Post by sirgallahad2 on Dec 26, 2008 21:34:01 GMT -5
"Say no to drugs" "D.A.R.E. to stay off of drugs" "This is your brain....." blah blah blah. We've all seen the ads. We've all had McGruff the crime dog and assorted cartoon characters telling us to stay away from the terrible scourge that is drug addiction. What about those that do NOT stay away from it? To answer that, I direct you to Darren Aronofsky's adaptation of the novel "Requiem for a Dream". Originally written by Hubert Selby Jr.
Let's get this out of the way... this movie disturbed me. I grew up in an area of the country that was basically the epicenter of the methamphetamine explosion of the early 1990's. I have seen first hand what drug addiction can do to people. This movie STILL hit me like a ton of bricks.
You have Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto), Tyrone C. Love (Marlon Wayans) Marion (Jennifer Connoly) and Sarah Goldfarb (a truly heart-breaking Ellen Burstyn). There are two things that tie all of these people together. Dreams, and addiction. Harry and Tyrone dream of scoring a "pound of pure" (heroin) cutting it, selling it, and living like kings away from the struggle. Marion dreams of a life with Harry and her own business. Sarah dreams of days gone by. Days when her husband was still alive. Days when her son Harry actually needed her. Days when she was beautiful and times were better. They are all addicted, in their own way, to their dreams.
Well, not to spoil things... but REAL addiction rears it's ugly head. Harry, Tyrone, and Marion try out that wonderful stuff called Heroin. (apparently they have never seen "Trainspotting") and Sara hops on the speeding train that is diet pills.
That's it for the plot because quite frankly... You have to see the rest of it for yourself. The best way to go into this film is cold and oblivious. I will say that every actor in this film gets put through the wringer, and they all pull out some amazing performances. Marlon Wayans... dare I say it... actually gets to ACT in this movie. Jennifer Connolly gets to be a fallen angel, and Jared Leto proves that he CAN do more than sing emo music.
However... the true heart and tragedy of this story is Sara Goldfarb. Ellen Burstyn disappears into this role. One scene in particular (Harry's visit) will probably pull your heart clean out. Her eventual fall is probably the hardest and most heart-breaking of them all.
The directing is... different. Some of the editing cuts and montages get repetitive. ( addiction is repetitive so go figure) The patented "Aronofsky-cam" makes an appearance and expect a LOT of close-ups and multiple frames. There are some really creative puppetry effects (Yeah... try and not freak out at the refrigerator. Really... TRY.) Fortunately, Clint Mansell does the film's score. This, to me, is one of the best film scores I have ever heard. (Start the argument.....NOW) Rest assured, this music will will stay with you for SOME time.
All in all... I have to recommend this movie. If you're diagnosed manic-depressive, overly chipper, eternally optimistic.... not so much. There is a little hope to start out with... then the obligatory heart-ache, pain, misery, addiction, sadness, psychosis, indifference and hopelessness. You may only make it through this movie once, but you WILL remember it.
Oh yeah... make sure you give your mom a hug when the movie ends. Trust me on this one.
Let's get this out of the way... this movie disturbed me. I grew up in an area of the country that was basically the epicenter of the methamphetamine explosion of the early 1990's. I have seen first hand what drug addiction can do to people. This movie STILL hit me like a ton of bricks.
You have Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto), Tyrone C. Love (Marlon Wayans) Marion (Jennifer Connoly) and Sarah Goldfarb (a truly heart-breaking Ellen Burstyn). There are two things that tie all of these people together. Dreams, and addiction. Harry and Tyrone dream of scoring a "pound of pure" (heroin) cutting it, selling it, and living like kings away from the struggle. Marion dreams of a life with Harry and her own business. Sarah dreams of days gone by. Days when her husband was still alive. Days when her son Harry actually needed her. Days when she was beautiful and times were better. They are all addicted, in their own way, to their dreams.
Well, not to spoil things... but REAL addiction rears it's ugly head. Harry, Tyrone, and Marion try out that wonderful stuff called Heroin. (apparently they have never seen "Trainspotting") and Sara hops on the speeding train that is diet pills.
That's it for the plot because quite frankly... You have to see the rest of it for yourself. The best way to go into this film is cold and oblivious. I will say that every actor in this film gets put through the wringer, and they all pull out some amazing performances. Marlon Wayans... dare I say it... actually gets to ACT in this movie. Jennifer Connolly gets to be a fallen angel, and Jared Leto proves that he CAN do more than sing emo music.
However... the true heart and tragedy of this story is Sara Goldfarb. Ellen Burstyn disappears into this role. One scene in particular (Harry's visit) will probably pull your heart clean out. Her eventual fall is probably the hardest and most heart-breaking of them all.
The directing is... different. Some of the editing cuts and montages get repetitive. ( addiction is repetitive so go figure) The patented "Aronofsky-cam" makes an appearance and expect a LOT of close-ups and multiple frames. There are some really creative puppetry effects (Yeah... try and not freak out at the refrigerator. Really... TRY.) Fortunately, Clint Mansell does the film's score. This, to me, is one of the best film scores I have ever heard. (Start the argument.....NOW) Rest assured, this music will will stay with you for SOME time.
All in all... I have to recommend this movie. If you're diagnosed manic-depressive, overly chipper, eternally optimistic.... not so much. There is a little hope to start out with... then the obligatory heart-ache, pain, misery, addiction, sadness, psychosis, indifference and hopelessness. You may only make it through this movie once, but you WILL remember it.
Oh yeah... make sure you give your mom a hug when the movie ends. Trust me on this one.
