Movie Review: Requiem for a Dream

Story: This is not the Brighten Beach remembered lovingly by Neil Simon in his comic memoirs. This is Darren Aronofsky's (Pi) bleak portrayal of the mental state of addiction based on Hubert Selby Jr's book and screenplay. It does take place in the same Brighten Beach/Coney Island area -- but that is the only similarity.This is the story of a mother, a son, a girlfriend and a pal -- their individual plunge into the nightmare of addiction, be it through 'prescription' diet pills or heroin. Aronofsky brilliantly portrays what it feels like to be strung out, high, dry, needy, lost and desperate. (Clearly not everyone's holiday film.) Through terrific editing, fast cuts, split screens, slow motion, fast forward, bold angles and interesting sound effects we clearly get the repetitive, horrifying picture of the hell of addiction. This is not a film for the squeamish. It is tough, unrelenting and exhausting. It has been in release for over two months and can probably still be found in some small movie house in your area. I think it is a must see (if you can handle it).

Acting: Ellen Burstyn as Mrs. Goldfarb, the diet pill addict is brilliant (by the way, her Resurrection is one of my all time favorite films). Jared Leto (Prefontaine) as Harry, is emaciatingly thin and is quite good as the heroin addicted son. (Leto went to the School of Visual Arts in NYC where he studied Painting, before he switched careers-probably a good move.) Jennifer Connolly as the female heroin addicted Marion Silver shows some promise as a maturing actress. Marlon Wayons, foregoing his comic shtick, was terrific as the heroin addicted pal.

Pets: Thankfully, none.

Food: Food played a big role for the mother during her hallucinating moments. Mostly swirling pastries.

Visual Art: Magazines as collage material.

Soundtrack: Don't remember.

Titles: Black and white.

Theater Audience: Spartan. One guy with noisy plastic bags left in the middle.

Quirky Meter: 5

Tissue Usage: 0 (Although I think many people will cry).

Oscar Worthy: No (Although, Ellen Burstyn could be a long shot nod).

Nit Picking: None of the three leads (Burstyn, Connolly or Leto) could pass for Jewish on anybody's scale. I found it bothersome but they were still very good.

Big Screen or Rental: You could have a really quirky rental evening and get Aronofsky's first film Pi as well.

Length: 102 minutes

LOBO HOWLS: 8.5