Requiem For A Dream

Requiem For A Dream



Drugs is a hard topic to film. You have to tread a fine line between preaching to people and glamorizing the lifestyle. Often, films will leave you with an ambiguous conclusion and let you make your own mind up. Which is fine, but if you've been given a platform to express yourself, you might as well broadcast your opinions. That's why I enjoy watching Requiem for a Dream because by the end of the film, you're in no doubt about Darren Aronofsky's opinion on drugs.

The story focuses on four characters and how drugs affect them. First, you have Harry (Jared Leto) and his girlfriend Marion(Jennifer Connelly) who are a couple of thrill seeking teenagers, who happen to dabble in heroin. Harry's best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans) comes up with a plan for cutting pure heroin and making a profit, so that they can all get out of their shitty existences.

Harry's Mother Sara (Ellen Burstyn) also has her problems, when a dietician prescribes her amphetamines to help her lose weight for a TV appearance she won.
To begin with, it seems that all four characters are on the cusp of achieving their dreams; Tyrone and Harry start making profits. Marion takes solid steps towards becoming a fashion designer and Sara loses weight to fit into her pretty red dress.

Unfortunately, there's no drama if everyone gets what they want, so, slowly, all of their addictions start to take hold.
Tyrone and Harry are dipping into their profits to feed their habit. Marion has to sell her body to buy her next hit. Sara starts to become delusional and highly strung out.

The acting is brilliant and you can't help feeling sorry for the actors involved. I mean, how many films feature Jennifer Connelly going ass to ass with a double ended Dildo?

The film pulls no punches and each character smacks down into rock bottom before the credits roll. Aronofsky offers no reprieve for the characters you've invested sympathy into, but, instead, reflects on the fact that it was all self-inflicted.
Whether you agree with his opinions or not, you can't help respecting Aronofsky's ability to really drive a point home. His conclusions may be extreme, but they are steadfast conclusions.

Verdict 9/10
A hard film to watch, that beats you to death with its beliefs.