Very nihilistic drug addiction movie....

Rating: 8/10 (25 June 2017)

Darren Aronofsky is anything but conventional, and this is another in that line. There have been various excellent movies on the inner workings of drug addiction (e.g. Trainspotting), but there are countless stories to tell and this is another that ranks highly. Centres round a circle of drug addicts who are caught up in a downward spiral, with the mother of one of them finding herself unintentionally mirroring their errors.
There are many facets to recommend this movie to any adult. The story is well written, the direction is sharp and intriguing, and the acting is peerless. One of the most surprising parts is that by Ellen Burstyn in a role that just blows everything out of the water in this film as the mother who gets caught up in the drug addiction of her beloved son. She was just wonderful and heart breaking to watch. The rest are also excellent, and Jared Leto is unlikely to ever better this.
The film direction is very sharp, with cuts/redirections very quickly to provide an unsettling feel. It works and unsettles you.
We are watching the rapid inevitable decline of this circle of people, and it's uncomfortable to watch. Yet it's important, it opens up a window to their world and provides further insight and questions which need to be noted.
I'd recommend this to anyone with a strong stomach. It's a tough viewing but highly interesting.