Rating: 
Summary: Magnolia By Way of Boogie Nights.
Review: This is another example of hype over actual substance.I could'nt help but thinking that i've seen this same film countless times before.This territory has been covered,more effectively,by more talented Directors.The ensemble of drug addicted character's in a perpetual freefall,struggling to find an better life,Yawn.I have to agree with another reviewer,none of the dialogue rings true,the characterizations are totally false,and everyone,save for Ellen Burstyn,is woefully miscast.And all those cheap editing tricks,that can be done on an Mac or PC,detract from the impact of the story.It was totally unnecessary.Usually a director will manipulate images,and utilize various editing techniques if he lacks confidence in his ability to tell a story.How many times do we have to see that little drug montage,and the sped up frame rate?Some people said they could'nt sleep for a time after watching this film.Honestly,i slept like a baby because i felt no sorrow for the characters,they were just a bunch of fools who got what they deserve.I know,i was supposed to feel pity for their worthless lives,i was supposed to be blown away by the PT Anderson/Scorcese images.I'm sorry,but this little endeavor was so overrated it practically brought tears to my eyes.If it was'nt for the average special effects,this could have been an ABC after school special about addiction.I guess The director is getting a pass for his other ovverated film,"PI",because i could'nt have watched the same movie everyone was praising.It's rumored that Aronofsky is going to direct the next Batman movie.I pray that it is only an rumor,because if you think the last installment was horrendous,just wait until this guy gets a hold of it.Don't Believe the Hype....
Rating: 
Summary: A Film That Should Be Submitted In The National Registry
Review: Requiem For A Dream is nothing short of groundbreaking, provocative, disturbing, and most of all entertaining. It is easily one of the best films of 2000 and displays some of the year's best acting as well. The film, as you probably know, focuses on drug addiction. The film focuses on the lives of four people and their addictions. The film focuses on Harry Goldfarb (played by Jared Leto, in one of the best male acting performances seen in 2000) and his friend Tyrone (played surprisingly well by Marlon Wayans) as they decide to make a business of trading drugs on the streets of New York City. Harry also loves to use drugs with his girlfriend Marion (played nicely in an award-nominated performance by the beautiful Jennifer Connelly) who tends to fall out of her deep relationship with Harry several times in the movie. Now, here comes the most excellently told story out of the three parts of the film. Sara Goldfarb, Harry's mother has nothing to do with her life but watch television and eat food, which both are much-loved hobbies. She also sometimes spends time with the other ladies at the front of the building she lives in as well. You notice these hobbies as Harry continues to steal her television set for drugs several times with Sara eventually buying the set back. One day, while watching her favorite show "Juice" a show that is meant to help the lives of it's contestants, Sara gets a call that tells her she has been picked to be on the show and will get an application in the mail soon. This turns out to be a trick but Sara sadly does not believe this as she tries to fit back into her favorite red dress that she wore at Harry's graduation. When she doesn't fit into it, she goes on a diet until a friend mentions how her relative took diet pills. After much temptation, Sara decides to get a prescription and to take the pills and eventually is pressured to take more and more to lose more weight while she has yet to get a response from the network when she already mailed out her application months ago. Ellen Burstyn is everything the "Best Actress" should be: believingly heartbreaking, emotive, well-received, and well-liked. Everyone who has seen "Requiem For A Dream" knows that she was snubbed at the 2001 Academy Awards and many (including me) would love to get an address of the Academy so letters can be sent showing disappointment. Ellen Burstyn plays the role so well that she is the one character in the film you want to reach your hands out and tell her that she is beautiful, and that she needs to change for the better. However, as sympathetic you feel for the other three characters you undesrtand there actions are intentional as they know the dangerous consequences that may befall on them. "Requiem For A Dream" is a movie that can be called "A Just Say No!" film but is so much more even thought it completely teaches about the consequences of drugs. The film is so educational and well-written, directed, and acted the National Film Registry should enter this in their library so the film can get public acknowledgement for it's brilliant story-telling of the consequences of addiction. Rating: 5 Out Of 5 Stars
Rating:
Summary: A Druggies Worst Nightmare
Review: After viewing this film at Duke earlier this year I was astounded by how much this movie gets under your skin and stays there. After I bought the DVD and saw the extra footage I was even more amazed. This movie is by far one of the best of 2000. Though many critics found it to glamorize drug use, I have to disagree and go with the opposite. After you witness this remarkable piece of film, you are left with the eerie feeling of the need to be cleansed. From caffeine to cigarettes to preservatives this movie does what it set out to...
Rating:
Summary: What goes up, must come down.
Review: Sorry about the cliche subject title. What words can represent a film such as this? The movies that are made that are good are the ones that follow us out of the theatre, out to the parking lot, into our car, and ride in the back seat with us. When we arrive home and exit out safe garages and enter into our luxurious suburban kitchen. Let's throw our keys on the counter, and go to the bathroom and try... TO GET IT OFF OF ME!!! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. This movie will not let me go. ...damn you Jared Leto.
