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Requiem For A Dream

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In order to feel right, they have to do wrong, but when they do right they come to feel wrong. This is not a riddle or some head scratching problem: it is the life of a drug addict. This paradox comes to life in Darren Aronofsky 2000 psychological drama, Requiem for a Dream, which follows a class of drug addicts and how their respective drug’s chokehold affects them. The film commences with a regular routine of Jared Leto’s character, Harry Goldfarb, stealing his mother’s chained up television set in order to sell it for drug money. With no surprise, Harry’s best friend, Tyrone C. Love (Marlon Wayans), and girlfriend, Marion Silver (Jennifer Connelly) are also addicts. Together, they plan on making it “big” by running their own drug ring; however, …show more content…

Though Requiem for a Dream accomplished so much, others are not as convinced, dubbing it as overly flashy and inaccurate in its portrayals. The beginning of the film explodes with style within the first thirty minutes, but the explosion ends there. Afterwards, the audience is no longer as enticed--they become accustomed to the style, making it not so engaging as others would think. Aronofsky relies so much on fancy and flashy techniques that it is the structure of the entire film; in other words, he is “all style and no substance” (Keough). Another problem arises with the film’s portrayal of drugs and medicine. In the original novel the goal of the author was not only to portray the dangers of drugs but to criticize the inhumane treatment in medical facilities at the time. The film takes the propaganda one step further and depicts the characters’ experiences with hospitals as unbearable to watch. Truth be told, hospitals do not treat their patients as inhumanely as was portrayed even for those times. Arguably, Requiem for a Dream does not extend beyond the usual drug-addict pattern, lacking creativity and making outcomes foreseeable. Aronofsky must take notice: before luster can be added, the fundamentals must be polished. Like most films, Requiem for a Dream had its faults. However, the overly flashy claims are completely opinionated without a stepping ground. It is undeniable that the editing presented was unique and unlike any other. Though the inaccuracies are unfortunate, the superior acting and superior editing elevates it into a theatrical classic. Requiem for a Dream is truly a

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