Yes, folks, we've finally made it here: the top 5 on my increasingly sluggish countdown. We've gone through everything from westerns to musicals, and at last we've reached the top of (or rather the bottom of the top of) my favorite films from the decade (so far...). My #6 entry was a rather dark film, and so is today's. If you've been following the countdown closely, you might want to start taking some "happy pills", because #5 is none other than...
#5: "Requiem for a Dream" (2000) by Darren Aronofsky: Drug addiction. Not exactly the sort of subject matter that makes one rush to the theater, is it? Understandable, but if you can gather up enough courage to take the plunge, you'll find yourself handsomely rewarded (and extremely depressed). Perhaps Aronofsky's most well-known film, "Requiem" is easily one of the most bleak films I've ever seen, but it is also one of the most compelling. From its strange opening frames bolstered by kinetic camera work and Clint Mansell's haunting score, it is a gripping downward spiral that never lets go, highlighted by a host of stellar performances from Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans (yup, same guy who was in "White Chicks"). Leto and Wayans are both likeable and convincing as a pair of friends who go down the wrong path in order to earn some extra cash, and Connelly is excellent as Leto's emotionally ill-fated girlfriend. However, this film ultimately belongs to Ellen Burstyn as Leto's mother Sarah, who slowly succumbs to addiction in order to be on TV and look good. It's a truly staggering achievement that never fails to strike a rich emotional chord. Watching Burstyn's descent from simple old lady to gaunt drug addict is certainly disturbing, but also compelling and heartbreaking. But what's always the most surprising part of "Requiem" for me is the way Aronofsky injects his grimy story with some sense of style. It's not "pretty", but the edits (namely in the first half) give the story a sense of momentum, allowing the story to develop without getting bogged down in its own weighty subject matter. Particularly effective are the rapid shots used when Leto and company are getting high, which always end with an extreme close up of an eye relaxing. It's an effective visual device that gives us a glimpse at what it feels like to be high, without going into too much detail. The detail, of course, is wisely placed in the finale, where all four characters go into downward spirals so horrible that it can be hard to watch, not because of the images on screen, but simply because of the nature of what is happening. Suddenly Leto develops an infection on his arm, Connelly, is forced to sell herself for money, and most disturbingly, Sarah's fantasies turn into nightmares, one of which will leave you permanently terrified of refrigerators. All along the way, we're guided by Mansell's haunting music, which in one sequence is used in place of electronic shocks given to Sarah, and in another adds to the emotional horror felt by Connelly when she first performs a sex act for money. What's amazing is that through it all Aronofsky never goes overboard in his decision of what to show and what to hide. Sure, some of it is going to be uncomfortable, but he never shoves it in your face just for pure shock value; he shows you something horrible in order to make you feel, and get the slightest sense of desperation and pain these people are in at the film's close (which might be one of the most heartbreaking fantasy scenes of all time). With "Requiem for a Dream", Mr. Aronofsky and his monumentally talented cast and crew have taken a difficult subject and turned it into a film that is compelling on all levels, despite being hard to watch. If this one doesn't scare you away from drugs, I don't know what will...Final Grade: A
Best Performance: Ellen Burstyn
Best Scene: The best scenes all occur near the end and deserve to be seen in full context, so once again I'll post the trailer. Apologies to those who wanted a clip...
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