Sublime, masterful filmmaking.........

Rating: Null/10 (6 July 2001)

I saw Requiem for the first time back in November, and I've seen it numerous times since that unforgetable initial viewing. This masterpiece has left an indelible impression on me, and for this, I am truly thankful to Darren Aronofsky. For me, this film evokes passions and emotions that I've truly never felt before, and that's quite an accomplishment for a film. Throughout each viewing, I remain truly captivated and saddened by the downward spiral that the characters experience, courtesy of Aronofsky and author Hubert Selby, Jr.. Since many of the reviewers on this site have already included a synopsis of some sort, I will exclude any sort of summary, and will attempt to expand on the general mood of the movie, and how it is achieved.

In an effort to convey the abject pain and despair his characters experience, Aronofsky tactfully and deftly employs just about every trick in the book. Each scene utilizes some sort of clever camera angle, and the colors he uses always seem to be congruous with the mood of the film: dark and dreary. Actually, the aesthetics in general only serve to bolster the lightless depravity of Requiem. Also, Aronofsky does a masterful job at squeezing out the absolute most out of every actor/actress in this production. Contrary to what many people have posted, he does delve a little into each character (this is done in varying degrees), and while I couldn't empathize with any of the characters, I definitely did sympathize with their plight. Finally, Clint Mansel and the Kronos Quartet have added the most indefectible original score ever, in my opinion. As great as the film is, it just would not be the same without the haunting, chilling music.

So much more could be said, but as you can see, so many have already skillfully expounded their feelings in this forum. I can only say that for me, no movie will ever elicit such powerful emotion from me again. Even after numerous viewings, I am still completely spellbound by this well-crafted magnum opus. I am not a fan of the Batman franchise, but it will certainly be interesting to see what Aronofsky can do with this sinking ship.