Bleak, blistering, powerful, not to be watched by those who feel depressed

Rating: 8/10 (25 February 2001)

This is not an easy film to watch, even on your best of days. It is a very depressing tale of a woman Sara (Ellen Burstyn, in a brilliant performance) and her son Harry (Jared Leto). Both are addicted to drugs of some sort. Sara to diet pills, Harry to the hard stuff. Harry's girlfriend and best friend are also addicts. They all have their dreams, which are fading away. The four characters are spiraling downwards into an abyss. The film uses many different visual techniques to get its message across. The soundtrack adds a melancholic feel to the film. The last reel is painful to watch. The final scenes are intensely depressing. A crescendo of quick flash images of kick you in the face despair. This film should be watched by everyone who is thinking about taking drugs, because after watching this film, you'll think twice about it.