Elegantly Vulgar

Rating: 9/10 (27 April 2004)

Aronofsky delivers a murky dream world set in a pitiless city (New York) focusing on hopeless situations, missed connections and the trappings of being socially disconnected from loved ones. What hits hardest in this film is the simple point missed by so many people I've talked to about this movie. The film's main message wasn't in my opinion about destructive drug behavior (that seems more like a frame or device) so much as a sad tale about the inability to relate and communicate with loved ones. Turning away from what could provide support into a family-like world of drug friends and drug fiends Leto's character continues his travels in what is alluded to in the movie having already been a long history of drug abuse and problems.

I got the feeling that all of the characters had no idea what they wanted to do with their lives so they passed the time with drugs and schemes of a better life, no matter how low-life the goals seemed. At first everything is going great, ah, but the best laid plans of mice and men shall go astray as they do. this makes the story pop to life. I've known people like this in life, maybe not to this dark degree but it was an interesting allegory about modern malaise and quick fix American life. Straight arrow characters in white suits hardly make for an interesting story so down a crooked path the film travels. The film is hard to take at times and is not for everyone. I do find it troubling the amount of fetishistic worship put into this film. I suppose that in itself is noir commentary on parts of our culture.
Stark cinematography, excellent actor performances and pitch black tone this film frames a world of pain and suffering for the characters. The films climax is very brutal and for some it might be hard to watch. Despite what some think about the ending being hopeless, I disagree. I felt that there was a small ray of light shining into Harry's mind that maybe a reconnection with his family was possible, however it was more likely given the history of the character that only more pain was in store. When you speculate about the future of a characters after the conclusion of the film, that's when you know the director has created a great story.
Sharp and nihilistic cinema. 9/10