Really Messes With Your Head... Kubrick Would be Proud

Rating: 9/10 (1 August 2005)

My friends and I joke that this movie should take the place of the Dare program, but with the intense visuals, engaging story and characters, and the last 15 minutes, I can't help but to wonder.
The story revolves around four individuals (Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans, Jennifer Connoly, and Ellyn Burnstyn) who become victims of their own addictions (Heroin, Cocaine, and Diet Pills), and thus begins the downward spiral. I'm not going to go into great detail about the spiral, because, quite frankly, it's not something I want to think about.
The combination of great acting with superb directing is what places this film among some of the best ever committed to celluloid. What particularly surprised me was Marlon Wayans; having only seen him in dumb comedies (Scary Movie 1 & 2, Don't be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the 'Hood), he actually proves his acting chops in this role. This isn't to diminish the other actors, though. After all, "Requiem" is an ensemble effort.
Arronofsky really takes care in building up the characters before breaking them down, and by the end, you're left with nothing but a requiem.
On a side note: I've sat through slasher flicks, I've seen my share of ghost stories and psychological thrillers, but this is the only movie to date that has ever given me nightmares. If that doesn't say anything about a movie, I don't know what does.