Rating:
Summary: Sid and Nancy 2000
Review: I just saw Requiem for a Dream this afternoon and speaking as a future film maker myself,I thought the movie rocked! But can we spell "comfortably numb" from pink floyd's the wall,and the film sid and nancy? Don't get me wrong I liked the way Darren Aronofsky used disturbing to the point of sickness images to portray his story.The dvd is good because he is able to give his insight as to what the film was actually about instead of most of the abstract images that are thrown at you for 102 minutes.This film was a treat for me because I'm a huge fan of both Jared Leto and Jennifer Connelly.I thought their performances were more than exemplary.This gave them the opportuninty to shed the images that each portrayed as teen idols-for Jared-"My so called life, and for her-goody,goody family films like "The Rocketeer".Marlon Wayans of course provided the comic relief in the film as I thought he would,but he did have a volitle role in the film as their best-getting-high-every- day-buddy.Since I was born in the late seventies,I'm not that familiar with Ellen Burstyn's work,however I thought she deserved the oscar nod that she got for this particular role as Jared's mom.People actually have addictions like her character,so I thought that was important to show how people let perscription drugs get the best of them.As for the 'Wall' reference I made earlier,like the rock opera, by the end of the film each of the characters in Reqiuem descends deeper into maddness than when the film begins. And this movie shows you how badly heroine can send you packing on a one way trip to hell in style.And the movie is loaded with sid and nancy isms because we all know that"the couple that uses together stays together" is the basis of jared and jennifer's characters.So I'd like to say in conclusion, Darren Aronofsky has given us something to remember for the next 20 years or so for groundbreaking movies like this one. When they look back at what was the most controversial, they would have to say "Requiem for a Dream".
Rating:
Summary: Requiem for my Dream!
Review: My God! Ellen Burstyn should really have won the Oscar! The Picture, the Score, the Actors and Actresses the whole thing is great! I'm not from america so I can't even explain this Movie! it is so great so breathtaking and fasinating! Oh My God I have never seen a such important and serious film in my whole life! The whole plot is great! Its really, realy spectacular indead! It teaches you what drugs are able to do to you! I swear to god that I'll never tuch any kind of drugs! It's a Movie you just can't forget! You will always think about it and the Score will always stay in your mind! I love this Picture I love this DVD and I love the Story and the Score! Oh my God I love it!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Good movie - but IS the "Director's Cut" the NC-17 version?
Review: I too saw this in the theaters, graphic and stunning. But I've read two separate reviews (apparently quite helpful to folks) lamenting the R-rated editing of the movie. Problem is, while one review was written for the regular version (rated R), another impassioned review was written for this Director's Cut (unrated = NC17?). Is this cut indeed the version seen in theaters, or is this one step down from the theatrical release (the R version being two steps down)? Could someone clarify this? Thanks.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Film of 2000
Review: I don't have any doubt that this is the best film of 2000. A powerful,disturbing, and beautiful film. The story of four people searching foracceptance and love, while trying to pursue their "dreams". This may lookfeasible at first in the midst of the sunny summer season. But we quicklysee their addictions have them headed for disaster. The seasons of Fall andWinter shows us how their downward spiral is accelerated with each of theseseasonal changes, and that there will not be a "spring renewal" for any ofthem. It shows us that even when Harry and Marion are "together" they reallyaren't with the genius use of split screen. The montage sequences (camerawork and editing) are brilliant, the musical score is tragically poignant.Everyone's performances are incredibly human, and heartfelt. The films final half hour is a tour de force in filmmaking and unlike anything you'veever seen in a film before !! This is a film that will be with you daysafter seeing it, and you will never forget it. I feel it is a film that's"required viewing" for all, especially anyone who loves films and allaspects of filmmaking technique. Make sure you either purchase or rent the"Director's Cut" of this film (which is un-rated) and not the R-ratedversion.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Do Drugs
Review: If school boards and parents were smart they'd throw programs like D.A.R.E. out the window and should just show this movie. Unlike movies like Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, where Drug use is glamorized, this film is the grim reality of it. It was a great touch to have the mother addicted to legal diet pills and show the side effects. Arronofsky has definately improved his technique since his debut film Pi. Personally, this was the best picture I saw for 2000. Julia Roberts might have done a good job, but I doubt she could have played the part Ellen Burstyn did. Excellent job. This film is not for the faint of heart or people who don't appreciate good cinema. I look forward to the next outing by this up and coming auteur.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie Of The Year.
Review: I just saw this movie last night. I ordered it on DVD and it came acouple days early. I wanted to see it soooo bad when it was at the theatre but because of the stupid rating I couldn't. I can't believe that the MPPA is making such a big deal about the sexuality in it. I have seen sexuality of that nature in many other movies. For example "Eyes Wide Shut", it has much more nudity in it than Requiem, and Eyes Wide was realy bad! This movie is so good that I watched it twice in one night. I was blown away by Ellen Burstyn. I loved her in "The Exorcist". She is such a good actress, that she is so powerful years later. I think this movie should be seen in High Schools everywhere. I am 15 and this movie is a learning experience. I can't even think of how good this movie is on a big screen. I think that if a parent wants their child to see a movie, than it is up to the parents. The MPPA should ease down on how they rate everything. I am so sick of this. This movie is so GOOD, and I would have loved to see it on a big screen.
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