"Requiem for a Dream" (2000) Directed by Darren Aronofsky

Darren Aronofsky and a heart breaking masterpiece.

“Harold, I’m gonna be on Television!”

13 years since it’s initial release has not dimmed the power of this incredible second film from Darren Aronofsky. This ground breaking film remains remarkably pin sharp and vibrant 13 years on and a firm favourite of mine. Based on the original book of the same name by Hubert Selby Jr, both Selby and Aronofsky are credited with writing the screenplay to a film that constantly shocks, pulls at the heart strings, is often incredibly difficult to watch but is an absolute triumph. The two main narratives of the film are split between the three dominant Acts of “Summer”, “Fall” and “Winter” and between the lives of four main characters all of whom share highly addictive personalities intertwined within a surreal and heart breaking film. Although loosely a three act structure, Summer is by far the longest of the seasons, with Fall and Winter almost one act in itself. As with Aronofsky’s debut film Pi, the final 35 minutes of this film is a roller-coaster of emotion, heart break and an extremely difficult watch at times and which is signified by the commencement of “Fall”.

At first glance the film appears to be nothing more than a drama surrounding drugs and the addictive lives these substances control, of scoring your next hit and a halcyon vision of life when drugs are in constant supply. There is constant and graphic portrayals of drug taking, of every and any drug available and of their surrealistic highs and lows, the epic “score” and the soul destroying emptiness of being without. As with Trainspotting and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, this film was criticised early in it’s release for glorifying drug taking but that is both wildly inaccurate and to miss the point completely. Both sides of the coin are graphically depicted and though drugs and drug taking is a clear central key, the overall theme is of obsession and compulsion and of trying to obtain that dream, that halcyon picture of heaven in your life. Be it drugs, television, game shows, dieting and so much more as our characters follow what Hubert Selby Jr describes himself as the “Great American Dream”.

#requiemforadream #darrenaronofsky #book #books #adaptation #film #filmreview #movies #moviereview #readalong #readaloud #reading #bookreading #audiobook

The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Requiem for a Dream" I penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 15th January 2023 and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below:

https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/requiem-for-a-dream-2000-228f1dd72374

This spoiler free review is also integral to the 5th volume of 7 and my "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as an e-book with all 7 exhaustive volumes full of multiple spoiler free reviews and priced at £4.99 per volume, however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free.

Volume 5

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4N25YCW

7 Volume Collection

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub
https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford

Thanks for watching!

Please "like", subscribe and comment should you wish!

Thank you.