The only other Aronofsky film I have seen is Pi. The director continues to act like a surgeon and opens up American culture for inspection. We're all in there somewhere. A better description, you ask, "And the children are all insane". Give it a view. By Coffee.
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Though the consequences of drug use by all 4 characters in Requiem for a Dream are horrific and horrifying, the movie still infuses the drug culture with a glamour and an excitement it doesn't deserve. Drug abuse is a sordid, rather stupid affair with behaviors that are vacant of any excitement or any drama. There is a lot of idle sitting, staring at the TV, maybe some pacing, plenty of nodding off or looking transfixed though the window blinds, paranoid. In the sweaty, nervous pursuit of the money necessary to buy the drugs; there is some action, most of it either petty crimes of theft or lying to extract loans from friends and relatives. In Requiem there is the glamorous high finance of drug dealing and beautiful people engaged in quirky, stylish self-immolation. There is the loss of limbs, extreme sexual abuse, avant garde hallucinations, poignant crying in jail curled up in a fetal position. It's a movie; so the self-destruction has to be over the top. There is no steady withering away of possessions, love, self-respect until the slow transformation of appearance and personality into a hollow shell is complete. No the real insidiousness of drug abuse -- the devolving into animalistic behavior -- is here portrayed as an almost heroic decline into a slasher horror movie where Freddy is heroin.Read full review
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Requiem for a Dream is a disturbing movie all the way through. If drug use and what becomes of those who allow it to control their lives bothers you...probably a bad idea to see this film. The simplicity of the characters and the unraveling of the script is exteremly effective. To me, if I had ever had a notion to become a junky...this would have stopped me in my tracks. The story is actually two stories in one. Harry's mother is obsessed with becoming thin as she really believes that a typical "telemarketer" type call will lead her to fame on a tv show. She is insistant on wearing a red dress from before her husband died that she longer fits into. After going to a doctor who didn't seem to really even know she was even in the room or at least didn't care...he hands over pills for her to take to lose weight. Amphetamines. To be taken several times a day and one other type to crash at night. The pills start to work and she is becoming happy that her weight is dropping. Her son Harry is a heroine addict has made a life of stealing from her and doing whatever it took to get the cash for his hits alongside his girlfriend Marion. Both have realistic dreams they want to come true as far as work, their life, etc. In order to get there though...they need money. Harry visits his mom who is now having symptoms of additions to speed but she is not concerned about it until her world starts to collapse right before her eyes. Harry and Marion get involved in a profitable encounter that leaves them with all the money they could want or need...until something goes wrong and their dreams are shattered. Sad as it was that they will probably never accomplish a normal life or job etc...the consequences of their involvement to maintain an already bad habit turns into a complete nightmare that none of them can wake up from. The back and forth sequences between Harry's mother and Harry and Marion are showing that they are all people who want to have something that just wasn't meant to be and at a high price. Unbelievably realistic movie, excellent visual and sound effects, great story, well played. There are definitely some very gut wrenching scenes that are very disturbing, but it is worth it 100%. Highly recommended!!!Read full review
This is a remarkably dark, depressing, and profoundly unsettling film. 4 idealistic friends go into drug dealing in hopes of making $$ and getting a better high. They begin the movie with all manner of opportunities - healthy, young, strong, intelligent. Sinking deeper into an abyss of moral and physical decay, the movie shows what must be the worst possible scenario of their lives. Drug dealing, gangs, betrayal, imprisonment, prostitution, amputation...the most disgusting and revolting, and at the same time captivating story. I never needed any of those talks at school about avoiding drugs after seeing this film. Parents: make your teens watch this movie. Save your breath. No lectures needed. Schools could replace entire anti-drug programs simply by showing this movie. Check out this movie, if you think you can stand it.....Read full review
LOVED the visuals. Loved it. I felt like I was actually watching a piece of art transforming before my eyes. Very, very disturbing images, as the other reviewers said, but captivating at the same time. I really got lost in this movie and felt like I was sinking into their world. When a movie can do that to me, it's done it's job as far as I'm concerned. Well done. Would definitely recommend this movie. *Warning-Possible Spoilers* I would have rated it excellent except for the ending, which, although nicely "visually" wrapped up with all of them in the fetal position, I felt I needed more closure. Usually you can watch a movie and even though they don't show you the happy or tragic ending, your imagination takes you there, but with this one, I didn't get that.Read full review
This film always leaves me despondent. I felt that it was able to evoke some dark emotions I don't regularly experience; This fact leads me to believe its a well produced movie. The cinematography and the sound track added a lot to the plot and made me feel this one a little more deeply then other movies dealing with life of a "Junkie". I however don't recommend it to everybody; The subject matter in the movie is graphic, to say the least, and can be disturbing even to grown adults. Its definitely one of my favorite movies, but the material is so "Heavy" I couldn't watch it every day. The movie doesn't glamorize drug use, but parents should censor this movie from impressionable teenagers.
This movie does NOT pull any punches and gives an amazingly accurate portrayal of why and how people get lost in drug use trying to cope with their fears and insecurities. It shows us not only the toll on the person's psyche, but also how their denial and desperate attempts to keep everything "together" keeps them in a downward spiral morally and physically. This film is not for those who are easily disturbed by graphic content. The Not Rated(NR) version is the one to see if you want to experience the real power of this film. I HIGHLY recommend this movie, it is in a class of it's own....a must see!!
First off, I though Marlon Wayans was a buffoon until I saw this movie, he can ACT! This is a gritty, dirty, ugly tale of the downward spiral of drugs. Uncomfortable to watch, not for the squeamish, but it paints a very vivid technicolor picture of the Director's vision. I wish I'd seen it in 2000. I'd recommend it to parents of tween age children to deter drug use. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more of Darren Aronfsky's work.
This kind of movie does not come along often and this one delivers with standout performances and directing. I found this movie hard to watch but could not tear myself away. It's main focus is on the highs,lows and pain of drug addiction and the desperate things people will go to for one more "fix". I have never thought about doing drugs ever in my lifetime and never will, but if I were thinking about it and watched this movie first my mind would be forever changed. All high school aged kids should see this movie as a drug education course-they would stay clean for life!! Jared Leto, Marlan Wayans, Ellen Burston & Jennifer Connely all deliver with believable characters and oscar worthy performances. I found myself absorbed in each character hoping the best for them, but in the back of my mind knowing they were spiraling out of control past the breaking point of which they could never return. The last 30 minutes of the movie is the most extreme and shocking! I felt exhausted when this movie ended and felt like I had went into the experiences with each character. I was truly at a loss for words. It does get quite graphic and I think that was needed to get the effect to come out on screen. Over all Requiem for a Dream is excellent and it delivers!! *******Read full review
to watch and try to understand this movie you have to think harder. Very intricate with subplots within subplots. Dizzying task to keep up with all the intricate and well thought out concepts. this movie teaches a lot of things that would befuddle even an experienced psychiatrist. perfect job. I am impressed. I guess not all of Hollywood turns out pretty lousy movies. These actors and actresses really had to work hard and actually relied on talent and not all action sequences only. This shows that many Hollywood people actually have very strong minds. I appreciate the psychological aspects with their very twisting plots within plots. This movie made me feel good. Like I actually accomplished understanding a really hard subject. Or idea. Or a complex maze.
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