The best film of 2000

Rating: Null/10 (30 April 2001)

Darren Aronofsky showed that he knew how to tell a visually-striking story with "Pi" in 1998, but with "Requiem for a Dream" he stands as the best director of the new generation. Kevin Smith, Alexander Payne, Todd Solondz -- none of them have the audacity, the love or passion that Aronofsky does. Ellen Burstyn was robbed of an Oscar for her portrayal of Sara Goldfarb, a lonely Coney Island widow who embarks on a dark journey of madness when she is perscribed diet pills by a quack doctor. The film centers on her strife, and it is harrowing and unforgettable to watch a human being disinegrate in front of your eyes. The acting, direction, production design, score and cinematography are first-rate. "American Beauty" presented a high bar for a film to reach for. "Requiem for a Dream" rises to the challenge.