Trapped in a Purple Haze

Max Hanson (Jonathan Jackson) feels pressured on all sides. His mother wants one thing for him, his friends want another. Max isn't sure what he really wants for himself. Then he meets Molly (Carly Pope). Molly is everything that Max isn't. Free, happy, open. He starts dating her, and she gets him on drugs. Turns out she isn't so free or happy after all. And neither is Max anymore.

We follow Max in his downward spiral to addiction. We see him begin to lose everything he has worked for, family, friends, hockey, school, painting... Instead, his life turns to one of drugs, sex, crime, highs, and lows.

The acting is incredible, especially for a made-for-TV movie, and look for Hayden Christensen in a bit part as Orin Krieg, one of Max's friends (the hockey goalie and video store clerk). JoBeth Williams is outstanding as Max's overbearing mother.

If you can find it, this one is worth viewing.

This film is a realistic portrayal of the problems faced by Max (well-portrayed by Jonathan Jackson). He is drawn into a relationship with a female student (Carly Pope) who seems to just be temperamental at first, but then it unravels as she is on drugs (heroin) and brings Max into her world.

JoBeth Williams is Max's mom and Colm Feore (as the Dad) gives a realistic performance of a man who loves his son and offers help. For some reason Max's mother has issues with this, and her son ends up on the street. Some of the scenes as when she sees her son pan-handling at the mall, and chooses to avoid him, are realistic and disturbing. There is a sad scene toward the end.

This film has a good message as it addresses Max's point of view. He just wants to fit in and be with his girlfriend (Carly Pope). Highly recommended. 9/10.

when i first heard about this film, i worked in a video shop. it came in with a bunch on big name films and it never really appealed to me, it somehow completely escaped my attention that Jonathan Jackson was in it. The Film centres round Max (jj) and his fight to feel free, He is a hockey player (his first love) but also an aspiring painter. his mum wants him to paint, but he doesn't want to live the life that his mum never got to live. he meets Molly (Carly Pope) and she introduces him to her world, where by using drugs she can feel free. Max becomes hooked on class A drugs, and his whole world begins to fall down around him, he looses everything he worked for. he gets kicked off the hockey team and he feels like his mum has given up on him, and he eventually looses Molly. This film was brilliant, class A acting, by all involved. i would say that it is a must see.

Happy viewing

This movie is definitely the best, if not then one of the best movies ever to highlight the teenage lifestyle we go through. The film actually brought a tear to my eye - the first film EVER to do so - and the storyline was nothing what I had imagined it to be. Finally, we have a film that truly does show teenage drug culture at it's worst (and best, in a way). It's kind of a Pete Doherty story (or would be if he would sort himself out!), and I'm afraid I have to admit, had I not watched Phone Booth before Purple Haze, I probably would have cried! My girlfriend and I watched it last night, and I had to grip her hand at parts, it got to me that much. It's one of those films that, if you don't see things before, this will put everything (and life, in general) into perspective. 5 star, 10 out of 10, 100%, A*, A+ rating for Trapped In A Purple Haze.

There's only one word to describe this movie.....AMAZING!!!

No one can play the role of a-normal-teenage-boy-turned-druggies better than none other than Jonathan Jackson.....

I loved him in General Hospital....but when I saw this movie, I couldn't be more proud to call him my favourite actor of all time........he's done a brilliant job, and his acting left me speechless.

The rest of the cast was incredible, they supported what's needed in this movie.......A professional cast!

If you missed out on this movie, you missed out on a true acting skills!