Ellen Burstyn is stunning

Rating: 9/10 (27 April 2002)

This movie is really, really(!) depressing. Punishing is the word another reviewer used, and that seems a good description. I felt like someone had used a mental sledge hammer on me after watching. I will not forget this movie for a long, long time.
Considering the issues involved with "recreational" and more serious drug use, and the real world consequences from both types, the movie is completely successful. Ellen Burstyn is absolutely stunning and captivating: her performance culminated in one of the most memorable, spellbinding, punishing (yeah, he was right about that!) endings I have ever seen in a movie.
Jennifer Connelly's performance is riveting, and completely, depressingly, agonizingly believable. Leto and Wayans do not detract with excellent performances.
Aronofsky provides incredible visuals with the movie. I really enjoyed the kinetic elements involved with the drug use. The movie has a great sound track.
Trainspotting is another absolutely riveting movie about drug use that I would compare to this. Requiem is much more directly depressing, and especially through Burstyn and Connelly, more effective. Watch this movie. Pick a night when you want to see something serious. See if you can get your parents to watch it. Make sure your older (at least the adult) children do.