Rating: 
Summary: Aronofsky wins my mind again!
Review: A dramatic color turn around from his first film Pi, Darren Aronofsky has found a new way to toy with our emotions and make me smile with the ultimate "scared straight" film. This film is by far the best film I have seen all year with a large dramatic contrast from beginning to end. Darren and Hubert Selby Jr.(the writer of the book) make you fall in love with the characters in the beginning making you leave the movie shaking and in absolute shock like you best friend or puppy has died. This film gets a definate A+ in direction and an A++ for Mathew Libitiques work in cinematography. The fast paced cuts, fantabulious character interaction, and electronic joy ride score of music makes this movie total eye candy and an emotional roller coaster. Other credits I would like to not is Ellen Burnstyne's performance as "Sarah Goldfarb". Although, she has not been in a major motion picture since the 1970s she once again astonishes audiences with what I would believe to be the best creative dramatic contrast in characterization in modern film. On another acting note, Marlen Waynes also takes us all by surpass by a great dramatic role in contrast to his norm of comedy. I like you better in the dramatic style stick with it! In summation, I recommend this film to anyone with a brain to be toyed with. This is the definite must see of this year, although it probably is not for the faint of heart... -The Justin B. Scale of Overcriticalness
Rating:
Summary: a superb film about drug addiction
Review: the content of the movie isnt the point. its about the lives of 4 people and their struggles with the drug scene. but the trageties could really happen. the acting is wonderful. the camera shots are beautiful. i love the scene when we first see jennifer connely. she is looking up at a tall building, and there is green grass behind her. and jared leto comes up behind her and embraces her. its so beautiful. if you appreciate things like this, you will like this movie. i had to watch it twice because i wanted to see it again. if you're a teenager you might not want to watch it with your parents. unless they're cool.
Rating:
Summary: Disturbing but amazing
Review: Requiem for a Dream is disturbing and yet at the same time one of the most amazing films of modern times. The entire movie is an assault on the sences, and the fact that the images and soundtrack feel like you are taking a drug make director Aranofsky's version of an already fantastic book all the more enjoyable. Few books translate well onto the screen and because Hollywood believes, for some unknown reason, that being loyal to the book will kill its box office most film versions are shabby versions of true genius. Luckily, Aranofsky wrote the movie with author Hubert Selby Jr. and the movie is almost an exact replica of what you imagined while reading the book. The movie is graphic, but I wouldn't say so graphic that most mature teens wouldn't be able to stomache it and the unrated stigma falsely gives the impression of a pornographic film. In fact, most teens should watch this movie because I guarantee they will have think twice, even three times before taking drugs. But the movie doesn't come as preachy, in fact, it's quite the opposite. The movie feels so realistic and yet so hyperactively sensational. The fast-cut images each time a drug is interacted with and the PERFECT score (I plan to buy the CD) are what makes this such a masterpiece. Burstyn's perfect portrayal (after seeing this movie few people would feel Roberts deserved the Oscar) of Sara Goldfarb is so amazing that you feel so badly for her you want to go tell her everything is alright yourself. The fact that her performance is such a stand-out is also a compliment because the movie is full of great acting. The actors, to their credit, were not afraid of the shocking material and every actor plays descent into a drug hell absolutely fantastically. I reccommend this movie to anyone with an open mind and a thirst for great film-making. You can go rent Traffic along with it and immerse yourself in the seedy underworld of drugs for a night.
Rating: 
Summary: Shocking does not equal good.
Review: The key to making a truly moving anti-drug film is creating characters about whom the audience cares deeply. With the exception of the elderly mother (Ellen Burstyn), none of the other characters in the film compelled me to care about their lives. This is not to say that all characters must be likeable---just interesting. Unfortunately, this film confuses "shocking" with "interesting," and the plot suffers greatly, bouncing back and forth between played-out cliches and attempts to shock the viewer into caring. The direction makes the film watchable, but why settle for that when there are other films that are go beyond passibly watchable? Some critics argue that Requiem for a Dream is a good film because it shows a gritty, bleak sense of hoplessness that flows through the lives of all addicts. So what? Grittiness does not replace basic human emotion. Burstyn is good, but she can't pull the entire film by herself. The raved-about refrigerator scene borders on silliness. If you want to watch a gimmicky, fashionably dark film about boring people who get what they deserve, by all means, watch Requiem for a Dream.
Rating:
Summary: What is left to say?
