Rating: 
Summary: Requiem For A Better Dream
Review: The stronger story in this moralistic tale of addiction, is the tale of Ellen Burstyn's character. By far, that was the basis of a great piece of filmmaking. The exploration of over-the-counter / prescription drugs, television, weight loss, hyped up marketing ploys was the film that should have been made and thoroughly delved into. Burstyn is a wonderful actor and a film made with that character for 90 minutes, making as many pointed accusations it could about an industry of addiction in denial would have made a powerful film. That was the movie I wanted to see, but that was not what was on offer here.The quick MTV style edits work in the context of Burstyn's segments, but in the long run, the story overall could tell her tale far far better than trickery and sped up montages. This just wasn't done. And as far as the 'youth in trouble' portions of the film, I really was not buying it. As the main character 'shoots up' into the same vein which is now swollen, gaping and oozing, totally remiss of the fact that he has another vein JUST like it on his other arm, was kind of funny. This device was just primarily used to frighten the unaware. Anyone who was/is an addict would look at this character and say, what an [goof]! Now, if he had been using heroin for 10 or 20 years, and every viable entry vein on his body had been thoroughly collapsed, THEN I'd believe it. Regardless of the addiction, heroin users aren't THAT stupid. Insuring you get the next 'hit' relies on you maintaining a reliable 'hitpoint'. Really did not buy that, ruined the whole point of the movie. Went for shock when it didn't need to. Came across like a 1930's drug warning exploitation film, but in colour. After that, the movie just falls apart. Its an interesting watch, and surely worth it for Burstyn's performance throughout, but it honestly works better as a film you'd show to students to scare them off drugs, OR film students interested in editing techniques. I know the people worked hard on the project, I know they put their efforts in to it, but there was a better movie in here with just Burstyn carrying it. And a more believeable plot would help carry a more believeable message. That addiction of all kinds afflicts each and every one of us, admitting it helps.
Rating:
Summary: This wasn't that good....
Review: Unless you like movies that deal with just sex and drugs, then I recommend seeing something else. Yes this movie is dark, but that was the point, so I enjoyed that aspect of the film, and the ending was perect, but it just drug in to many places. See Pi instead, it is much better.
Rating: 
Summary: Requiem that was worhty of a dream?
Review: Having seen this film during an existenialism through modern cinmetography lecture, where I first expereinced this truely monumetally life changing experience I was forced to purchase this work of art. The first time I was lucky enough, and I do sincerely feel blessed having seen this film due to the way it has altered my perseption of society, I was so blown away that I found it almost impossible to leave my darken room for 3 days due to the way that it rocked the foundations of my belief structure. Never before have i born witness to such existentialist neo-facist post-modern reivalist impressionistic cubism. I feel that the final irony created by this, surely once in a life time experience, was that I manifested an addiction for it and the way that it was able to alter my perceptions in much the same way that drugs altered the characters. In conclusion I would like to thank all of the people involved in the production of this film for allowing my eyes to be opened, I truly now feel that I can begin to live. Thankyou for unleashing eternal liberation on my soul.
Rating:
Summary: even the movie is an addiction
Review: I consider Myself an addict. Not to heroin or alcohol or any drug for that matter (especially after this movie), but rather an addict to the emotional rollercoaster lived through this movie. When i first bought the movie, i watch it every day for two weeks, sometimes twice a day, and each time i watched it i smiled less and less. I am famous for a never ending smile, but when this movie is shown I cannot. I can no longer watch this movie out of fear of what might happen. I even fear typing the name, but why did i give it 5 stars. This is the best movie ever made. EVER. Never has there been one movie that can deter soemone from their normal happines. The movie completes its purpose in terrifying people and saddening people, and completely taking advantage of every emotion people control. How horible is this movie? not horible at all. In fact the movie is so perfect that it is undescribable. Every aspect of addiction is covered so well that people find themselves horribly addicted to the movie itself. I personally believe this movie should replace the D.A.R.E. program in detering kids from drugs. People laugh at the way i treat this movie, but when they see it they realize its true power. I suggest everyone see it for themselves. I guarantee Columbian druglords suggest otherwise.
Rating: 
Summary: Let's hear it for shock value!! (Or, let's not.)
Review: I had high hopes for this film after seeing Pi. Jennifer Connolly, Marlon Wayans, and Ellen Burstyn did a more than decent job of acting. Not a very realistic story. Interesting, yes. Pleasant, no. Absurd may be the key word here. The score gets dull after a while. Just about the worst possible outcomes for all the characters. Highly recommended if you enjoy dread and hopelessness. If you buy or rent this, expect people including yourself to question your taste in film. Impatience with the plot is normal. Too long. Take it easy on the intoxicants during viewing.
