Trapped in a Purple Haze

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.

Fortunately for this predictable, say-no-to-smack tale, "General Hospital's" Jonathan Jackson could reupholster furniture for two hours and make it engaging. As a suburban kid who gets hooked on horse after meeting an addicted vixen ("Popular's" Carly Pope), Jackson makes a moving transition from nice boy to dope fiend, but always looks too damn cute to be a junkie.

Of course if you ask me Jonathan Jackson is the best actor out there, but that's not the point of this comment is it. I greatly enjoyed this most, despite the "storm watch" (that didn't come until 2:00 in the morning) which took up the last 2 minutes of the movie. I believe the acting and writing and everything was superb with the given time limited and "adult content" in which could be shown for a made for tv movie. This is a really strong plot in which they could haven't written more about (like more about what Max was like before, his relationship with his family, etc), but since they had to tell the story in roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes the decided to only use the basics, and in my opinion did a great job. Carly Pope did a good job at her character, and so did the Hanson family. Within 30 minutes you knew a little bit about everyone of them, and that made the story line much stronger. Jonathan Jackson has some of the best facial expression, the kind that shows emotion. He has this way of making you belive that he is that person and he by far is one of the best actors I've seen, but I've already said that haven't I. Well I could go on forever talking about how great Jonathan Jackson is, but who would want that. Buh-bye

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

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.