Rating: 
Summary: Cautionary drug tale?
Review: Calling this movie an anti-drug film is a stretch, since the FUN times of drug use are depicted right along-side with the bad. The title of this film means, literally, Song Played for a dead dream. That song, and those people, will be in your head for days after you see the film. You will never forget Harry, Tyrone, Marion and Sarah Goldfarb. The only way to describe this movie is haunting, but at the same time it's beautiful. Watch it at least once in your life.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Film of 2000
Review: I can't tell why this film adaptation of Hubert Selby Jr's dark novel did not get more recognition. What I can tell you is that there has never been more remarkable nor a more disturbing film where drugs (diet pils/speed, cocaine, crack) is just as important of a character as the actors. Director Darren Aronofsky uses a quick-paced, chaotic directing style that apparently irked industry moguls because it may have seemed a bit too showy. However, any other style would be pretentious and too fluffy for the grim subject matter at hand. It's grueling to watch the characters, superbly played by Jared Leto, Shawn Wayans, and Jennifer Connelly (Oscar nominee for her role in the more recent 'A Beautiful Mind') spiral down their black holes to meet their resepctive fates. Finally Ellen Burstyn's performance is absolutely riveting as Sara Goldfarb, a lonely widow battling the bulge with 'diet pills' who's desparate for her son's love. She pulled off a performance that was much more challenging than that of a certain Oscar winner for her portrayal of a fiery legal aide uncovering an environmental scandal by a corporate monster...I disgress. Be sure to rent "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory" when you see this film. You'll definitely need it as a pick-me-up after witnessing 'Requiem For A Dream'.
Rating:
Summary: See it. For heaven's sake, see it!
Review: I'm afraid I can't really do justice to this movie with a less-than-1000-words review.So, let me just say this. Remember in "On Golden Pond", when Henry Fonda accidentally crashed the boat? Well, this movie reminds me a lot of that scene. Imagine...an entire movie that makes you think about boats and rocks and Henry Fonda. I know that some will argue with my perspective. Many of you are probably thinking, "Comparing 'Requiem for a Dream' to 'On Golden Pond' is like comparing 'Cop Rock' with 'The Knight Rider.'" But that's just the kind of comparison that makes this movie so darn appealing! You'll have a blast, from the opening credits, all the way through the message at the end of the movie that says that no animals were harmed in the making of this movie. By the way, the fact that no animals were harmed is ANOTHER reason to see 'Requiem for a Dream'. Stay away from those movies that harm animals. See 'Requiem for a Dream' instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Greatest Anti-Drug Film Ever Made -Get the Director's Cut!
Review: This powerful film is a faithful adaption of the excellent Hubert Selby novel which examines the nature of addiction and the downward spiral the four main characters undertake. The very creative direction by Darren Aronofsky,the hypnotic soundtrack and the performances of the four leads, particularly Ellen Burnstyne and Marlon Wayans (yes, you read that correctly) all draw you in to this brutal, devastating story. The DVD has very imaginative Menus, plus a few extra bonuses on the Director's Cut which make it worth a few extra bucks.
Rating:
Summary: Good enough to be its own religion.
Review: This film is by far the best I've ever seen. The writing was magnificent, the actors: disgustingly talented. The cinematography was innovative and original and the directing was truely inspiring. I first downloaded this film not expecting to ever have to pay for it, 2 hours later I bought it and it's soundtrack which was a masterpiece in itself. Buy it now, it sure beats kicking puppies.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece! Sends A More Important Message Then Traffic!
Review: To say Requiem for a Dream is a masterpiece is a huge understatement. I just now got to see this movie, (which came out
the same year as Traffic), and it left me breathless. The film has superb acting, (leading the way: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Marlon Wayan and Jennifer Connely). This film carries almost the same message as Traffic, but instead they give a more gritty and horrifying look into the world of drugs. The film will get the message "Don't Do Drugs" through to anyone. The cast does a superb job (especially Ellen Burstyn, who did a more than Oscar Worthy performance) not only that, they horrify you with the vision of the addict and just how truly far they will go to get their "fix". The fact that "Traffic" won the Oscar, does'nt mean that Requeim for a Dream isnt better, but rather the Academy dropped the ball, and missed, what was sure to be a clean sweep of every Oscar. That proves not only the Academy, but the every day person is biast with the diffrent film companies (Miramax, Artisan & New Line) because of the marketing. Paramount, Fox & Universal have a strong aggressive marketing team that is what really decides what we see. I always did hear good things about this movie, but no one said it was as good as it was. If all the smaller companies would advertise the s.hit out of these movies that shine, and leave out movie advertising for movies like "Freddy Got Fingered", "Pearl Harbor" & "Days of Thunder".
Rating:
Summary: A film that doesn't tie up all the loose ends.
