Not just an anti-drug movie

Rating: 10/10 (19 March 2002)

I just got done watching this film for the first time and all I can say is wow. This is a movie that will hit you hard. It was incredibly shocking and disturbing at times but it presents some great themes and isn't to be labelled as simply another anti-drug movie or a film that's only purpose is to make you feel miserable. Before I talk about the movie's themes though I just want to quickly praise some of the other brilliant features of the film. First, the cinematography is amazing. This is probably one of the best shot movies that I can think of. The director does an amazing job here and I think that this is what has some people passing the movie off as just some artsy film with no real message. Not true however. The acting in the film is top notch as well. All actors deliver amazing performances, surprisingly, including Marlon Wayans. He should really consider moving on to more dramatic performances. Jared Leto is excellent and the woman that played his mother should have won an oscar. You'll have to watch this movie to get the full idea of this as words alone cannot express how good she was. Jennifer Connelly also gives an amazing performance. Now, onto the themes of this movie. This movie is by no means simply an anti-drug movie. The director is smart enough to realize that there is enough anti-drug films out there. He wouldn't have made this movie if his sole intent was just to dissuade people from taking drugs. To put it simply, this movie is anti-that which gives us false hope. There is a reason that the mother in the film loves watching TV and dreams about getting on that show. Whether it be drugs, the media, or anything else, the director is pointing out that these things, which brainwash us, are wrong. While they may give us a temporary sense of hope, in the end, they only crush our dreams and our lives. Look at the title of the movie: Requiem For A Dream.