One of the most gut-wrenching films I've ever experienced, and even after 10 or so viewings, the impact has only lessened minimally. Directed by one of Hollywood's hottest, Darren Aronofsky, and featuring arguably the best score by film composer Clint Mansell (although my sentiments lie with his mournful work in The Fountain), Requiem for a Dream is an expertly crafted motion picture.
The story centers around four individuals, all connected through Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto). His mother, Sara (Ellen Burstyn), receives a phone call one day, telling her that she has won the opportunity to appear on a television show. Faced with the recent death of her husband, and the waywardness of her son, she feels lonely and insignificant, and sees this as an opportunity to be admired and loved. So she tries various diets to improve her physical appearance, and when they don't seem to be working fast enough, she turns to diet pills recommended by a friend.
Harry and his best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans), in an attempt to make fast money to fulfill their 'dreams' of the future, start to sell drugs with the intention of stopping when they've reached their goal. But greed takes over, and they soon find themselves caught up in a dangerous and unpredictable lifestyle, with no apparent way of escape.
Harry's girlfriend, Marion (Jennifer Connelly), is at odds with her parents, and wants to start a life of her own. She and Harry's dreams are centered around a happy and fulfilled future together, and this is the driving force behind Harry's involvement in drug pushing. Tyrone's ambition is to 'make it', in any way possible, driven by the desire to make his mother proud of him. The four set off with a goal in mind, but because of the routes they choose to get there, they receive a nightmare in place of their 'dream'.
This film is NOT for everyone. This is a brutal film, that contains explicit images of the gradual degradation of it's characters. Aronofsky's interpretation of this Hubert Selby Jr. novel is immaculate, and this is one of the finest examples of film direction I have ever seen. The editing is also a work of art, and one of the top-notch examples in cinema history. Mansell's score is magnificent, and incredibly addictive - you will hear this in your sleep for weeks after seeing the film!
Every performance in this film is worthy of mention, but none moreso than Ellen Burstyn's heartbreaking turn as Sara. This performance is flawless from start to finish, and represents one of the greatest performances by an actress in a leading role ever filmed. Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans are all perfect - with Leto given the edge of the three. And Keith David, who seems to show up in every movie I watch, is memorable in a couple scenes with Connelly.
Requiem for a Dream is a wonder to look at. The cinematography and detailed editing makes this film a visual masterpiece. This is quite possibly the best 'anti-drug' movie ever made. It is a tour de force trip through the effects of habitual substance abuse - the end result of which is indeed, a nightmare.
© 2007 Kim Bartlett
The story centers around four individuals, all connected through Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto). His mother, Sara (Ellen Burstyn), receives a phone call one day, telling her that she has won the opportunity to appear on a television show. Faced with the recent death of her husband, and the waywardness of her son, she feels lonely and insignificant, and sees this as an opportunity to be admired and loved. So she tries various diets to improve her physical appearance, and when they don't seem to be working fast enough, she turns to diet pills recommended by a friend.
Harry and his best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans), in an attempt to make fast money to fulfill their 'dreams' of the future, start to sell drugs with the intention of stopping when they've reached their goal. But greed takes over, and they soon find themselves caught up in a dangerous and unpredictable lifestyle, with no apparent way of escape.
Harry's girlfriend, Marion (Jennifer Connelly), is at odds with her parents, and wants to start a life of her own. She and Harry's dreams are centered around a happy and fulfilled future together, and this is the driving force behind Harry's involvement in drug pushing. Tyrone's ambition is to 'make it', in any way possible, driven by the desire to make his mother proud of him. The four set off with a goal in mind, but because of the routes they choose to get there, they receive a nightmare in place of their 'dream'.
This film is NOT for everyone. This is a brutal film, that contains explicit images of the gradual degradation of it's characters. Aronofsky's interpretation of this Hubert Selby Jr. novel is immaculate, and this is one of the finest examples of film direction I have ever seen. The editing is also a work of art, and one of the top-notch examples in cinema history. Mansell's score is magnificent, and incredibly addictive - you will hear this in your sleep for weeks after seeing the film!
Every performance in this film is worthy of mention, but none moreso than Ellen Burstyn's heartbreaking turn as Sara. This performance is flawless from start to finish, and represents one of the greatest performances by an actress in a leading role ever filmed. Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans are all perfect - with Leto given the edge of the three. And Keith David, who seems to show up in every movie I watch, is memorable in a couple scenes with Connelly.
Requiem for a Dream is a wonder to look at. The cinematography and detailed editing makes this film a visual masterpiece. This is quite possibly the best 'anti-drug' movie ever made. It is a tour de force trip through the effects of habitual substance abuse - the end result of which is indeed, a nightmare.
© 2007 Kim Bartlett
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