Better Than Pi

Rating: 9/10 (26 October 2005)

Darren Aronofsky's follow-up to the art-house hit Pi is the tremendously controversial cult smash Requiem for a Dream (2000), a haunting portrayal of drug addiction adapted for the screen by the original author Hubert Selby Junior. The film deals with the separate addictions of four inter-related characters. Marion Silver, her boyfriend Harry Goldfarb, his mother Sara and best friend Tyrone C. Love all suffer parallel drug addictions, which sprout from the pursuit of a better life.
Harry Goldfarb (Jarred Leto) and Tyrone C. Love (Marlon Wayans) start off with the pipe dream of dealing their own supply of heroin and working their way up to a "pound of pure". This dynamic duo's scheme quickly turns sour when they find themselves addicted to their own supply. This film is proof that Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie, White Chicks) is not just a talented comic but also a talented actor. Jared Leto of Fight Club and Alexander fame does phenomenally as Harry, Sara's druggie and wayward son trying to support his girlfriend and mother.
Sara Goldfarb, played by Ellen Burstyn, who was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for her boldly brutal performance, is an elderly widow dependent on television's deranged self-help infomercial to cure her loneliness as well as her diet pills, which feed her hopeless obsessions. Her downwards spiral is horrific and shocking. Overall, the best female performance in years, especially for such a daring role.
Marion Silver, Harry's seemingly innocent girlfriend played by Labyrinth's Jennifer Connelly, is the most downward spiraling character of them all. The all-American girl by the finale becomes the absolute victim of substance abuse and leaves you with a sense of unrest and unease. Her absolute desperation drives her to perform horrific sex shows in exchange for drugs, which is a last resort after abandonment from her heroin-providing lover.
While all of the addictions suffered by these four desperate characters are different they share a similar basic need; the sensation of escape, the overwhelming thrill, and as well as a connection to something other than themselves (and the overwhelming thrill). These initially mild drug addictions drive the characters to unimaginable lengths. The source of all of these soul destroying paths is Harry and Tyrone's naive need to launch a scheme to become players in the Brooklyn drug market, Marion dreams of being a fashion designer with her own boutique, Sara develops her own fantasy; the potential to make an appearance on her beloved television makes her fixated on stuffing herself back into a favorite red dress for her date with stardom.
Aronofsky's unique visual style is itself a drug. It provides the viewer with the need for more and a feeling of longing, which will last for hours. From his extreme close-ups, split screen and bird eye spiral shots, this film is a visual feast fit for any film buff. Aided with a terrific score written by Clint Mansel and performed by the astounding Kronos Quartet. Requiem uses this to its advantage, the climatically devastating montages of each character's decent into hell is so horrific, but engaging, you find yourself unable to look away. While being visually engaging the images contrast the oral aspect, as it is a delight to the ear. The score provides a pleasantly haunting theme which is used throughout the film, occasionally mixed in which mechanical-like chants which set the tempo as well as mood.
Overall, Requiem for a Dream is a feast for the senses, as well as a stunning wakeup call about addiction and substance abuse. Each story has a unique arc as well as an emotional strong-point. This brilliantly made film leaves you with a strong taste of sadness and failure, which is quite ironic, as it is a highly accomplished and quite brilliant movie. It will likely leave you feeling devastated and exhilarated at the same time.