Rating: 
Summary: Shock Therapy
Review: This is a film where the low-minded go in, joking about its "adult" nature, hoping to see some good skinny. When they come out, though, they shut their mouths and try to hold back the sobs.Yes, this film went unrated. Yes, there is an explicit sex scene. Now that that's out of the way, we move on. This is also easily the most disturbing movie I have ever seen, chronicling the downfall of a small group of Coney Island residents, due to their despairs and their addictions. Springboarding off of the novel by Hubert Selby Jr, director Darren Aronofski picks up where he left off with "Pi," using the camera to express the mental phases of it's characters. Consider a scene in which a character is dealing with the conflicting effects of taking uppers and downers at the same time. As we watch through a distorted lens, everyone around her speeds up and slows down at random, creating a disjointed effect. Playing with speed and sound may seem a bit gimmicky to some, but no one can possibly doubt the power of Ellen Burstyn's performance. As she plays out her characters descent, there were many times I forced myself to remember: "It's only an act. She's really just fine." Also of note is Marlon Wayons. Yes, *that* Marlon Wayons. This is his first truly serious role (please, don't tell me you count "Dungeons and Dragons" as serious!), and he does it with aplomb. I hope we see more of him! Oh, and that score! Clint Mansell ("Pi," "Resident Evil") along with the Kronos Quartet create a plodding, relentless, yet mesmerizing score, which only underlines the fact that this story can only go one direction. "Why would anyone want to see a film that's so effectively depressing," you may be asking by now. Easy: this is as bad as it gets. No matter where you are in life, if you can rent a video you most likely are not this bad off. Now, go out, and make the best of it!
Rating: 
Summary: Fatal Drug Attraction
Review: Just as FATAL ATTRACTION is required viewing for any person who has ever contemplated an "innocent" fling of infidelity, Darren Aronofsky's latest assault on the senses is required viewing for any person who has ever considered experimenting with drugs. The lessen here is so unsparing and so unglamorous, one wonders whether it should be part of every high school curriculum. Using every cinematic trick in the book, Aronofsky once again laces his images with the cinematic enthusiasm of an eager film school graduate anxious to show the world everything he has learned. But unlike in his other film PI, where his enthusiasm often crosses over into gratuitous overuse of cinematic gimmicks, his tricks here are much more suitable to the material. It's the tale of Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto), a Brighton Beach youth who, along with his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly) and friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans), is hopelessly addicted to drugs. Harry's widow mother on the other hand (Ellen Burstyn who is bound to be nominated for an Oscar for her performance) is addicted to food and TV, and to pathetic daydreams of appearing on TV in front of adoring masses. As the seasons pass from summer to fall, their lives quickly and irrevocably degrade. Dispensing with nearly all character development, Aronofsky and co-screenwriter Hubert Selby Jr. dive directly into the despicable addictions of the four main characters, visually and aurally bombarding the audience with an ever-increasing milieu of unpleasantness. And though the narrative starts off a bit slowly, once the pace picks up it never slows down, ultimately speeding to a stunning orgy of cross-cutting between the four downward spirals of the main characters, finally grinding to a halt when they hit rock bottom. Uncompromising from beginning to end, it's not the most entertaining film in theaters today, but it certainly teaches a sobering lesson.
Rating: 
Summary: Annoying...
Review: I guess I'm in the minority on this one, but I think Aronofsky once again missed the mark with Requiem. Like Pi, what could have been a better movie was ruined by the heavy-handed directing and a story that just doesn't hold together. This movie was filled with way too many idiots for my taste. That much stupidity and tragedy in the story just made it seem ludicrous and over-the-top...I also got very tired of the high-speed montage sequences. To it's credit, I thought Kronos Quartet's music added an interesting facet to the movie. Burstyn's and Wayans' acting was also very good. The tragedy of this movie is that in the end, it really didn't have anything convincing to share with the audience. My advice is that Aronofsky should work with a good director before attempting to make another film on his own. Please, people! Don't encourage him. ;-)
Rating:
Summary: REQUIEM FOR A DREAM: What, no infinety star rating?