Review: Really. What is left to say at this point? Some say that Requiem is nothing more then an overrated NC-17 (or R) rated after school special about drugs. In some ways, yes it is that. Some say that it's a masterpiece adapted from a masterpiece. In some ways it's that. I personally feel that it is one of the most powerful films to come out in recent years. Aronofsky has crafted this film so well that you feel for these characters. This is not a movie that you go into hoping to see big explosions and gunfights and other elements it seems to take to have a box office sucess. This is a film that grabs your heart and rips it out. How can you not feel for Ellen Burnstyn's oscar winning performance as Sara?(*note* I don't acknowlege Julia Roberts as the oscar winner.) She could be your mother or even grandmother. True, Jared Leto's Harry isn't completely fleshed out as much as some would hope, but it doesn't matter, Leto's acting ability makes up for the lack of character. The same holds true with Marlon Wayans. When I first heard that Wayans was in it, I was skeptical. I really don't like anything he's starred in. But when I saw his performance, my jaw hit the floor. HE CAN ACT!! Not only that, HE CAN ACT VERY WELL!!! It's a shame that he doesn't do these type of films more often. Finally, Jennifer Connelly's Marion....my God, her fate is possible the second most depressing in the film (of course, Burnstyn's character has the worst fate in my opinion.) Should you see it? Yes. Will you like it? I'm not sure. Does it deserve to be a classic? Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes.
Rating:
Summary: Breathless.
Review: This film takes the life out of you. It leaves you with your mouth hanging to the floor every time you embark on its journey. After seeing it in the theater twice I refuse to believe that anyone should see it cut-that would be sacreligious! As intense as the film is, I will admit many may not stomach it...but if you are daring and love movies that mentally leave you in turmoil, this is it. I'm disappointed that the Academy can overlook something so real as to not nominate it for best picture...but I am not at all surprised. Works such as this one will never get the credit they deserve by society, and those who have seen it will agree. I can only state that this film is like a mystical experience-you are left speechless, lifeless, and in total "Ah" of the life surrounding you. This is the film of our time.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: I was intrigued by this movie even before I saw it. In Austin, there was only one movie theatre that showed this movie: the Dobie Theatre. And there was only one showtime: Midnight. People who have seen this movie know why: the movie is very graphic and very disturbing. But it is a terrific film, with powerhouse performances from the whole cast (including Marlon Wayons). Most people I've talked to say that Ellen Burstyn should have won the Oscar. I agree. Jared Leto also did a great job. And kudos to Jennifer Connely for playing such a risky role. All in all, this is one of the best films I've seen this year. I also recommend Croupier, a film about the lives of gamblers and dealers in London.
Rating:
Summary: Emotionally artistic
Review: Why won't most people like this movie? Because people don't like what they can't understand or refuses to understand. They'll see this movie and object to what happens and not really care about what it's trying to say...It was great to see a film using many different kinds of shots/media. The split-screen was used very effectively and not so mush as to be annoying; a difficult thing to pull off. It was also refreshing to see a movie which ventured away from traditional and "safe" film techniques, i.e., rule of thirds, complimentary coloring, mono-coloring... Not to say that there wasn't any, but this film tries everything. Even better than the very artistic visuals were the story/message/questions the movie communicated... most via expressions, pain, and drugs rather than words. This movie must be experienced and processed. Most of the American(christian) populus wouldn't get anything from a movie about [this subject]...but the movie parallels a junkie son and his junkie-in-the-making mother. The audience is more understanding and sympathetic for the mother, and hopefully realizes that she and her son are not too unlike. And if you already do know something/anything about good movies, you're probably thinking this movie couldn't possible be good if it stars Marlon Wayans, who should be hung for feeding Scary Movie to American teenagers. BUT, he has somehow redeemed himself, thanks to his part in the movie. I was also going to go on and on about how the music was great and was just as integral to the entire movie as story and art, but I'll get off my soapbox and hope you buy this movie that the majority of this narrow-minded society would label as quote-unquote weird. ..something that the New Your Post wouldn't call a "Thrill-ride" or "The year's best Feel-Good movie."
Rating:
Summary: Silly Customer from Chicago...
Review: ...I am sure that you will find that [this movie] is a haunting and gripping depiction of how drug abuse depletes the lives of four individuals. This film gives an insider's look into the "high" and psychosis and other primary effects of drug use. It is unlike any other film ever made regarding the effects of drugs on the body. I strongly recommend this film to anyone, and don't be close-minded like our friend, lil Richie.
Rating:
Summary: Once Again
Review: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it. I do not recommend this movie. Instead of elaborating on why, I will say only this: unlike other films/books in this genre, particularly "The Basketball Diaries" (book, not film) "Requiem" is virtually devoid of humor. It takes itself much to seriously for what it is. The phrase "the Emporer wears no clothes" comes to mind - intensely close up camera shots repeated over and over do not a subtle, deep film make. In fact, this film is void of all subtelty. It is very confident of its own profundity, which is rather ironic, considering the four hundred and seventy eight thousand cliches it indulges in. For a good - mostly real - story about heroin addiction, but done with some integrity by Jim Carroll, read the Basketball Diaries. At least he keeps his sense of humor - something which makes his message a little more real than, in my opinion, this ultimately pretentious film.
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