Requiem For A Dream (2000)

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Jared Leto(Harry Goldfarb), Ellen Burstyn (Sara Goldfarb), Jennifer Connelly (Marion Silver), Marlon Wayans (Tyrone C. Love)

Screenplay: Darren Aronofsky and Hubert Selby, Jr.

Okay, I took the following text from a website project I did in school. I revised it a little, but the bulk of it is the same. I'm NOT plagiarizing! *Contains spoilers*

Summary: Drugs. They consume mind, body and soul. Once you're hooked, you're hooked. Four lives. Four addicts. Four failures. Doing their best to succeed in the world, but failing miserably, four people get hooked on various drugs. Despite their aspirations of greatness, they succumb to their addictions. Watching the addicts spiral out of control, we bear witness to the dirtiest, ugliest portions of the underworld addicts reside in. It is shocking and eye-opening but demands to be seen by both addicts and non-addicts alike (from the Internet Movie Database).

This movie is one of the most involving stories as well as the most heartbreaking films in recent history. Long past the days of the Classic Hollywood Period and the Hollywood blockbuster, this film deserves the recognition "Titanic" received (it doesn't have to have the 14 nominations, but people should be aware of this film). This is a classic indie flick all film buffs MUST see. Why I praise this film so much is due to the fact that we all can relate to it somehow. We all have a dream or goal in life we want to achieve. In the movie, there are four different dreams-- two drug dealers, a potential fashion designer, and a woman holding onto the past and aiding her loneliness with television. Whether it's to better them financially or emotionally, all of them want to fulfill their happiness.

Anyways, not having the patience to wait until the right time killed their dream. I'm not saying that you should never take shortcuts home or never get into express lanes at the grocery store. What I'm saying is do what feels right, not what is easy. I love the part when you see the split screen of 'Harry' and 'Marion' with Harry telling her she's the most beautiful girl in the world. When she says that when people say that to her, it's meaningless, but when he says it, she hears it. Just the fact that what he says has an impact on her and his love for her is unreal. Just seeing them lie next to each other peacefully is refreshing for a very private moment. Another part I like is when Harry sees his mom (after she's taking the pills) and tells her he bought her a TV. The part where He kisses her on the cheek and she says "see that Seymore" up until the part right before he notices her grinding.

If you watch the movie, read the book, and watch this part again, it's moving to read his emotions for his mom and for it to go away in a second. The last part I love is the ending from seeing the nurse telling Harry Marion will come to the end. Seeing the last vision of them in their bed/couch (or symbolically the "birth" of their dead dream/ dream lost) and curl up the same way- it's so many emotions. Seeing Sara's vision of her son in her TV show dream adds to this lasting mixed emotion. By the ending credits, you want to say serves them right, but at the same time, you want them to be happy. Oh well, that's just me. Word of advice, if you saw this movie and liked it a lot, read the book (don't watch it at all when you read) and then watch it again. You'll be happy you did, it makes Requiem more beautiful, disturbing, heartbreaking...

This clip is one of the most powerful scenes in the movie.