Review: 'Requiem for a dream' is quite possibly the most disturbing and brilliant films to look at the drug culture; how this culture manifests itself within society, as well as the people involved. The viewer is taken on a journey through a world of money, sex, vacuous relationships and of course drugs. The film centers around four addicts Harry (Jared Leto) his girlfriend Marion (Jeniffer Connelly)his best friend (Marlon Wayans) and his mother Sara (Ellen Burstyn). We see how each of these characters falls into their own personal hell through the use of drugs and the motivation as to why they turned to the easy answer. For the friends it is due to the promise of easy money and get hooked 'trying out' their new gear. For Marion it is due to the relationship she has with Harry that causes her to become an addict. However the film succeeds on the highest level through the character Sara. How she starts using harmless uppers as a way to lose weight, and ends in hell. Cinematically the film is difficult to watch, the cinematography used is disorienting in many cases. This has good purpose however in trying to give the viewer an experience of what someone on drugs experiences. Director Darren Aronofsky used the interesting technique of split screening the action in the film to give us slices of two character's perspective which works brilliantly. People with a weak stomach for gritty, disturbing sex scenes or have qualms about seeing active drug taking (through needles in arms etc.) should not shy away from the film and would perhaps rather to see the rated version, with much of this cut out. The only film the 'Requiem for a dream' can be compared to is the British film 'Trainspotting' but the mood created in 'Requiem'is so disquieting that it makes 'Trainspotting' look like an episode of the 'Tellytubbies'. As far as the DVD goes you can't see this film in any grittier fashion than through the director's cut. The features are great, good interviews and commentary. The picture transfer is crystal clear (4.5 out of 5) and the sound transfer is fabulous in conveying mood (5 out of 5) No 'Requiem' isn't the kind of film you would take your mother to, nor is it one to watch with your friends if you just want to 'hang out and watch a film'. It has no happy ending, no tying of loose ends. And it's refreshing to see. This film has no answers to the problems of drugs, it's meerly an exposee of drugs in society. This film needed to be made and needs to be seen not only by people who are activly part of this drug culture, but also people who don't understand the motivations and vices people are related to through drugs.
Rating:
Summary: requiem for a dream
Review: this movie was amazing. although i never want to see it again because it was so disturbing, it's one of the best movies i've seen in a long time. the acting was magnificent, the story was gripping, and the cinematography was chilling.
Rating: 
Summary: Ever had a dream that you can't remember?
Review: Acclaimed film director Darren Aronofsky returns with this dark and disturbing look at the highs and lows of drug dependancy in Brooklyn. Based upon the novel by Hubert Selby Jr. (who briefly appears in the movie), REQUIEM FOR A DREAM paints a pretty bleak picture of the tangled lives of four very individual people - each battling with their own inner demons. The film opens with the introduction of the two main protaganists - Harry (Jared Leto) and Tyrone (Marlon Wayans). We first meet them as they pawn a TV set owned by Harry's mother in the hope of gaining quick cash in order to buy heroin. We later learn that Harry always pawns this TV set whenever he needs a quick fix - thus, stating the low depths this guy will go to feed his own drug dependancy. This initial incident in the picture sparks off the eventual downward spiral that each of the characters encounter. We quickly meet Harrys' girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly) and his own mother (Ellen Burstyn). Each character is drawn up to provide the audience with an easily identifiable dependancy to relate to. For instance, Harrys' widowed mother is obsessed with geting onto a game show and this slow interest begins to consume her entire life, blissfully unaware that her son is running a drugs racket with his girlfriend and best buddy. Aronofsky throws in every kind of MTV trick in the book to dazzle his audience, which at some times is truly stunning - but, at others comes across as awkward and beguiling. You don't really feel connected to the foursome and their exploits neither interest or depress you in the way that they should (Check out TRAINSPOTTING for a more gritty take on the highs and lows of drug dependancy). The film offers no really likeable people - each character is either mentally depressed or self-obsessed, and no real hope is offered at all (I'm not saying I want a Hollywood style Drugs movie with a 'light at the end of the tunnel' type finale, but life has equal ups and downs, and all this movie is interested in is displaying a beautiful MTV style hell with pretty young people teetering on the edge of their own destruction). The cast are very good, with the exception of lead Jared Leto. His pretty boy looks and dull acting style deny this movie with the strong emotional arm that it needs to succeed. You want to connect to him, but feel nothing for his plight and come away feeling cold and uninterested. Marlon Wayans drops his usual comedy schtick for a well deserved acting role that allows him to develop and excel - he shines in his limited screen time. Jennifer Connelly (who I remember as a little kid seeing her in LABRYNTH and that Dario Argento flick PHENOMENA/CREEPERS) too is pretty good, and she (along with the excellent Ellen Burstyn) pull this movie along giving it a gravitas that it truly needs. Aronofskys' direction is good, with art-house touches here and there - fused with a late 90s MTV sensability that at times dazzles and others infuriates - coming across like a rabid hybrid of David lynch and MIchael Bay. The disc is good - This review refers to the UK Momentum Pictures release. A directors commentary is added plus additional deleted scenes (they don't detract or add to the film). Also, a raw 'making-of' documenatary is good and adds insight into a real making of a movie, ie: it looks pretty dull. Picture quality is good, highlighting Matthew Libatiques' excellent cinematography that changes mood and colour as quick as Aronofsky cuts his movie. All-in-all, a flashy, yet art-house attempt at creating another in the long line of underground american movies that depict the dark and seedy underbelly of the US. Not particularly rewarding or enticing. See FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS instead.
Rating:
Summary: Spiritual Masterpiece about contemporary American culture
Review: Addiction has become an overused metaphor. However, here the title aptly names the work. The point is not to assume that this is just a story about four sympathetic characters succumbing to drugs. Rather, it is also about the American Dream and the arrogant practice of management with its shallow focus on getting the task done effectively without regard to those affected whether we are speaking about a doctor prescribing pills to achieve weight loss, a couple selling drugs to start a dress shop, or a television host promising an end to loneliness by an invitation to a game show.
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