Thursday, July 1, 2010
Requiem for a dream....
Purple in the morning, blue in the afternoon, orange in the evening.
Based on the novel by Hubert Selby Jr., this gritty drama concerns four people trapped by their addictions. Harry (Jared Leto), and his best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans) are impoverished heroin addicts living in Coney Island, NY, while Harry's girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly) is a fellow addict trying to distance herself from her wealthy father. Harry dreams of scoring a pound of smack, from which he could make enough money to open a clothing boutique with Marion, but so far he and his friends can barely scrape by supporting their own habits. Meanwhile, Harry's mother Sara (Ellen Burstyn), who spends her days watching television, is told she has the opportunity to appear on her favorite game show; wanting to lose enough weight to fit into her favorite red dress, she visits a sleazy doctor who gives her a prescription for amphetamines. Soon Sara has a drug habit of her own that is spiraling out of control. Requiem for a Dream was directed by Darren Aronofsky, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Selby; it was Aronofsky's second feature, following his acclaimed independent film Pi.
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The acting in this film was great, the leads did things I have never seen them do in other roles-and the transformation in Ellen-wow. Her little dance sequence was kinda funny too!
ReplyDeleteI liked how they kept Sara's doc a never really seen character, it kept his actions from being a focal point and kept that storyline on her and her issues.
Other than the acting though, I didn't care for this one. Its not so much that it was depressing, which it was, it just contained other things that I didn't like; the over-exaggerated/emphasized loud eating/pill popping, the "jerky" filming in some scenes, but mostly, not really caring about the characters. It never got past the "feeling bad" for them, but even then, most of what happened to them was brought on by their own actions.
Not something I'd watch again or recommend.
Where to begin...well I agree with Sunflower Runner, the acting was fantastic and Ellen's transformation was incredible.
ReplyDeleteI think the way in which the film was cut (the jerky movements, the sped up scenes, etc) added to feeling that every person in the movie was out of control.
Perhaps the "Just Say No" campaign should use this movie as their anti-drug PSA, with perhaps some cuts made to the Big Tim party scene for the sake of the kiddies! This movie in no way glorifies drug use, no one in the film comes out ahead.
The acting was fantastic and it does a really good job of showing the dark side of drug use and the lengths that junkies will go to to get one more fix and that anyone, even someone's momma can become an addict, being a good person has nothing to do with it. Having said that, I wouldn't watch it again, just not my cup of juice.
PS. The score is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteOk, let me start by sayin this is one of my favorite movies of all time... no I am not sick and twisted, (well maybe a little), the movie does not make me feel warm and fuzzy, It doesn't make we root for anyone, or tear up at the classic hollywood ending, but guess what its not supposed to. It's supposed to feel like you are looking in to a world that is dark, dirty, distgusting and a living hell, and guess what it does, and in a big way. I think the drug scenes are amazing, the sounds of pill popping, cooking H, the dialting eyes to me add to the uncontrollable high that the characters are feeling, a glorious high that only last for a few minutes, then comes the fear, the panic, the pain of having to do anything and everying and I mean everything (ASS to ASS) to get what you need to continue living. The acting and cinematography is second to none, dark, crazy, peacefull dream sequences, uncontrolled panic, great stuff. I am with Affie, teens don't need nancy regan telling them "just say know" they need Big Tim and the tossed salad man (shout out to chris rock). This movie stands the true test of time, I feel the same way every time I watch it, like I need a shower, and I tell myself I am glad that I will never, and I mean never be addicated to drugs, scared straight!
ReplyDeleteTwo huge thumbs up!!
I have to totally agree with Critical Mazz on this one.. you said it all brother.. so there really isn't anything else for me to add..
ReplyDeleteOnly that its definitely a must watch movie (in my opinion) to show your kids and even yourself.. why drugs are the DEVIL..