Rating:
Summary: A punch in the stomach
Review: "Requiem for a dream" has two separate stories, yet connected through family ties and drug-abuse. The first story is about Sara (Ellen Burstyn, the same from "The exorcist", if you can believe it). Sara is a middle-aged woman, overweight, addicted to watching television. When she receives a phone call telling her she will be on some TV show, it's the moment of her life. She has a red dress that she hasn't worn in some time and she can't wear it again because of her weight problem. So, she sees a doctor that tells her to take some pills instead of taking meals. Soon she is addicted and obcessed to the pills, and her life goes down the drain. The second story is about Sara's son, Harry (Jared Leto, from "My so-called life" and "Panic room"), his girlfriend, played by Jennifer Connely (before "A beautiful mind") and his friend played by Marlon Wayans. The lives of these three characters are already down the drain, because they're heroine addicts, and everything they do is in order to get more of the stuff. All four mentioned actors have impressive performances. Ellen Burstyn's transformation during the film is amazing. Her performance won her nominations for both the Academy and Golden GLobe awards (and she lost to Julia Roberts, proving that what wins these prizes is lobbying, not acting). Jared Leto is also very good, but he doesn't change much from the introspective and quiet characters he is used to play. Marlon Wayans surprised me doing a serious character, also very good. But Jennifer Connelly's performance, in my opinion, was the strongest. For once, she put aside her good looks and concentrated in doing a drug addict, sometimes ugly, desperate, puffy face, running nose, etc. Before watching the movie, I saw an interview with the director, Aronofsky, saying he wanted to provide the viewers with an emotional roller-coaster. There is no roller coaster in the movie, it's all plainly downhill from beginning to end. I found interesting some of the technics used by the director, like using mostly closed sets (specially towards the end), showing the prison-like life the characters were going into; and the camera attached to the actors' bodies, closing on their faces, was also different from what I'm used to watching in movies. The title is perfect for this movie. What is the "Requiem for a dream"? It's when you look back through your life and you realise that it wasn't as close as what you'd wanted it to be, you only spent the chance you'd got for living. Grade 9.0/10
Rating:
Summary: The best drug nightmare you wil ever have
Review: I watched this movie without knowing what it was going to be about. I loved trainspotting, but this is so dark and real, so frightening and extreme, you have to see it!
The movie portrays three conected characters, who all are hooked on drugs. Just one year changes their lives so imense, that it is almost surreal, but the director has the skills to package the whole thing so good, that you believe it is happening and you feel the pain.
It was a real nightmare seeing the missery, especially the things Marion has to go through. This movie makes you wanna stop drugs atleast for a week.
The coolest part are the MTV like cuts and the repeating drug images, they incrase durring towards the end of the movie. The best movie if you wanna quit drugs, at least for a while.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Mindblowing
Review: If you're easily emotionally disturbed, dont watch this movie. If you have good taste in movies and havnt seen this yet, you simply MUST. I saw it probably 4 months ago, and I still think about it during my everyday life. Its without a doubt, one of the best movies I've seen. With nothing but Hollywood action garbage, cheesy chick flicks, and Rob Schneider movies out these days, 'Requiem for a Dream' captured my interest like no other film has done. The trippy visual effects, the repeditive sequences, and the score written by the great Clint Mansell makes the viewing experience simply mindblowing. The story is so real, the acting is so good, that I still somehow believe that the characters played are actually real people living in Coney Island. I'd recommend this movie to anyone thats sick of Hollywood and wants to experience revolutionary film making.
Rating: 
Summary: Even Jennifer Connelly in the buff can't help this disgrace
Review: Sad, because the film has some good ideas and camerawork, but it all adds up to horrible, pretentious arthouse dogdoo. Ellen Burstyn is remarkable as always, and in fact, the acting is not really to be faulted on any count. But this is just another glorification of violence, cheap sex and drugs (and hey-- I like all those things, but I like there to be a justification for their existence in a movie...)that ends up in a big messpile that just left me hollow and feeling dismal. Neither fun nor serious, just pretentious and silly. Don't give this movie two hours of your life. It won't give you anything back and you'll never recover the wasted time.
Rating: 
Summary: An amazingly stimulating movie!
Review: There really wasn't the best acting in this movie, but the impressions, camera work, and direction were amazing! The use of sound and color really added something special to the direction. For anyone who's actually done drugs before, this movie is like a chemically-induced experience. It makes you understand and feel like you're involved with the movie. There was a lot more here than just Jennifer Connelly's pretty face (although she is the most attractive junkie I've ever seen). Check this movie out, it's great!
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