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| Requiem For a Dream |
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 (10/10)
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Runtime: 100 |
| Public Rating: 8.67 (176 votes) |
Director: Darren Aronofsky |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: Drama |
Year: 2000 |
| Writer(s): Hubert Selby Jr. |
| Reviewed by: mazzyboi |
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I saw "Requiem for a Dream" for the first time last October, and by the end of the year, I have named it as my choice for the best picture of 2000. Since I started my little website in January, I was not able to write a formal review for it. The movie was not fresh in my mind anymore. However, now that the film has been released back in more theaters due to Ellen Burstyn's Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, I was able to check it out again.
I can now safely say that "Requiem for a Dream" is still the best movie of 2000, even after a slew of excellent films such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "You Can Count on Me" and "Traffic". No other movie from last year is as haunting and memorable as this.
A requiem is defined as "a musical composition in honor of the dead", and the title "Requiem for a Dream" perfectly describes what the movie is all about. Sara Goldfarb (played by Ellen Burstyn) is a lonely old widow who has nothing else going for her. One day, she receives a phone call from a studio saying that she has been selected to appear on one of their shows. Of course Sara is excited by the invitation and prepares for her impending television appearance. She tries on an old red dress that her husband used to like on her, but she realizes that she needs to lose some weight. Sara tries the diet approach, but we all know that hardly ever works. Eventually, she becomes addicted to weight loss pills. The other thread of the story is with her son Harold (played by Jared Leto). Harry, along with his best friend (Marlon Wayans) and his girlfriend (Jennifer Connelly), wants to open up a business, but they are haunted by their own demons of heroin addiction. These characters' unrealized addictions lead to their unevitable downward spiral.
First and foremost, the camera work used for this film is one of the best, if not the best, that I have ever seen. The use of split-screen, slow-motion, fast-motion and repetition is used very effectively. We do not just passively sit and watch what is going on, but we see, think and feel what the characters are going through, whether it be a moment of romantic intimacy or being strung out on drugs. The musical score is also remarkable. In fact, with just the images and the music, the film can stand by itself.
I also like the way the characters are humanized. These people have dreams and hopes of a better life, but their addictions keep them from realizing these. We root for them throughout the film, yet we can't help but feel helpless and sorry for their harrowing experiences.
The performances are also to be appreciated. Ellen Burstyn deserves to win the Oscar, and it would be a true injustice if she does not. This goes for the rest of the cast. Leto, Connelly and Wayans are superb, and they were greatly overlooked for their performances.
This is disturbing film and it is definitely not for the squeamish. However, if you want to see a powerful and emotional film, go check out "Requiem for a Dream".
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