Ugly. Hideous. Unwatchable. Beautiful.

Rating: 10/10 (9 August 2002)

Darren Aronofsky is the best current director in the USA... with a runner up to M. Night Shyamalan.
This is one of the most unwatchable films I have ever seen. Not unwatchable, as in bad, but unwatchable, as in painful. Every moment of this film you keep wishing the despicable characters would not do what they're about to do, driving themselves farther into addiction. Why does the viewer wish the characters a better fate? Despite them being despicable, we see ourselves in the characters, and fall in love with this. This is a rare feat accomplished by Darren Aronofsky and the actors, especially Marlon Wayans. I remember saying "Oh NO!" when I caught this film at the underground theater (the Ritz 5, for the locals) in Philadelphia. However, Marlon Wayan proves here that... and this will shock some of you... he can ACT!
This is not to say Jared Leto or Jennifer Connelly were not fantastic - they were. However, Marlon is the true standout in the film. Aronofsky is amazing in his filming techniques, much like his colleague, Mr. Shyamalan. Both use camera techniques, close ups, and stories of horror and personal change to create dark, touching films.
Most of Americana believe that Shyamalan is the "dark, intellectual" director in America.
To them, I say "Shyamalan is great... but have you seen Aronofsky?"
If you ever want to question your own past, present and future, your own mind, and the fabric of reality itself... watch Aronofsky. We all know that "Pi" skyrocketed him onto the film scene from pure obscurity.
In his first encounter with having a budget, he does the exact opposite than Kevin Smith.
Kevin Smith broke onto the scene with a black and white, low-budget film called "Clerks." Although his later, bigger budget films have been much better, he returned with the rather pedestrian "Mallrats." Funny, yes... but characters you care about? Depth? Texture? "Mallrats" had none of these.
Aronofsky, on the other hand, return from his black a white, low-budget effort, "Pi", with "Requiem for a Dream." This is one of the most powerful, ugly, hideous films ever made. This film should have made a splash at the oscars. Ellen Burstwyn is absolutely brilliant. Marlon Wayans should have been given a chance to act in the way Denzel Washington was after starring alongside Sean Connery. However, it was ignore by most of the mainstream.
Regardless of its mainstream reception, nothing can change the fact that this is one of the finest films ever... not for the faint of stomach or heart, but a must see.
As you can tell by my review, I rarely can watch this film beginning to end. Its too much. Its too good, too evil, too ugly. However, the fact that Darren Aronofsky has gotten all of this into one film - and a televangelist to boot - speaks volumes.
Never forget this anagram:
EVANGELIST - EVIL'S AGENT