Inspiring in the sense that anyone can do this.

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2001)

I do not consider myself a critic of movies. I just know what I like or don't like. Everything is an opinion.
Good.
Great movie. Stunning visuals, beautiful score and good acting. Great editing and camera work. Very innovative to those who don't know innovation. There are a lot of people in this world who have ideas like this, but somehow, either by chance or fate, all of them do not have the opportunity to prove themselves. Everyone in this film worked hard under Aronofsky's guidance as director, and it definitely pays off. It's a wholly immersive experience, and it's nice to see risks taken.
Bad
Others have had the idea of constant music dubbed throughout and the whole artsy euro-blue and green tinting is definitely overdone. I know greens and blue are hip and artsy and fun to look at, but for God's sake, it's old. Steadicam frontal shots have been done. One of the weaknesses of losing focus on the story and angling in on the sensory aspect is that it becomes just something beautiful to watch. I feel the loss of a fun story and miss more of a character driven dialogue aspect. We do see the visual throughline in this movie, so that keeps it together. The effects of drugs, especially on Mrs. Goldfarb, are exaggerated. Diet pills do not equal LSD. Maybe she took too much?
Maybe it's wrong to say we shouldn't do something that's already been done. We should applaud a good use of something that already exists, and just because a certain person thinks this is a masterpiece doesn't have any more weight than someone who thinks it sucks.
I think it's a great film. There are those who lead and those who follow. Followers will be awed by this, but leaders will be content and assured. The bar has been raised and I have been inspired. I am happy.