a stunning visual experience

Rating: 9/10 (1 February 2001)

whether u end up eventually liking this movie or not, it will leave a lasting impression on your mind. that impression will probably be a sickening, horrifying and dark one. the originality of the script is not the only quality that makes this film stand out from others. the fabulous cinematography and exquisite editing make this movie first and foremost, a striking visual experience. there are some critics that claim this film stands only as a ground for experimental camera effects and snappy editing. they also claim that requiem lacks the quality of being a strong narrative. however, they fail to realize that they went to see a film. if they were looking for reading material to form their own images, they should have probably stuck with the book and not bothered with the movie. the visual environments that are created through the camera-work are part of the narration.
for approximately two hours, this film lets the viewers fall through the hopeless whirlpool of an existence that is addiction. most people who have seen this movie will probably tell u that this movie is about junkies. indirectly, it is. but in reality, it is a story about lost souls who are trying to hang on to the little flame of hope they have remaining in their lives. even when that flicker seems to be fading away, they cultivate and create through their drug-enthused minds a "happily ever after" picture. a picture that everything will somehow be taken care of and will be okay. they are lost in their dreams. their dreams are the only places where they are truly happy. for them, reality cannot compare with the worlds they experience while being high. and after those feelings disappear, they will go to great extents to recreate the dreams in which they acquire happiness--through drugs. and in that, lies their weakness. they are too weak to face the real world. in that also lies their surrender to conscious life. they are held captive by their drugs--their weakness.
if the latter hasn't formed a depressing environment in your mind, go see this movie. this is not a movie after which u will say "gee, that was a cool movie" or "that was a GOOD movie". u will first think about the effect this film has just brought about in u. even though it might seem otherwise, u will walk out of this movie somehow forming a connection with one of its characters or their thoughts. u will be disturbed and moved by this film. although not a horror movie, it is not for the faint of heart. it is probably more lurid than the latter genre because its terror lies not in its personification of supernatural entities, but in its gruesome depiction of real personalities.
some people claim that this movie, if shown to high-schoolers would provide them with a good reason to not do drugs. but then again there are many violent movies depicting the murderer or rapist reaching his eventual death or jail sentence; the crime rate in america doesn't seem to be getting any lower. this movie is not meant and will not stand as a public service announcement. neither will it break any box-office records (unless it starts to have a blair-witch type following). it gives us a realistic peek into the minds of lost people. however, if there is such a movie that can persuade a ninth-grader to not start experimenting with drugs, it is definitely requiem for a dream. such is its effect.