. The second time he pays a visit to his high-class dealer's apartment and he admits his hopelessness to the uninterested drug peddler. The reason I say second time is because Andy comes over to his house many times to pay to use heroine under a secure and pristine environment. If this isn’t a clear sign of addiction, I don’t know what is. I also thought back to the opening scene of the movie and after a cold sex scene between Andy and Gina, and now we know that Andy is a payroll manager who finds himself in a hard economic situation where he badly needs some extra money. We also discover that he has been stealing from his job and using the money to his drug habits.
I find it interesting that Hoffman is an actor who has the ability to portray a man who on the surface is a charming businessman, whom is liked by his acquaintances, but is a real dirt-bag underneath. I believe he is absolutely perfect for the part of Andy or it might be said that he, through his superior acting skills, made Andy the perfect part. Sadly enough, for this film being Sidney’s last one, it is Phillip’s last movie with Sidney too, because of his heroin overdose recently this month. I find it painfully ironic that Andy was that good at playing the role…mostly because it’s so easy for him to relate to being a heroin addict.

Austin Hartline
Film – Allan Carter
February 24th 2014
New York Times Response to Scott’s Opinion: