is this the best film of the last 10 years?

Rating: 10/10 (10 May 2002)

tastes differ, that's one thing that is quite sure. but, once in a while, there is a movie which stands up and should be appreciated by ANY taste, nonetheless which this taste is. Requiem for a dream is such a movie.
although the plot might not be very advanced (the movie handles the lives of 4 people who are affected by addictions and loneliness and are eventually totally bereft of their humanity), the rest of this movie is quite superb above many other movies. First, the music. Almost every 5 min, a scene is accompanied by a piece of music (by Clint Mansell and the Cronos Quartet) and NEVER is the music unappropiate. In fact, the music is even that good, that it is actually worhtwhile to buy the soundtrack. Second, the acting is genuine, never forced, always convincing. Ellen Burstyn's acting scene, when she confesses to her son how lonely she is, is so touching, really unbelievable. The direction, with beautiful, sliding shots, split screens and hallucinating takes of the downward spiral of the 4 main characters, gives you enough information on how shitty their lives are and simultaniously keeps you glued to the screen. Shocked and intriged, not much films succeed in this.
As a reaction to a reviewer which stated that Trainspotting is better than this movie because T. shows the good signs and bad signs of drug use, you are completely wrong!!! T. is a buddy movie, where the subject of drugs is taken as a side story development (first, i really liked T. , but the purpose of this movie, unlike R., is not to shock its audience, but to amuse and along the way show what drugs can do). In R., the downward spiral after the addictions in general have kicked in. Therefore, R. is most of the times a shocking film, but with also many beautiful scenes where the main characters try to keep their humanity, before totally collapsing (the scene where Jennifer Connely and Jared Leto at the end of the movie are talking to each other over the phone is truly moving!).
I think this is one of those movies which have to be seen. NO words can describe the true power of this motion picture. For me, everything is perfect. Even when i don't know, i think the coffee for the actors and filming crew was perfect. as my title reads, i think this is the best movie of the 10 last years (yes, i have seen The Usual Suspects, American Beauty, Existenz,......). Never has a movie succeeded in gripping me, changing me and fascinating me for many days after i have seen it.
Therefore : watch Aronofsky's further projects, this man is the future of "Quality American Cinema"!!!