Review of Requiem for a Dream (2000) by Raine L — 04 Apr 2014

So mad at myself for putting off seeing this film for so long.

This film is mainly about the abuse of drugs and how they end up ruining your life one way or another if you have no self control. But then again, heroin is said to be quite addicting.

Harry (Jared Leto), girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connolly) and friend and partner Tyrone (Marlon Wayans) are good friends who like to do drugs. But they either do it to feel good in general or to stop themselves from feeling bad in a bad situation. This film gives a great look into how addicts do drugs and everything is all better to them. Harry and Tyrone get into a sticky situation when they are in need of more drugs so they take part in a drug lord's operation, making them eventually travel from their hometown of Brooklyn to Miami, where Harry is forcibly taken to the hospital by Tyrone so doctors can take a look at his dead arm. At the end of the film, the two of them end up going to prison and Harry's arm is amputated.

Marion on the other hand continues to support her addiction by taking part in prostitution and sex rings.

As for another important character, Sara (Ellen Burstyn) is Harry's mother who is widowed and stays home and watches her favorite infomercial/game show all day long. She gets a call one day saying that she has been chosen to appear on said show. To lose weight, she tries to go on a diet, failing, and then succumbing to horribly addicting diet pills.

It's a sad road Sara travels on. She becomes addicted to these pills and becomes mentally unstable, waiting to hear from the producers of the show to tell her when she can be on the show.

In the end, all four characters curl up in a fettle position.

I cried deeply.

This film is so sad but also, so incredible well directed and edited with great camera work and great fast paced scenes (hip hop cuts), especially cuts on drug related items during at which time the audience assumes the characters are getting high.

Such a once in a lifetime film. Every mature minded individual should see it.

Requiem for a Dream, I give you a 100%.