I can't say Less Than Zero is a good movie. I can't say that it's even got good performances. However. If you have EVER been curious, or currently are curious about using cocaine, I encourage you strongly to watch this movie. There is 90 percent chance or higher that you will not want to use it after watching this. I was 13 years old when I watched this, and wow, did it scare the crap out of me. The ending was a bit sad, but this is true to real life events then could happen, so the script demands that it be taken seriously, no matter how bad this film has aged. Again, if you've ever been curious about using cocaine, this movie will prevent you from using it. I can bet my 401k on it. Enjoy,

I wouldn't be the first to say drugs are in and a problem throughout American society. With the legalization of the pot in Washington, Oregon, and soon to be Alaska in 2015, drugs can be political and are often talked around my high school; for example "If weed should be legal or not". I will also say high school is where sadly I am most exposed to drugs. You know who the drug dealers are, who's been arrested over it and I can't tell you how times in my study hour I have overheard a story about a local party involving the drugs and alcohol.Yes, there are stoner films but films that have a plot of a person dealing with a drug addiction are not that common. It is hard to an find audience for these films which have a depressing atmosphere. The one film that should always to mind with drug addiction though is Less then ZeroBlair (Jami Gertz), Clay Eaton (Andrew McCarthy) and Julian Wells (Rober Downey Jr.) are all college age kids during Christmas time in affluent Los Angeles. Blair and Clay are a former couple who's relationship faltered after Blair cheated on him with Julian leaving all three friends in a awkward stance. During this Christmas break, we learn that Julian now has a severe drug problem and sometimes sleeps on a cliff on a beach due to the fact that's his parents kicked him out of the house. Julian also can't pay off his drug debt to drug dealer Rip (James Spader). It is part drug film, part relationship film.Truthfully, these are somewhat simple lead characters. These are characters who are trying their best to get away from high school problems and are trying to get a foot in the real world. It is the Downey character who is the most interesting. Director Marek Kanievska does a good job of making you feel like you have already known Julian. With some great acting by Downey, you are truly frustrated with his antics and you have no confidence that he is going to stop buying drugs like says he will. You do want him to get better because you miss that cocky, smart-ass character that briefly appears before he becomes stoned and strung out. It is hard to like Blair because of the cheating and she could possibly go down the same road as Julian but she eventually does find herself. The McCarthy character doesn't have much substance compared to the others and he is truly the only character with a clean record and you do have respect for how he tries to save his friend. Released in 1987, we do see the 80's fashion/style, and 1980's Los Angeles culture is a major theme in the film. These are all kids who parents never had money troubles, who think it is normal to wear suits and dresses every day and drive flashy cars. This rich culture is presented to us in a way that fits very nicely into the drug plot.Less Than Zero won't seem to be a stand-out film. It is mostly remembered for being an 80's film and some of it's cast and an ironically Downey had severe drugs problems afterwards in the 90's but we should remember Less Than Zero more for how well it is made. It is a close to flawless movie with to the heartfelt message that never gives up on what it is trying to say.

Less Than Zero almost seems like a film that came too late, if only for a couple of years earlier, during the Brat Pack era. While it isn't John Hughes, it's an interesting drama thanks to it's performances, especially Downey's, this role hitting a bit too close to home, and James Spader, as an oily drug supplier, while McCarthy basically just has to look sharp, smile and not say much, while I almost don't know what Gertz has to do, but just look independent. When graduating at the start, McCarthy had gone away for a while, and now he's back, only to find friend, Julian (Downey) at his worst with his drug habit, spiralling into a darker hell as referred to the movie's title, while Gertz is overly concerned. All three are from privileged families, Downey's father disowning him cause of his addiction. Downey shows some powerfully acted moments, too convincing you might say, like when he's really strung out, his supplier Spader, a really bad influence, ha ha, (different Spader movie reference) acting as a kind of pimp, when funds are short or due, making him do some weird stuff. Less Than Zero is a flashy energetic drama, all the more conflict driven, in Downey's character refusing to be helped. Based on Brett E Ellis, novel, Gertz uses the same line regarding snorting coke, as Jessica Biel does in 2003's Rules Of Attraction, based on another novel by Ellis. The film does have some messy areas, and it's ending, tragic for one, is thought provoking, but if you want John Hughes, go somewhere else.

I remember when i see this movie in video (it never came out in theaters here in Mexico)and the experience was very surreal,I have to recognize that i know of the movie because the music video of THE BANGLES-"Hazy shade of winter" (Remember it was the MTV era)and i was very surprise.I know all the actors of the movie:Mccarthy for Pretty in pink and mennequin,Getz for The lost boys and Solarbabies,Downey jr for Weird Science and Johnny be good and Spader for Pretty in pink and for Wall street so i know the quality of all of them.The movie is really really great based in real situations and great characters (Downey jr and Spader steal the movie) and the soundtrack are great music of:POISON,ROY ORBISON,AEROSMITH,LL COOL J,SLAYER,RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS and of course THE BANGLES make a great contribution to the movie...So why see it???...Simple they don't make movies like this and all the main actors are now great actors (with the excepcion of Jami Getz of course).