A loss of hope, a gain of brilliance.

Rating: Null/10 (12 April 2003)

As soon as the syringe plunges into Harry's arm, we are mesmerized, hypnotized by Darren Aronofsky's directing. Not too long ago I read Requiem For A Dream by Hubert Selby Jr. and was amazed, after seeing the movie I felt the same way. A modern tale of broken dreams and the end of innocence.
This is a tale of a woman (played beautifully by Ellen Burstyn giving one of the best performances to ever be seen) only wanting to be thin, only wanting to be loved in a superficial society. Harry, her son, dreams of becoming rich along with his girlfriend Marion, who would like to open a shop. Tyrone, Harry's friend, spends nights wishing for his mother and injects heroin into his body to help fuel these dreams. Using drugs and dreaming, they don't realize they've created a nightmare that swallows their dreams. They somehow see past this and no matter what, try and see the good side of something and drown out the oncoming nightmares.
We feel virtually helpless and miserable as we watch their lives dwindle down into a never ending spiral of drugs and lonlieness, yet we can sympathize with them on some level. Due to spectacular performances and even better directing. Each shot is done with such precision and beauty, its a shame it ends. The use of body cameras allows us to feel what each character does and the regret on their face. The use of split screens not only shows us the action, but the beauty within their lives, before drugs interfered, I.E. Marion and Harry lying down on the bed. Everytime I see this movie at the end I always cry. A 10 out of 10. Explicit sex scenes and disturbing images, a wonderful film.