Drugs, as I understand it, are bad

Rating: 8/10 (8 January 2001)

So I saw Requiem a while ago, and I feel it has been long enough ago that I can fairly evaluate it. This is 8/9 of a great movie. Let me explain. I judge movie by three catagories: Direction, acting, and overall story.
In Direction, Aronofsky has employed some of the most visually stunning and novel camera tricks I have ever seen. His rapid fire cuts to his neurotic screen hallucinations are better than anything that has come before.
In Acting, Leto was wonderful. I felt for him at every turn. Even Marlon Wayans, who I generally dispise, was more than adequate. Jennifer Connely was also quite endearing. But I like many others was most drawn in by Ellen Burstyn. Here dessent into madness was nothing less than tragic.
And Finally in Direction.Now here is where I was less than satified. I broke this down into three subcatagories. Beginning, Middle, and End. the Beginning, we were introduced to the characters and shown there flaws and strengths magnificently. The middle played up there weaknesses which should have set up the ending where we show how there strengths would overcome their weaknesses. The end, um there was no end. I mean the movie is over, but as far as I could tell there was no adequate end to this movie. Yes, I know its an art house film and it doesn't have a happy Hollywood ending,but it was needlessly abrupt and depressing. Just thinking about Connelly, Burstyn or even Wayans end still depresses me.

Disclaimer: I did however like the end to Unbreakable and Dancer in the dark so if you've seen those movies and didn't go ahead and disqualify my opinion.