Requiem for a Dream (BD)
After making a promising debut with “Pi” (1998), the movie about a genius mathematician obsessed with predicting the behavior of the stock market, Darren Aronofsky returned to the subject of obsession yet again in his sophomore effort, “Requiem for a Dream” (2000). The success of his last two movies, “The Fountain” (2006) and more recently the multiple Oscar nominated drama “The Wrestler” (2008), ensured that his new fans would come back to watch his earlier efforts as well.
“Requiem for a Dream (2000)” offers a broody and ominous tale of four characters intertwined through their actions. The story begins with Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto) forcibly taking a TV set from his mother, Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn), and walking the television through the streets of Brooklyn with his friend, Tyrone (Marlon Wayans). Harry and Marion Silver (Jennifer Connelly) are lovers living in Brooklyn with the hope of setting up their own business and spending the rest of their lives in love. However, things are not what they seem on the surface. Sara is a TV addict who gets a call from her favorite show and learns that she has been selected to appear in the future broadcast. She wants to wear her favorite dress for the show, but she can’t fit into the dress. To get a remedy for this problem, she visits a doctor who prescribes diet pills. Soon, she is addicted to the pills. As the other story unfolds, Harry, Tyrone, and Marion are all addicts who are always short on cash. For Marion to support her addiction, she undertakes a job that is morally questionable. Harry and Tyrone are always on the lookout for a drug dealer to procure the stash to support their addiction. Things turn worse for each character in the movie, and they soon find themselves on the fast track to a downward spiral. The climax is emotionally disturbing and brutally realistic, offering no hope in the end.
Aronofsky sets the tone of the movie with the opening scene, deliberately weaving in and out to skew the perspective. The result is a disturbing mix of reality and a dreamlike sequence. It is such an intense shot that for a moment, I thought I was watching the opening dream sequence in Fellini’s “8 ½” in terms of its raw emotional power. More so, Aronofsky uses this technique to perfection in other dream sequences with Harry and Marion and in scenes that show effects of diet pills on Sara.
It is evident from the final product that the crew was serious about their efforts in making this movie a success, notably in the acting department where every actor excelled with an exemplary score. First, Ellen Burstyn gives a realistically harrowing performance as a diet-pill addict. Ellen Burstyn is best known for securing the “Best Actress” Oscar award in Scorsese’s “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (1974). Even so, her performance as an addict demands no less attention. Although she does not have many spoken lines in the movie, she aptly uses her facial expressions to convey pain, sorrow, and disassociation as a result of her addiction. Her performance will stay with you until the end. Furthermore, performances by the other supporting cast, namely Leno, Connelly, and Wayans, are equally well done. The script ensures that all the performers get to show their acting acumen without being overly melodramatic.
Aronofsky picks up an omnipresent issue in America: That drug and TV addiction has always been embedded in the culture in some form or the other. There have been countless movies and TV shows made about the drug addiction issue. What is new in this movie is the introduction of the addiction of prescription pills to the overall mix. Aronofsky juxtaposes both form of addictions to achieve a layered texture that might be missing from some of the movies dealing with the subject of more-traditional addictions.
In the end, “Requiem for a Dream” works at all levels because it does not accuse its protagonists of their actions or try to be preachy. The experience equation is left for the viewer to decide and calculate. The message is quite simple: We are responsible for our own actions.
Video
Lionsgate provides an AVC, 1080p encode with the 1.85:1 widescreen format. The bit rate averages about 35 Mpbs, making a solid-looking transfer. The overall sharpness is improved over the standard-def edition, with skin tones noticeably more lifelike. At times the image is a bit soft, but those instances are mainly in the dream sequences. I did notice grain in couple of scenes, mainly in the apartment and dream scenes, but it is nothing intrusive to the overall experience. The color palette is muted to represent a gritty look, and the blacks and grey are used to a full extent with Sara’s red dress popping out in the HD.
Audio
For this release, we get a 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio stream. The midrange is improved and the dialogue is much crispier than in the regular standard-def version. It appears that the dialogue is mastered at high volume. We also get surround sound in a lot of scenes, with LFE kicking in during the dance club and dream sequences. There are a few instances of gunshots that are louder and heavier in lossy audio as well.
Extras
Included on this disc are two audio commentaries, one with the director, Darren Aronofsky, and a second one with the director of photography Mathew Libatique.
“The Making of Requiem for a Dream” is a common making-of featurette in which the director talks about set locations, makeup, a couple of scenes, funding, and many other things. Aronofsky gives a commentary for this documentary, too, which cannot be turned off manually.
Next come a few deleted scenes with optional director commentary, followed by “
Memories, Dreams and Addictions” in which Ellen Burstyn interviews Hubert Selby Jr., who wrote the book that Aronofsky adapted into the movie. Selby gives his account of addiction and why he thought writing would help him.
Parting thoughts
Aronofsky has used basic human psychological attributes such as obsession, passion, and addiction as subjects for his movies. “Requiem for a Dream” successfully achieves what Aronofsky wanted this movie to be. The movie represents an unflinching tale of addiction that offers no hope and that in the end is realistic, brutal, and satisfying. Although “The Wrestler” has garnered more attention, “Requiem for a Dream” is an equally competent effort from the promising director. The audio and video in this BD offer a definite upgrade from the DVD edition, and with the SRP of $19.99 and currently selling on Amazon for $9.99, Lionsgate has affordably priced this Blu-ray. Fans of Aronofsky should snag it without question.
