Dreaming for an Audience

Rating: Null/10 (2 December 2000)

The Beginning
Hubert Selby Jr. wrote a novel in 1979 about four addicts on a downward spiral entitled Requiem for a Dream. Working alongside young writer/director Darren Aronofsky (Pi), Selby co-wrote the screenplay based on the novel. The film is now in select theaters.
The Movie
Requiem for a Dream follows the life of four characters, (Jared Leto, Jennifer Connely, Marlon Wayans, and Ellen Burstyn) connected to one another by family or friendship, trying to live a happy life. Leto is a young man trying to make a lot of money selling drugs with Wayans in order to start a real business with his girlfriend, Connely. Burstyn plays the mother of Leto's character and she dreams of being on television and losing the weight she has acquired over the years in order to do so. While Requiem is obviously an anti-drug film, it goes one step further and is more about addictions and self-destructive behaviors. The characters are trapped in a vicious circle of behaviors that are impossible to escape and only grow deeper as time moves on. The dreams fall further and further away as they enter a downward drug spiral. When people hear a movie is NC-17, they automatically think of hardcore sex or excessive violence. And most of the time, they're right. But Requiem is about the realism that goes along with drug use and addiction and the hopes and dreams that are shattered because of it. The film should be seen and appreciated for the message it presents. But because it's NC-17, many people won't even give it a chance.
The Review
Amazingly powerful and poignant. Now, marijuana is one thing. Folks who say, `drugs aren't that bad, I've smoked weed here and there and I'm fine' don't know a thing about big time drug use. Watching the characters in this film use hard drugs and then watching as their lives are slowly destroyed is not an easy thing to sit through. Director Darren Aronofsky makes sure that you don't take it lightly with his quick editing and extreme imagery that is sure to stun. This film truly shows the horrible life that drugs can lead to. And for you weed aficionados out there, this isn't nearly the same thing. Ellen Burstyn is absolutely remarkable. I have not seen much of her work but she is top notch here. This was not a simple role and she was completely convincing as well as touching and diverse. Jared Leto and Jennifer Connely both shine in their roles. They share a sweet relationship even through the rough times as drugs lead their lives in terrible directions. Marlon Wayans was terrific. After seeing his comedy sketches and Scary Movie, I was unsure he could pull this type of role off but he did it well. As we hope for all of the characters to pull through, Aronofsky gives us the realistic resolutions that happen in the life of drug users. The cinematography is wonderful as it changes with the seasons in the film and the characters ever darkening lifestyles. The soundtrack is mesmerizing and perfectly suits the film. Many argue that the editing of the film is pretentious or down right excessive. The difference in shots and, most importantly, the drug use scenes are critical parts in the delivery of this film. See it and you'll know what I mean. Because this film is NC-17, theaters will not allow admittance to anyone under 17, even if the parent is there and approves. At the age of 22, I got carded trying to see it. Hell, I had to travel an hour to Denver to see it because conservative Colorado Springs won't show it. And even in Denver, it was only available in one theater. There is a big spectacle about young people seeing this. I would rather it be Unrated or NC-17 than to have seen it cut down to an R rating. Cutting down this film would take away from the entire point and the true affect would have been lost. I also think that this movie should be seen by a younger demographic because in many instances, that's where drug use and addiction begins. Sure, there are many scenes of gratuity and brutal honesty in the depiction of drug use and the surrounding life but that's the point. And this is the type of film that can stop people from pursuing that type of life. And instead of turning teenagers off to that type of lifestyle, we're keeping one of the biggest reasons for them to avoid drugs away from them. But hey, they can always watch flicks like Natural Born Killers, right? Since we forbid them from seeing a gripping film about drug use, we'll make it up to them by letting them watch all sorts of films filled with sex and violence everywhere else. Bravo. No other film I know of can compare to the reality that Requiem for a Dream portrays and the emotional turmoil surrounding such events. Trainspotting and The Basketball Diaries, to name a couple, don't even come close. The film is hard to stomach for many people because the images are definitely disturbing. But so is drug use. This film spares nothing in showing the viewer the lengths people will go to in order to feed their addictions and the results that come from it all.