An experience

Rating: 10/10 (16 May 2002)

"Requiem for a Dream (2000)" is, in my opinion, the best movie made in the last several years. Someone said that you don't watch the movie - you experience it. I totally agree. It's a difficult movie to take. It deals with drugs and puts it in your face without any mercy (somebody described it as being smacked on the head for 100 minutes). It follows the stories of 4 different people, each escaping reality and getting deteriorated by his own addictions: To drugs, to pills, to alcohol, to TV, to his dreams of a better life. I haven't seen in years such an amazing and effective combination of acting, photography, editing, lighting, music, writing, makeup and costume design. This movie is "perfect" in each of these fields. The entire cast is fantastic, but Ellen Burstyn is extraordinary, giving the performance of her life. It's unbelievable that Julia Roberts got the Oscar instead, that year.
This movie, made for $4.5m, is only Darren Aronofsky's second feature (after the fantastic Pi). He handles it like its his 20th on a budget of $45m. It didn't take him long to become one of my favorite directors, and I can't wait for his next movie.
Don't forget to check out the fantastic official site for a taste of the movie. Also, try to get the trailer, which is one of the best I've seen, and the great soundtrack by Clint Mansell (of "Pop will Eat itself").