Requiem For A Dream (Aronofsky, 2000)

[rashhunt]

No film in my mind has become more iconic as a 'drug film' since the 2000 release of Requiem for A Dream, directed by the same mastermind behind one of my personal modern black/white features, Pi. No film since then either, has stared down the American Dream as intensely as Aronofsky dares to in this tragic drama that takes the lives of four ambitious people who pursue little more than happiness by means of heavy, unmoderated drug use (though the final cause distinguishes each).

I am not going to summarize deeply or lay out the characters perfectly for you (presumably the reader of this), since this film is so pivotal right now to the integrity of the industry that it has to be experienced on your own.

What I will illustrate however is the performances in this film - every single one of the main four: Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Conelly, Jared Leto and Marlon Wayans, give the performances of their very career. Not a single weak link is found and each one of the consequences that the individuals result in are so catastrophic that you may shed a tear (only it is more of a conscience fuck than it is a heart wrencher).

They live in Brighton Beach Brooklyn, a section of New York that was meant to be a huge tourist attraction, and like your typical parallel to the characters that inhabit the movie universe, it failed and crumbled countless of dreams and fell into one of those poverish, not so pleasant districts. Two of them want money so they can make up to the family they've lost or betrayed, one of them just wants to be admired by her lover and the most significant and profound of the group, Ellen Burstyn's Sara, simply wants to be on Television. The transformation that eventually corrupts the group is both entertaining and moving to watch, and this is a key factor in why Requiem for a Dream is such a masterpiece.

It trails along the style of mainstream but keeps close to its independent roots, throwing in peculiar montages and juxtapositions to keep the film theorist busy while lacing each scene with one of the greatest film scores -ever-, and this is not an over statement.

For being a superb play on symbolism and for the grand performances (that teeter on melodrama but never lopsiding like Babel or other likely suspsects of the drama genre), Requiem for a Dream is not only one of my favourite films, but so far one of the most likely candidates to be a top runner in the eventual 'best films of the decade'.

10/10.

[ie]

mixed reviewed Requiem for a Dream in the Seen any good movies lately? thread, so I'll quote what he said. It was a good idea at the time:

mixed said:

Haha gotta love TCM! I watched requiem for a dream and this is about a year or so apart from my first viewing in which I hated the film. I hated its pretentiousness and commissioned feeling. Now another year older and wiser I feel a bit different about it. Here are some of my thoughts.

Requiem for a dream is all about the progression of addiction. This being the core theme. Harry and his friends take drugs, more and more, eventually becoming dependant. Harrys mother wants to lose weight, trying the egg and grapefruit diet and progressing to speed like diet pills.

The film evolves into something part about obsession and shows us how pathetic life can be. The way all the old ladies girate the postman, wondering when the mail will come. This part kind of saddened me. It really shows you how pathetic and small some peoples lives are. That just made me sad.

Meanwhile Harry and Marian are more dependant on drugs and each character spirals into their own hell. Marian eventually selling herself to get a hit and Harry constantly injecting into a bad arm.

As the film grows and grows and the desperation of each character peaks, the film does become terrifying. Absolutely nightmarish. The montage sequences grow faster, the sounds louder. About the montages, they superbly convey what is ahppening in a non conventional and fitting manner. Split screen is also used a few times and is effective as it focuses on an individual character.

This is a superbly directed and controlled film. It is clear to the eye what effort has gone into many shots within the film. Some shots seems like the characters are passing through a piece of art. I am thinking in particular about the opening sequence where Harry and Tyrone are wheeling the television. The images are just beautiful, unreal in their beauty.

I think that there is a lot of subtext within this film that I can't begin to pick out fully. It is certainly deserving of more viewings.

Finally I did find the film a little repetetive though, despite how innovative it is. At times I did think, this is just a film with Marlon Wayans sitting around and saying, 'thats some righteous shit' every 5 seconds or so. Although I suppose the depiction is realistic. Leading to the next point. The film is a little bit boring at times. As I say it suffered from repetition and I think that maybe the snorting/injecting montage was used to much. Though it does serve as great emphasis.

An undeniably complex and at times ingenius piece of cinema. It becomes terrifying and has left me scared. It wouldn't make my top films list, its to unpleasant for that but I now admit, one year on that it is an incredible film. If a little pretentious.

9/10

Have to just add that the performance of Ellen Burstyn is simply amazing. Really incredible, she is just perfect for the role. Best female performance I've seen for a long, long time.

Myself? I like how powerful it is; I haven't seen too many movies that pack even half as much of an punch. I'll try to respond to some of the comments later, but I can't really do much response right now. Overall, a solid 9/10, because I try not to give out 10/10s too often.