Powerful and visually arresting filmaking

Rating: 10/10 (15 July 2005)

A shocking, brutal, grim and harrowing account of the horrors of drug addiction, told through the parallel stories of four main characters: Sarah, A lonely, widowed, overweight and TV obsessed mother, ruing her present, takes to overdosing on prescription weight loss pills to fit in her old red dress she wants to wear when she appears on her favourite television show, she expects to be on. Her son, Harry and his girlfriend, Marion, along with their friend Tyrone get involved in underground narcotic dealings to make money and start their own business, take to use of cocaine themselves. While, Marion prostitutes her body and sells her soul to get Harry the money he needs to start up so she can ultimately settle down with him and live a dignified life. Each take to drugs as a means to fulfilling their dreams, but their dreams quickly turn into nightmares as their addictions spiral out of control and destroy them in the most electrifying climax ever seen on celluloid.
The performances are brilliant from all of the actors, with a special mention to Ellen Burstyn's(Sarah) absolutely phenomenal performance, her story is the most riveting. The cinematography is stunning and the background score is brilliant. The real star of the show is the director, Darren Aronofsky, who gives this movie a very unique, gritty, surreal and kinetic style. He's up there with Tarantino in terms of editing.
I do have a minor criticism, mainly being that some of the shot were a little too repetitive and the first half was not very engrossing for me. It is the climax that really takes this movie to another level. It left me completely breathless and on the edge of my seat and I could feel surges of energy travelling up my body. Yes, it was that powerful! I strongly recommend this film, particularly to film students, and especially to those who do drugs themselves. The realism of the horrific fates that befall the characters in this movie, might get you to think of the real and life-harming possibilities of drug abuse.