Hollywood films reflect reality through dramatization. Therefore it comes as no surprise that films involving recreational drug use and addiction are on the rise, correlating with increased substance abuse in society. In the 1980s there were 52 films released featuring drug use. Compare that to 1990-2010 with a staggering 546 movies featuring drugs, there has been a huge rise in drugs being involved in movies.
However, movies cannot be blindly categorized as glorifying drug use as some films released portray an accurate and often disturbing portrayal of drug addiction. In this article different influential movies heavily involving substance abuse will be explored and the effects these films may have on viewers, specifically young and easily influenced persons.
Scarface
Arguably one of the most famous cult-classics, Scarface is a story of a Cuban refugee fuelled by cocaine who rose from nothing to a drug lord throughout the duration of the film. Despite extreme violence and addiction, the film still glorifies the use of cocaine and the entire drug industry in some aspects. Even when Tony Montana dies a gruesome death he is still portrayed as going down fighting and with no regrets. In addition to this, his death is the result of another drug lord taking him down, continuing the vicious cycle.
This film can be portrayed in one of two ways: either as showcasing the violence and death involved in the drug industry, or Tony Montana can be portrayed as a twisted role model for power and drive.
Trainspotting
Trainspotting is a British black comedy that shows a less pretty portrayal of drug addiction. Ewan McGregor plays the main protagonist who, along with friends, struggles with a serious heroin addiction. The film shows the dark truth behind the lifestyle choices they make such as poverty, dirt and death. As well as this, Trainspotting gives an accurate and quite terrifying depiction of what a person goes through when suffering from heroin withdrawals, including vivid hallucinations.
Despite some ingenious comic moments, Trainspotting shows the less glamorous side to addiction and how being born into the wrong crowd can determine a person’s path in life.
The Wolf of Wall Street
This film portrays the life of Jordan Belfort, the surreal reality of a broker on Wall Street in the late 1980s. The movie interpreting Belfort’s life consists of crazed amounts of sex, alcohol, and every drug under the sun – prescription and illegal. The dangerous sides of these hard core habits were barely touched upon, and the only thing that stopped the behavior was when Belfort got caught by the law. Throughout drug addiction was trivialized and glamorized. Even when Belfort was overdosing in one scene in the movie, it was still shown in a comedic light and made light-hearted.
In saying this, however, the film was a biographical depiction of Jordan Belfort’s life based on his autobiography. It gave an accurate representation of what went on at this time and as drugs were such a huge influence in his life this was shown realistically.
Should Hollywood be making more efforts to prevent the glamorizing of drugs?
In the modern day, no film producer should be prevented from creating any movie. Freedom of expression should instill a right to portray life in whatever artistic way one wants to. Without this, creativity is prevented from flourishing and new outlooks cannot be explored. As alcohol and drugs are a common fact of life it would be absurd for movies to skim over them and ignore the role they play in different sections of society.
However, with this being said easily influenced young persons should have limited access to explicit content that may go over their heads and simply portray to them that these illicit habits are acceptable and in some ways desirable. Far too many underage children are finding easy access to R-rated films that are unsuitable for them to watch. Greater efforts need to be persisted to prevent this from happening to stop children being influenced by material that normalizes alcohol and drugs. Parents can do so by preventing explicit content from being accessed on a young person’s computer/laptop and cinemas can be more vigilant on allowing young people into films that they are not old enough to be watching. In doing this, this can help prevent Hollywood from showcasing drugs as a glamorous life choice to children who are unaware of the realities they entail, and are unable to make an informed decision for themselves.
By Cerys May