Film Of The Decade!

Rating: 10/10 (22 August 2007)

I don't say the above summary comment lightly.
"Requiem For A Dream" is by far one of the most brutal, honest and incredibly uncompromising films about drugs and drug abuse ever made.
Films about drugs tend to either glamourise or preach. "Requiem" does neither; it manages to stay impartial. The only other films about drugs I've seen that have managed to do this are Gus Van Sant's wonderful "Drugstore Cowboy" (1989) and Danny Boyle's flat-out masterpiece "Trainspotting" (1995).
Essentially, "Requiem" follows four characters over the course of three seasons, starting at summer- Tyrone, Marion, Harry & Sara. What I admire about this film so much is that it has the guts to show how and why people are attracted to drugs. In Sara's case, to lose weight. In the case of the other three, because they like getting high and, in the case of Harry & Tyrone, making money. This is where the illusions to the concept of the so-called "American Dream" are clearest for me.
Aronofsky also shows what happens when everything spins out of control with drugs;the downward spiral. Using an arsenal of cinematic effects such as fast cuts,split screen and Snorricam (where a camera is attached to the actor), Aronofsky and his cinematographer Matthew Libartique really put the viewer in the headspace of a user. The film has a strong emotional resonance to it. You feel every misfortune and blow that these characters are hit with. The overall effect is simply devastating. This is filmaking from a very psychological pont of view and not the "MTV" filmaking style that it has been accused of.
The performances from all four of the lead actors- Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Waynes (in a rare dramatic role) and Ellen Burstyn -are outstanding and display a commitment to the material rarely seen on screen these days.
I must make mention of Ellen Burstyn as Sara. This is one of the most electrifying, heartbreaking performances ever committed to film. Her performance is truly the beating heart of this film. If, as a viewer, you're not moved of affected by Burstyn's phennomenal performance in "Requiem", you truly have a heart of stone. It shows why she is considered on of the greatest actresses working today.
Be warned. This film is not for the faint of heart. My wife said she felt physically ill after seeing it due to both subject matter and the way that it was presented. It is one of the few films in recent memory that has left me physically shaking after seeing it for the first time. I've known too many people who have had their lives affected by illegal drugs in some way or another as well as facing my own demons on that front many years ago. This film rings all too true.
It is a shame that the film is restricted to an over-18 year old audience in Australia. I would suggest that this be mandatory viewing for anyone around the age of fifteen or so. If it could stop one person from doing hard drugs, that the film has succeeded at what I feel it was trying to do.
This is an essential and truly timeless film.
Thank you, Darren Aronofsky. Thank you.