Breathtaking and Amazing

Rating: 10/10 (15 May 2002)

First off, I need to get something off my chest before I comment on this movie. Those of you who compare this movie to Trainspotting and thus label it as an "anti-drug" movie is a fool. Darren Aronofsky said himself that this movie is not really about drugs, but "about love. More importantly, what happens when love goes wrong." You can plainly see that the characters truly love one another; it's pretty much all they have. Their various addictions - mostly substance addictions - are chronicled not merely as a sign of weakness, but a comparison to their hopes and dreams. And I'm quite certain that's the way Hubert Selby, Jr., intended it to be when he wrote the book nearly 24 years ago.
Sara dreams about being on television; her addiction to diet pills and obsession over the red dress emphasizes that.
Harry, Marion, and Tyrone all dream about being successful; their addiction to cocaine, herion, etc, all reflect on that, and how they let their dreams overtake their conscience.
The film itself is excellent. Definately one of the most amazing movies I've seen in quite some time. The cinematography is also great, and the performances by Burstyn, Leto, Connelly, and Wayans are all first-rate. But, my favorite part of the movie is its score. The soundtrack during the film is almost haunting.
All-in-all, this movie is definately worth watching. If it leaves you speechless by the end of it...then Aronofsky has done his job. And if it leaves you with questions unanswered, here's one simple answer:
"Because we choose to live the dream instead of living the life."
****/****(four out of four stars)