A relentless and raw film that must be seen

Rating: Null/10 (19 August 2001)

It would be a grave error to call Darren Aranofsky's Requiem for a Dream' a mere drug film. This thought-provoking and visually stylistic film represents much more than simple addiction. The addiction in question can be anything from hope, television, money and drugs. Aranofsky accomplishes this transfer of knowledge from the screen to the viewer through an incredibly groundbreaking method of visual techniques and trickery, which result in a guilty and confusing mind-trip that will stay with the viewer long after the film is over. Requiem' traces the complex characterizations of four richly developed characters in their quest for possible redemption and salvation. Ellen Burstyn plays Sara Goldfarb, a lonely widowed elderly woman fixated on losing weight. While Jared Leto plays her estranged junkie son; Harry, while Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans play Harry's girlfriend and best friend in crime respectively. The interesting thing about this film is that for the first twenty minutes the viewer is entranced in a myriad of character development that ultimately leaves the viewer breathless and confused. Yet, we still watch because we want to find out what happens to these poor souls on their ill-fated journeys. Each character has a specific journey that all come together in the end resulting in this film being a total trance for the viewer. The drug sequences are exquisitely implemented and leave the viewer with a sense of disillusionment as if they had just injected themselves with the drug. Yet, the visuals do not stop there. Aranofsky uses plenty of split-screen action to convey the point; in my opinion that although these characters are all connected in a sense they still are all lonely, personable souls seeking something that lacks in their empty lives. Furthermore, this film is not only visuals - In looking at the film from a symbolic perspective, there are many subtle messages that can be discovered in the film, yet the ultimate message is hope and acceptance. These characters come to the gruesome realization that they all have none. Hope is something one creates, and without it, their lives are meaningless, therefore they are not accepted. This film will not please everyone; it is edgy, graphic, and coarse in content. This film does not hide the fact that it deals with some harsh subject matter that is touchy to some people. This film clearly states that for some people  life sucks, and there is no hope. For example, Burstyn gives an incredible performance as a lonely widow who is addicted to television. One day she receives a call from her motivational TV guru to appear on his show. Seeing as she is overweight, her friend refers her to diet pills. Therein lies the journey into the descent of her misery. Slowly the viewer is pitted inside her mind as muffins appear in her dreams, her refrigerator sneaks up on her and well-cooked, tasty dishes mysteriously appear out of nowhere due to her fearsome appetite. This is just one example of how well this film is made. This is revolutionary filmmaking at its' best. Aranofsky has brought to life a great story bu Hubert Selby, Jr. and transformed into an intricate, complex and entertaining cinematic experience that captures the viewer from the first frame and does not let go until that final devastating frame.
Giancarlo's Rating: *** (out of four)