By Marcelo Salas
The Communicator
Ann Arbor Community HS
1st Place
Division 4, News Writing
Review
Darren Aronofsky is most known for his psychological thriller Black Swan, but Requiem for a Dream provides audiences with a more twisted, agonizing viewing experience that surpasess the former effort in terms of plot build up, experimental camerawork and content.
Set in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, the film follows the lives of junkie Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto), his girlfriend Marion Silver (Jennifer Connelly), his widowed mother Sarah Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn) and his pal Tyrone Love (Marlon Wayans) in their attempt to navigate the unforgiving world of drug use. The film takes place throughout four seasons in which the lives of the characters become increasingly unbalanced. It is not a conventional storyline where all loose ends are tied, but that’s what makes it all the more unforgettable.
Stylistically, this film is like no other. With each season comes abrupt interludes titled “Summer”, “Fall”, “Winter” and “Spring”. The camerawork is impeccable, ranging from vivid close-ups to selfie-esque, jumbled upper profile shots. Clint Mansell also contributes with a haunting score that incorporates anything from cello to cryptic noises. Additionally, the direction is so great to the point that events in the film seem completely plausible in real-life, and the discomfort of the characters can be felt personally.
Darren Aronofsky brings a shockingly realistic interpretation of drug addiction through film, which in itself is hard to stomach, but he is also able to provide viewers with a brief taste of how this can be represented artistically. For example, the frenetic camera movements throughout serve as a representation of the effects of drug use. Additionally, the speed of the film mirrors how the characters act while on drugs. Slow motion is utilized in scenes where the characters are high, while faster speeds are used to illustrate a person on speed. Either way, these creative decisions accomplish the goal of invoking the anguish of the viewers.
Ellen Burstyn gives one of her best performances to date as a lonely widow who spends all her time watching weight loss infomercials, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Through her physical and emotional transformations, it becomes evident that there was a lot of research done on the varied effects of prescribed drug use. Jared Leto and Jennifer Connelly effortlessly portray a wild couple that relies on self medicating to fuel passion, mischief and content. Marlon Wayans steps out of his comedy flick comfort zone and portrays a mysterious junkie who spends the vast majority of his time with the drug-abusing couple. Ultimately, these performances intertwine to create the raw, startling chain of events that makes Requiem for a Dream a must-see.