Requiem=Pi squared?

Rating: 9/10 (7 May 2006)

One of the reasons I enjoyed Requiem for a Dream was that in many aspects (especially the visual) it was very much like Pi, only amped up a notch. As specific examples: the quick montages of Susan taking one extra pill every time mirror those of Max in Pi doing the same. Also, Aronofsky has taken out his trusty camera that straps to the actor and points at their face. Again, he uses this in both films in moderation and to great effect. Finally, I found that in both films, at the climax, there was a rush of confusion and emotion. In this case, as I was watching the small scene where Harry's arm is being cut into, I was immediately reminded of the drill scene in Pi. So, I would say that throughout this film I got the sense that Pi was simply practice for Aronofsky, and his final goal was Requiem: there is only one character in Pi,as opposed to four; Pi is black and white, while Requiem plays with color to set the mood throughout; etc. This is Aronofsky at his finest, and I believe he may have set the standard for drug-related drama.