Requiem for a Dream

Rating: Null/10 (14 January 2001)

After being underwhelmed by PI, I wasn't to eager to check out this movie. I had heard so much about how disturbing and hard to watch it was, I almost felt like I was resisting the story at first. Like I was a little let down--sure, this stuff was depressing, but it wasn't THAT bad. An hour and a half later, I walked out of the film and turned to my friend and said: "Man...that was some film". You see some awful things, but they're shot so beautifully and the editing is so frenetic, you can't look away. Even during the TITICUT FOLLIES-inspired nose-feeding scene, you are captivated. Even those who would compare Aronofsky's style to the school of MTV quick edits can't deny he has a way with actors. Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Connelly will probably never do better work in their lives. And Ellen Burstyn...wow. Watching this in a theater the same weekend her wonderful EXORCIST performance was re-released just reminds us all she is a national treasure. In the end, many disturbing things happen to many people but nothing tears at your heart more than the simpleness and reality of her character's descent. She is absolutely perfect.