Willy Loman's Requiem For A Dream

Requiem for a Dream is a movie masterpiece, even though it is not a movie of beautification. Everything required for an incredible film is in there; great acting, cinematography, story, and the viewer's reaction. The title alone can fill one in on what this movie is, it's a 'death of a dream'. Even though this is not a movie made to beautify anything, it takes a serious problem and makes it as least glamorous as it could, therefore making it an anti-drug movie without preaching it. "Rober Ebert (EBERT AND ROEPER AT THE MOVIES), Peter Travers of Rolling Stone, Elvis Mitchell of the New York Times, and Jack Matthews of the New York Daily News named Requiem for a Dream one of the 10 best films of 2000" (Rottentomatoes.com) With distinctions such
as that I do believe that this film is by far the most brilliant movie about people's dreams and addictions and drugs, whatever they may be, ultimately destroying them in the end. However, some people don't all agree with the genius of this film.
Many claim it either to be too depressing, that it is simply an 'MTV project', or that it "celebrates the dubious glamour of the junkie lifestyle" (Arnold, Seatlepi). Yet I would disagree with all these claims as to why this movie is bad. First off, yes, this movie is not happy, but should all movies leave us with nothing but 'Oh, that was a fun movie!'? No, it's nice to see an intellectually good movie, which makes the audience really FEEL something. It is a movie which doesn't sit easily, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Secondly, there are claims that it is a MTV project. The director himself understands this feeling. He says that the MTV style is, "a style without substance" (Aronofsky, DVD extra). He argues that by saying, every shot and his way of filming is based on the truth and the story, he claims that he has substance behind his style. Finally, he doesn't just mean for this to be a movie about drugs. It is about addiction, whether that be a drug, coffee, sex, or hope. It may be unsettling how the kids turn to drugs, but not everything we see or deal with in life is a pretty
picture. The movie is very depressing, there is no way around that though. It is a movie about people losing what they want, it's about the mishaps of drugs and the way it destroys people. This movie does not have a happy ending, but that's what makes it so real and so affecting. Requiem for a Dream is about the pursuit of happiness, the American dream, and then losing it as fast as you can. "It's a hypnotic tale of four human beings each pursuing their vision of happiness. Even as everything begins to fall apart, they refuse to let go, plummeting with their dreams into a nightmarish, gut-wrenching free tail" (Requiem for a Dream cover). This story is centralized on the characters, it really makes you love them, you have this connection with them, but they do nothing but disappoint you on their downfall. The four main characters are Sara, Harry, Marion, and Tyrone. They all have one thing in common is they have some form of addiction. Sara has this insane addiction with television, and she later adds this addiction to speed. Harry is addicted to heroin. Tyrone on the other hand is addicted to drugs and sex. Lastly, it is unclear as to what drug Marion is hooked on, whether it be snorting coke or possibly heroin, it is still to drugs. The movie works out beautifully in the way that he brings the stories together, and how he makes the characters all seem to have the same exact problem, they all have this serious addiction problem which gets in the way of their dreams. The director talks about how he uses images and sounds to connect the two stories together. The use of "sharp images and sharp sounds" to bring the actions of them shooting up, to the mom's actions of popping pills. (Aronofsky, DVD extra). It's also interesting how each of their addictions in some way or another aids another characters addictions. For example, Harry has to steal his mother's addiction (her television) in order to make money for his addiction, heroin. The acting is incredible, and the casting couldn't have been any better! Without the kind of acting done in this artwork, it would not be as effectual as it was. The most applause should go to the amazingly talented Ellen Burstyn. She really had to get in this character in order to present her convincingly going into such madness. I think one of her most well done scenes is where she is talking to her son, and telling him how she has "the best seat" with her sewing friends, and how she is happy, and "that is makes tomorrow alright" (Requiem for a Dream), or so she thinks. The director said that she was excellent because that as an actress, she is "all about the craft" (Aronofsky, DVD extra). It wasn't about doing to be a celebrity, it is about the work itself, and doing a good job portraying her role. Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans also gave electrifying performances. This would've been a very difficult movie to participate in, considering how emotional and disturbing the movie is. But they all did an amazing job doing it. The music is one of the most essential parts of the movie. The director says that the musicians are some of the most inspirational artists he has worked with. The music brings life to this movie. However, there is no lyrical music in it, but that's what makes the music so important. It will stay in your head long after the film, and you can never forget it. Music in movies often sets a mood, it helps assist the viewer in feeling what is going on. Not only was the music amazing, but the cinematography and the way the story flowed was incredible as well. In an interview with the director, he talks about the lighting was used to reflect the seasons of the story. In the summer, he used natural, warm lights to convey the sense of happiness. In fall, he used a variety of authentic and arterial lighting, to display the struggle between the dream and the nightmare. And finally in winter, he used completely artificial lights in order to reflect the death and suffering of the characters. The way he pasted things together was incredible. He occasionally used a split screen technique in order to show the walls which were between characters yet they were still trying to connect. He also talks about how he wanted to make the viewer understand how the drugs were affecting them. He uses the speed of the film to project this. For example when Sara takes these 'uppers' time flies by, she is seen cleaning her apartment like crazy. He also uses white lights in order to show how drugs affect them. Before Marion takes the drug (coke/heroin) she is seen looking at herself in the mirror in a dissatisfied way. Once she takes it she is shown happy, almost like she's flying, and then dimmed into a white light. (Aronofsky, DVD extra). Not only does the acting, story, and cinematography make this movie what it is, but the actual reaction of the audience. This alone shows how this movie accomplished what it was supposed to. We were suppose to feel something for these characters, and realize that addictions are what can destroy people. The first time that people watch this movie, they can only think of what they have just watched. Film critic Steve Rhodes wrote, "When the ending credits come, your audience will probably be like mine. No one moved or breathed. We were all frozen in our seats" (Rhodes, Steve Rhodes Internet Reviews). The music is haunting, swimming through your head hours after watching. And it definitely does not make you want to do any kind of drugs! The film has a lot of substance and a lot trauma.
There was also some symbolism in all of this. The use of the three seasons could be one example. Summer generally is supposed to represent a happy time, a time of hope. While it is summer, all these dreams or hopefully and possibly coming true. Sara gets a call from a television station saying she's going to be on TV. Tyrone and Harry get this idea to make money by dealing. And Marion has the possibility of opening up her own clothing store. Yet when fall comes around, we see problems starting. The drugs aren't working, their loving relationship is being tarnished by the drug use. And Tyrone then gets put in jail. Summer is in sight, but winter is coming as well. Finally in winter, winter represents death. Death, is exactly what happens. The death of all their dreams. Sara becomes a vegetable. Harry's arm gets cut off. Tyrone is lying in jail, dreaming of his mother. And Marion has lost all of her morals and becomes a prostitute in order to hook her up with some blow. The use of the seasons represents the downfall, and it also makes the story flow right where it
should. This is defiantly one of the greatest movies I have seen. It is a movie you cannot forget. It deals with something that a lot of people are too scared to even talk about, but that's what makes it great, these don't just come around everyday. The combination of every little detail pulls this together to make a magnificent movie about people's dreams and the addictions which come in the way of it. It is convincing, truthful, and draining, all which make it the great film that it is. "With its unflinching dissection of addiction, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM is a psychologically disturbing, visually captivating depiction of lost hope. The last half hour of the film is among the most harrowing of any film ever made" (Rottentomatoes.com). With that said, doesn't it make you want to see it? There is so much that one can say about this film, so I would highly suggest anyone to buckle up, sit down, and watch the whole thing through.