Movie #197: Requiem for a Dream

Movie #: 197
Movie Title: Requiem for a Dream
Year Released: 2000

Director: Darren Aronofsky
Notable Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans

Short Description: The drug-induced utopias of four Coney Island individuals are shattered when their addictions become stronger. (IMDB.com)


Rank on the Top 100 Lists

AFI.com: N/A
IMDB.com: #73
Ranker.com: N/A
Lifed.com: N/A
Empire.com: N/A
FilmCrave.com: N/A
FlickChart.com: N/A



Date Watched: 7/24/2013

What I Liked: The movie did not shy away from portraying the potential dangers of drug addiction and it avoided being cheesy by wrapping up with a non-happy ending. In the acting was very well done from all, especially Ellen Burstyn.

What I Disliked: Having now seen two movies from Darren Aronofsky (the other being Black Swan), I really don’t think I care for his style of movie making. I understand it was important that he show the struggles of the characters and their fight with addiction, but some scenes, primarily with Ellen Burstyn’s character and her psychosis, felt too bizarre.

Grade: 2.5 out of 5 (Satisfactory)
Rationale: Slightly disappointed that a movie I had been looking forward to presented a compelling story in a weird way at times.