Rating of
3/4
More of an experience than an enjoyable film.
2605 - wrote on 01/15/10
*Spoilers Ahead*
Requiem for a Dream is a film with a familiar message (apparently drug addiction isn't that pleasant), but is stand outs by the shocking way in which this message is delivered. The films follows the descent of four characters into drug dependence. Leto, Wayans and Connelly play heroin addicts, and the beats of their story are somewhat standard. However, performances are uniformly strong (especially Connelly, who resorts to selling her own body to feed her habit), and it is heartbreaking to see people who are essentially decent ruin their lives. Ellen Burstyn's performance recieved the most plaudits upon release, and was rewarded with an Oscar nomination. Her story thread is the most unusual, initially dealing with an addiction to food, and then to diet pills. The transformation of Burstyn's character from a plump mother worried about her weight to a skeletal figure undergoing electroshock therapy is the aspect of the film which will stay with me the longest. However, certain aspects of her deterioration seem over the top and almost comedic - I'm looking at you 'Possessed Fridge'. Aronofsky's direction is highly kinetic, and captures the rush given by drug use as well as showing the after effects in an uncompromising light. A final note on the music - the leitmotif running throughout the film has since been used in trailers for Lord of the Rings, 300, and Sunshine. Hearing it in this smaller scale film now seems slightly odd (this is obviously not a fault of the film itself).
Conclusion: Don't go in expecting an uplifting experience or an easy watch, but if you can see it through then this will be a film that stays with you.