Review: Darren Aronofsky's "Requiem for a Dream" is an extraordinarily brilliant film, tied for the top three films I've seen in my near 900 film/18 year existence (Magnolia, Wonderland are the other two). This film could be another drug movie, lacking any originality (I personally love drug movies, but there's a chance for repetition every time). It's not. "Requiem for a Dream" is the brilliant sophomore (though not sophomoric) film from "Pi" director Darren Aronofsky, an up and coming writer-director from the Sundance Generation headed for a great career. It concerns the painful metamorphosis of two fledgling drug dealers and a clothing designer (one of their girlfriends) into full-on heroin addicts. Meanwhile, the mom of the one with the girlfriend is becoming addicted to TV and diet pills, convinced she'll be on a game show soon (a mean prank). These people have dreams. Leto and Wayans want to be on easy street, and Leto plans to take girlfriend Connelly (hugely underrated) with him to easy street, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Burstyn (in an Oscar nominated, and deserving performance) is Leto's mom, trying desperately to get through every day life till her one and only hope for salvation comes and she lets it fly by. "Requiem for a Dream" is a painful film, brilliantly edited, gorgeously photographed in color by "Pi" cinematographer Matthew Libatique, and beautifully but horrifyingly composed musically by the Kronos Quartet and Curt Mansell. The result, thanks to visual brilliance by Aronofsky, is one of the three best films I've ever seen in my short but movie-filled life. The adaptation is harsh but strangely beautiful from that notorious Hubert Selby,Jr. novel of the 70s, scripted by Aronofsky and Selby themselves. The acting is very good. Leto and Wayans break their own rules and prove slightly different sides to their seemingly one dimensional abilities do exist. Jennifer Connelly, good in last year's other great film "Pollock" and 1998's "Dark City", really comes across brutally honest and brutally tragic in this movie, at one point doing something only the most dedicated actress in art films could be expected to do. She was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female. Burstyn gives her all in the Independent Spirt/Golden Globe/Oscar nominated performance as Leto's mom, a pill popping TV addict who can't take a hint, resulting in horrible tragedy. This film is painful, brutal, difficult to watch, unbelievably enrapturing, darkly funny and brilliantly and gorgeously made. It's the best film of 2000, one of the three best films of all time. One can only hope it gets the notice it deserves. Nominated for Best Feature, Cinematography, Director, Female Lead and Supporting Female at the IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards of 2001. One word, to sum this artful masterwork up? Amazing.
Rating:
Summary: I have never been so moved...
Review: Words can barely describe my reaction to this amazing piece of cinema. Never have I been so moved by a film in my entire life. I walked out of the theatre both times I saw it crying so fiercely I began to scare myself. This beautiful story of love and addiction lit a fire within me and not a day goes by when I don't think of this movie or it's passionate, haunting score. Kudos to Mr. Aronofsky, Mrs. Burstyn and Mr. Mansell for affecting me in such a way. I could only hope to be able to thank them one day and show my appreciation. If you are hungry for a movie that will touch, and maybe even inspire you, go see this film or buy the DVD when it is released. And we can only hope that Mrs. Burstyn takes home the Oscar for a performance that will (and should) be talked about for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: .....
Review: I watched this movie not knowing what to expect, although since i had seen Pi before, i was expecting something heavy. Something about it made me feel emotions, but I didn't cry because something about it didn't seem right. It's more like something where I just have to sit and think for a while, but even that may not help. The idea of following a druggie with their addiction may be old, but the way it is done is wonderful. The intertwining of the stories only adds to the experience. Also it follows not only those who brought the addiction upon themselves, but it also incorporates those who became addicted innocently. This is definatly a movie you can't watch when down because you can't just walk away without being affected, but i suppose that is a sign of a good movie, isn't it?
Rating:
Summary: I expected better
Review: the Run Lola Run style montage sequences were cool, the Bugs Bunny schtick was effective, and Kronos did a nice job with the sound track. but the Calvin Klien stylized drug melodrama central to the film was so amazingly bad it ruined the experience. I hated this film so much I walked out of the theater after 45 minutes. it was that bad.
Rating:
Summary: So what?
Review: So we have another 'harrowing' film about drug addiction. Yeah we all know a small percentage of users end up completely destroying themselves. Yes, long term use of stimulants like diet pills and amphetamines leads to temporary psychosis. Let's see some films about the long, successful lives many addicts lead and here's a radical idea - how about showing the reality that the majority of drug users live long, happy, fullfilled lives? The movie is well acted and well executed, but it is a pretense and a distortion of reality which would be fine if it was openly so.
Rating:
Summary: Ellen Burstyn Is Remarkable !!!
Review: What can l say that's already been said about this dark and harrowing film ? I can blab all day about the superb direction but what l really want to bring to your attention is the Oscar-nominated performance of Ellen Burstyn. She has already racked up a slew of Best Actress awards from the Chicago, Las Vegas, Boston and Florida Film Critics. Her Independent Spirit, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations are strong indications that she has an excellent chance at winning her second Best Actress Oscar statuette come this March 2001. Her character's decent into drug addiction is so harrowing and heartbreaking to watch that you are literally glued to the screen. The supporting cast all do wonderful jobs with regards to showing their emotional vulnerability on screen. One of my favourite scenes is in the apartment of Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn) where she imagines her refridgerator coming alive, threatening to eat her. In that one scene alone, the musical score, acting, visual effects and direction are all at their best. And the scene of Sarah's talk with her son about being old and alone is so heartbreaking. Acting at it's best, in my opinion. I bet they will use that very scene as her "Oscar clip" at this years Academy Awards ceremony. The film is also very dark and sometimes graphic so beware if you're someone who watches only PG movies. I love the musical score as well. One of the best of this past year. It truly effected to mood of the entire film and made it all the more enjoyable for me as a viewer. Don't miss this film if you want to see one of the top ten films of this past year.
Rating:
Summary: best movie ever made
Review: This is no doubt the best movie ever made the cinematography story, beauty,editing is a masterpiece.Not a day goes with out me thinking about it. It is good to finnaly see a movie out there about the truth and done so well in this style. I have seen this movie 5 times in the theatre and recommend it to anyone out there tired of all these blockbuster movies out there that bore u from the start. I cant wait to see what arofonsky has next".
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