Watch Loved Up
- TV-MA
- 1995
- 1 hr 8 min
-
6.9 (403)
Loved Up is a captivating movie that explores the world and experiences of young adults living in the 90s rave and drug culture. Directed by Peter Cattaneo, the film takes place in London and follows the story of a young woman, Sarah (played by Lena Headey), and her boyfriend, Jamie (played by Ian Hart), who get caught up in the whirlwind of drug taking and raving while trying to escape the stress of their everyday lives.
Sarah is a run-of-the-mill British girl. She works as an assistant at an advertising agency, lives with her boyfriend Jamie, and has a strained relationship with her mother. On the other hand, Jamie is an aspiring DJ who spends most of his time perfecting his music skills and hanging out with his friends. When Sarah's boss assigns her to work on a campaign targeting the youth, she is led to a underground rave club.
At the club, Sarah encounters a new world filled with loud beats, strobe lights, and ecstasy. She is intrigued by this new lifestyle and more so by the free-spirited people who seem to be living their best lives. Sarah quickly embraces the rave culture, and she becomes a regular at the club. However, Jamie refuses to attend because of his insecure nature.
The movie takes a turn when Sarah and Jamie's relationship becomes tense. Jamie is struggling to make his big break as a DJ, and Sarah is getting more and more addicted to the party lifestyle. They try to seek solace from their problems through drugs, which leads to a deeper spiral of self-destructive behavior.
Linda Bassett plays Sarah's mother, Rose, who disapproves of her daughter's choices. She is worried about Sarah and feels helpless in trying to steer her away from the rapidly deteriorating situation. Rose makes a confidante out of one of her new neighbors, who has undergone the same ordeal with his own son previously.
The film is a commentary on the fallacies of youth culture, drug usage and its effects on the individual and community. The characters are flawed and authentic; they paint an accurate and relatable picture of how young people are affected by the often-overwhelming pressures of modern life.
Lena Headey delivers a fantastic performance as Sarah. She goes through all the emotional stages of her character, from the initial innocent curiosity, to then being drawn into the darker side of the rave culture, and the devastating effects it has on her life. Ian Hart also delivers a moving performance as her boyfriend, Jamie. His portrayal of a struggling DJ trying to find his place in the rave culture while dealing with his and Sarah's drug dependency is immensely poignant.
The film is also notable for its striking cinematography, allowing the scenes to be illuminated in bright and flashy colors, with a soundtrack that pulsates with the same energy as the characters. The cinematography and the music together create a captivating visual and audio experience that makes you feel as if you are truly part of the rave culture.
Overall, Loved Up is an intense and thought-provoking movie that sheds light on what it truly means to be loved up and the dangers that lie in that path. Through its powerful visuals and immersive soundtrack, it raises questions about the highs and lows of the rave culture that still resonate today. If you're a fan of 90's rave culture, this is a movie you won't want to miss.
Loved Up is a 1995 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 8 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.