**** 1/2 Harrowing, brilliant

Rating: Null/10 (22 May 2001)

Harrowing, uncompromising look at the world of drug addiction, Darren Aronofsky's sophomoric effort is a masterpiece of visual elegance and hard-edged style that surpasses his witty but self-conscious debut, Pi: here the fast-paced cutting and frenetic energy do get wearing at times, but on the whole the psychotic carnival ride of images is so suited to the subject matter that it makes it all feel appropriate. Ellen Burstyn stars in a career-topping performance as an aging, lonely woman who gets addicted to diet pills when she becomes convinced that she's eligible to be a television game show contestant. Jared Leto is her son, a junkie trying to make it on the streets as a big-time dealer with his best friend (Marlon Wayans), but neither of them can shake their habits long enough to accomplish it. Jennifer Connolly is excellent as Leto's girlfriend, at first a promising young woman from a well-to-do family, but eventually a dope fiend who will really do anything for a hit. Brilliant as it may be, the film pulls no punches and is in no way easy, therefore a warning to sensitive viewers that they might consider thinking about this one before committing to it.