Horrible yet beautiful

Rating: 10/10 (6 September 2002)

An amazing film that follows four souls into the horrible depths of addiction and it's consequences. Darren Aranofsky has done a wonderful job of transferring Hubert Selby Jr's amazing novel to the screen (if you like this movie do yourself a favor and read the book.) Aranofsky beautifully transfers Selby's characters and makes the viewer sympathize and feel even for characters who have no redeeming qualities.
All of the performances are absolutely first rate. Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans are completely convincing as out of control addicts. Ellen Burstyn is simply amazing as the lonely mother who trades one addiction (food and TV) for one much more terrible, her performance is mesmerizing and haunting.
This film is hard to watch; it's painful, it's gutwrenching, it's horrible and it is also beautifully perfect in every way. THIS is movie making at it's best. (10/10)