Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Whats it about:
It centers around 4 individuals and their obsessive dreams and how they put themselves through hell to fulfill their respective dreams.
      Sara Goldfarb is obsessed with appearing on TV. She imagines that she has got a call to appear on her favorite show and then starts getting obsessed in looking good for the show. She starts taking steroid pills to lose weight, to fit into her favorite dress that she plans to wear for the show.
      Harry Goldfarb and his friend Tyrone want to make a quick buck by selling drugs. They themselves are drug addicts. Harry's girl friend Marione is another drug addict. She wants to set up her own clothes showroom and she too is after money.
      In the end, all the 4 go through unimaginable hell just to survive.

                                                                              

Hits

• Clint Mansell's BGM is haunting, rocking etc etc. So suited to the mood of the film
• Editing, sound design and camera work are top class. The close ups are high impact stuff. The fast forwards & slow motions at appropriate places, the intricate sound effects. This is just pure cinema.
• Ellen Burstyn as Sara has acted like a dream. Her conversation at the dinner table with Harry where she feels about being lonely, her scary expressions after becoming addicted to drugs are all goose bumps inducing stuff. 
• All the other 3 lead artistes too have done brilliantly. Each of them has their poignant moments as well as shocking moments in the film. Apt expressions. 

Misses

• Unimaginably hard hitting visuals. Definitely not for the weak hearted. 

VERDICT

One of the very best films. Darren Aronofsky ... Take a bow for such a daringly different concept.