Requiem for a Dream

Darren Aronofsky’s directorial inventiveness is incredible. Can anyone else ever reflect human feelings so brilliantly using only camerawork, editing and music? The acting is also excellent – Ellen Burstyn’s performance ranks among the best that I have every seen. But still that’s not enough for me. Requiem for a Dream is a devastating mosaic of somewhat gratuitous misery. It is not the deep, existential and timeless philosophical reflection that it could have been. Which, given its extraordinary formalistic qualities, is a shame. (04/04/2003)

I don't think I've ever seen a comparably unpleasant film about addictions of all kinds, and truth be told, I don't want to see it again. I have to admit, however, that the ever-repeating merry-go-round of fast cuts, coupled with the intrusively infectious musical accompaniment, had such a frantic gradation as the end approached that it was hard to resist. That's actually one of the reasons I decided to like this film. My great admiration, however, goes to Ellen Burstyn, whose riveting performance outshined all the others. (75%) (15/08/2021)

Requiem for a Dream confirmed that I really don't like movies about drug addicts. If it weren't for the story of Harry's mother, I'd probably give it a single star for the direction and the music and that would be it. My problem is that I wanted the worst possible ending for virtually all the characters (except for the aforementioned Sara Goldfarb) from the very beginning. And that is why the ending, praised by many, full of emotions and evoking depression, didn't touch me particularly. All in all, I think the only thing that really impressed me was the (brief, because I always closed my eyes) sight of that inflamed hand. Two and a half stars. (11/09/2011)

It's brilliant filmmaking, but its excessive darkness is its biggest weakness. Aronofsky, as co-writer of the screenplay, in an attempt to play on the darkest possible string, committed several screenwriting blunders, and very big ones at that. However, if I had to pick one drug-themed movie out of all the ones I wanted to use to discourage my potential offspring from using drugs, it would pick this one. It's not nearly as sophisticated and complex as, say, Traffic, and it's leaky script-wise, but it's so disgusting in its depiction of the consequences of drug use that it would have served its purpose perfectly. (11/02/2004)

I’ve just watched it and I’m full of impressions. This film should be mandatory for anyone thinking about trying drugs. I can’t remember ever watching a more intense and more hopeless film. Even the beginning is no idyll and things only get worse with every minute, and by the end the situation is utterly bleak. Aronofsky seems to be a huge talent and I don’t think it’s too off the mark to say that he’s one of the most promising directors today. The way he plays with images, music and sounds is just perfect, the direction of the dream and hallucinogenic sequences is truly psychedelic. 100% (16/09/2008)