I'm still reeling from just having watched REQUIEM FOR A DREAM.





Have any of you seen this deeply disturbing film? This film would be called a "drama", I suppose, but it is more horrifying than anything one would find in Blockbuster's "Horror" stacks... If this movie doesn't "scare you straight", then nothing will.



This film, besides eliciting a jawdropping, wounding performance from Ellen Burstyn, also has become famous for its ingenious liberties and experiments with film editing.





Seen it?

I saw it some time ago Dave, and my reaction to it was much the same as yours - I felt wrung out at the end of it. It's harrowing, bruising and yes, disturbing in the extreme. Amazing performances from the cast and you are right to single out Ellen Burstyn, she was just incredible. And that film editing -- jittery and dizzying to the point of vertigo!

Saw this a few years ago, the surprise within that cast was for me, was Marlon Wayans, who ususally plays a buffoon. i was schocked by his acting ability. The movie as a whole was disturbing, but tells a story that needs to be told.

I think it's a great movie, but it makes you feel like you've been dragged through a sewer. The "party" scene--ugh!

For me, I left the cinema feeling like I had scabies.

Like you I felt disturbed by the contents and mesmerised by the aesthetics at the same time.
One of my "favourite" films of importance if can say so...

It's in a row with American History X, Irreversible, A Hole in my Heart, Larry Clark film (Ken Park, Kids) and Gaspar Noe films (Seul contre tous). There's also Cement Garden by Andrew Birkin.

That movie destroyed any infinetisimal curiosity I had in checking out heroin. When you don't think that the story could get any worse, it does. Now when I think of Coney Island, I can only think of the characters in that film. IMO, it was the best movie of 2000. However, I agree with BitterGrace, that the party scene was total "ugh."

I'm very much looking forward to Arnofsky's next movie, THE FOUNTAIN, which stars Hugh Jackman and Ellen Burstyn.

I have seen it a few times. It is a movie that is in my top 10 because there is nothing else like it. I found it disturbing and mesmerizing at the same time. Ellen Burstyn blew me away.

I have to see this!! Thanks for the tip, rasputin!! Am crazy about Ellen Burstyn . . . she did a movie called RESURRECTION. It was amazing. In that film, Burstyn played a healer . . . she was flabbergasting.

I skipped this one...my heroin overload movie was the German movie Christiane F. That was harrowing enough.

By the way, Ellen's new bio is getting high marks:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594489297