Beautifully Ugly.

Rating: 10/10 (15 July 2009)

Spending 100 minutes with "Requiem for a Dream" is like falling down a slippery slope that never lets up. You'll partake in the addictions with the characters on-screen and follow the downward spiral that ensues. In just his second directorial effort, Darren Aronofsky has crafted a film that is both beautiful and tragic, as well as emotionally gripping. You'll get to know and love, as well as sympathize with the characters, in spite of their sometimes selfish and ignorant decisions, all in the pursuit of improving their own lives. A widowed TV-junkie, a sheltered young woman with over-bearing parents, the boyfriend who just wants to make his girlfriend happy and a man who dreams of making his mother proud -- these aren't junkies, but rather, victims of their addictions who, as much as they try to overcome it and make things better, only end up worsening their troubles, brilliantly illustrating the devastating effects of any addiction, be it narcotics or otherwise.
To say "Requiem for a Dream" is the most effective P.S.A. to date would be an understatement. Show this to any teenager who is even thinking about trying hard drugs and you'll likely turn them around. There are many who have said it before me, but this should be a mandatory screening for high school health classes. It's both stunning and true to life how quickly the lives of the characters get swallowed up in their addiction, and no matter what walk of life you come from, and even if you've never tried a mind-altering substance in your life, you'll relate to it in some form or another. Give this film to anyone lacking life experiences, and it will be guaranteed to have a positive impact on their future choices.
While the film is highly stylized and as drugged-out visually as its characters are, it never loses ground or strays from its humanity. The characters are brought to life by a brilliant ensemble cast. Jared Leto and Jennifer Connelly as young lovers trying to make it on their own are convincing and likable, but it is Marlon Wayans, known for his comedic roles, who really shines among the young actors. You may know him from "Scary Movie" or "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood," but his role in this film shows he has the acting chops and the charisma to break out into more serious film roles. It's a shame, then, that he has yet to do so. Then there's Ellen Burstyn, who plays the TV and food junkie beautifully. Burstyn disappears into her role completely, and delivers a performance that can only be described as heart-breaking. Behind all the style, Aronofsky handles his characters with maturity, giving them enough time to build while keeping up a brisk pace. You may only spend 100 minutes with "Requiem for a Dream," but its effects will last a lifetime.