Rating
Video = 8/10
Audio = 9/10
Extras = 6/10
Movie = 8/10
Quote
“In the end, this movie works at all levels because it does not accuse its protagonists for their actions or tries to be preachy. The message is quite simple – we are responsible for our own actions.”
“Requiem for a Dream (2000)” offers a broody and ominous tale of four characters intertwined through their actions. The story begins with Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto) forcibly taking a TV set from his mother, Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn), and walking the television through the streets of Brooklyn with his friend, Tyrone (Marlon Wayans). Harry and Marion Silver (Jennifer Connelly) are lovers living in Brooklyn with the hope of setting up their own business and spending the rest of their lives in love. However, things are not what they seem on the surface. Sara is a TV addict who gets a call from her favorite show and learns that she has been selected to appear in the future broadcast. She wants to wear her favorite dress for the show, but she can’t fit into the dress. To get a remedy for this problem, she visits a doctor who prescribes diet pills. Soon, she is addicted to the pills. As the other story unfolds, Harry, Tyrone, and Marion are all addicts who are always short on cash. For Marion to support her addiction, she undertakes a job that is morally questionable. Harry and Tyrone are always on the lookout for a drug dealer to procure the stash to support their addiction. Things turn worse for each character in the movie, and they soon find themselves on the fast track to a downward spiral. The climax is emotionally disturbing and brutally realistic, offering no hope in the end.
Aronofsky sets the tone of the movie with the opening scene, deliberately weaving in and out to skew the perspective. The result is a disturbing mix of reality and a dreamlike sequence. It is such an intense shot that for a moment, I thought I was watching the opening dream sequence in Fellini’s “8 ½” in terms of its raw emotional power. More so, Aronofsky uses this technique to perfection in other dream sequences with Harry and Marion and in scenes that show effects of diet pills on Sara.
It is evident from the final product that the crew was serious about their efforts in making this movie a success, notably in the acting department where every actor excelled with an exemplary score. First, Ellen Burstyn gives a realistically harrowing performance as a diet-pill addict. Ellen Burstyn is best known for securing the “Best Actress” Oscar award in Scorsese’s “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (1974). Even so, her performance as an addict demands no less attention. Although she does not have many spoken lines in the movie, she aptly uses her facial expressions to convey pain, sorrow, and disassociation as a result of her addiction. Her performance will stay with you until the end. Furthermore, performances by the other supporting cast, namely Leno, Connelly, and Wayans, are equally well done. The script ensures that all the performers get to show their acting acumen without being overly melodramatic.
Aronofsky picks up an omnipresent issue in America: That drug and TV addiction has always been embedded in the culture in some form or the other. There have been countless movies and TV shows made about the drug addiction issue. What is new in this movie is the introduction of the addiction of prescription pills to the overall mix. Aronofsky juxtaposes both form of addictions to achieve a layered texture that might be missing from some of the movies dealing with the subject of more-traditional addictions.
In the end, “Requiem for a Dream” works at all levels because it does not accuse its protagonists of their actions or try to be preachy. The experience equation is left for the viewer to decide and calculate. The message is quite simple: We are responsible for our own actions.
Video
Lionsgate provides an AVC, 1080p encode with the 1.85:1 widescreen format. The bit rate averages about 35 Mpbs, making a solid-looking transfer. The overall sharpness is improved over the standard-def edition, with skin tones noticeably more lifelike. At times the image is a bit soft, but those instances are mainly in the dream sequences. I did notice grain in couple of scenes, mainly in the apartment and dream scenes, but it is nothing intrusive to the overall experience. The color palette is muted to represent a gritty look, and the blacks and grey are used to a full extent with Sara’s red dress popping out in the HD.
Audio
For this release, we get a 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio stream. The midrange is improved and the dialogue is much crispier than in the regular standard-def version. It appears that the dialogue is mastered at high volume. We also get surround sound in a lot of scenes, with LFE kicking in during the dance club and dream sequences. There are a few instances of gunshots that are louder and heavier in lossy audio as well.
Extras
Included on this disc are two audio commentaries, one with the director, Darren Aronofsky, and a second one with the director of photography Mathew Libatique.
“The Making of Requiem for a Dream” is a common making-of featurette in which the director talks about set locations, makeup, a couple of scenes, funding, and many other things. Aronofsky gives a commentary for this documentary, too, which cannot be turned off manually.
Next come a few deleted scenes with optional director commentary, followed by “
Memories, Dreams and Addictions” in which Ellen Burstyn interviews Hubert Selby Jr., who wrote the book that Aronofsky adapted into the movie. Selby gives his account of addiction and why he thought writing would help him.
Parting thoughts
Aronofsky has used basic human psychological attributes such as obsession, passion, and addiction as subjects for his movies. “Requiem for a Dream” successfully achieves what Aronofsky wanted this movie to be. The movie represents an unflinching tale of addiction that offers no hope and that in the end is realistic, brutal, and satisfying. Although “The Wrestler” has garnered more attention, “Requiem for a Dream” is an equally competent effort from the promising director. The audio and video in this BD offer a definite upgrade from the DVD edition, and with the SRP of $19.99 and currently selling on Amazon for $9.99, Lionsgate has affordably priced this Blu-ray. Fans of Aronofsky should snag it without question.
Rating
Video = 8/10
Audio = 9/10
Extras = 6/10
Movie = 8/10
Quote
“In the end, this movie works at all levels because it does not accuse its protagonists for their actions or tries to be preachy. The message is quite simple – we are responsible for our own actions.”
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