Too Well Done

Rating: 10/10 (13 March 2006)

I know a man who, in his life, has done most drugs available. He's experienced more things done to his body outside of drugs than I will ever experience. Almost nothing surprises or phases him. Yet, every time this man watches "Requiem for a Dream," he becomes nearly catatonic. Despite this, the sheer power the storyline compelled him not only to see the movie nearly a dozen times, but also do half a dozen reads of the book.
It's a perfect movie, honestly. Nothing is so over-the-top that the audience feels disbelief, giving the consequences immense impact. You learn to like the characters as people, possibly people you know in your own life, and then, things go downhill in unexpected ways.
My girlfriend and I watched this movie together three or so years ago. Unlike many films, we didn't comment or point out any particular portion during the viewing. It hooked into our brainstems and drug us along through all 102 minutes without a quip. Then, after the credits began to roll, she sighed and said, "Well, I feel like s***." "Requiem for a Dream" kills a lazy Sunday afternoon mood. However, it's true cinema which will stick to your synapses years after viewing. To this day, I still see Marion's underwater scream clear as day, and it still haunts me from time to time.
It's a movie to see once in a lifetime, if you feel up to the task. If you or a loved one see it more than five times in five years, you're in my prayers.