Requiem for a Dream - Free on iPlayer

Quint · 10 Jan 2010 at 15:09

Hard-hitting drama based on the novel by Hubert Selby Jr, using kaleidoscopic breakneck montage to tell the story of four people enslaved by drug addiction. A lonely widow, in hope of an appearance on her favourite television game show, attempts to lose weight by taking prescribed amphetamines. Meanwhile, her son, his girlfriend and best friend find their social drug-taking getting dangerously out of hand.

IMDB - User Rating:Top 250: #61

Fantastic film, if you haven't seen it yet, nows as good a time as any!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b007s81f/Requiem_for_a_Dream/

Kutter · 10 Jan 2010 at 15:25

And far more explicit sex than you see on the adult channels too , unless this one is edited.

westie17 · 10 Jan 2010 at 15:36

Thanks for the heads up, Im gonna watch it now.

Raymond Lin · 10 Jan 2010 at 15:59

It is a amazing movie, the last 20 mins is just awesome.

shifty_uk · 10 Jan 2010 at 16:05

I've only seen it once but thoroughly enjoyed it iirc. I may watch it tonight.

apeZ · 10 Jan 2010 at 18:47

Will watch a bit later

Mr. Anderson · 10 Jan 2010 at 18:49

Pi is better

Darren Aronofsky is god though!

jp_bl_68 · 10 Jan 2010 at 18:55

doofski said:
And far more explicit sex than you see on the adult channels too , unless this one is edited.

I don't think it has been edited. BBC2 were showing it last night and they had the full 'ass to ass!' scene.

apeZ · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:08

I don't really know quite what to write after seeing this film... so I'm going to sleep on it and edit this post tomorrow.

I just feel confused.

jp_bl_68 · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:15

apeZ said:
I don't really know quite what to write after seeing this film... so I'm going to sleep on it and edit this post tomorrow.

I just feel confused.

This is why I love this film. I saw it almost a decade ago and it had exactly the same effect on me. I've met people who'll happily sit through the Guinea Pig series but couldn't bring themselves to watch Requiem For A Dream more than once. It's a phenomenally powerful film.

(I'd also recommend Pi, another Aronofsky film. The Fountain and The Wrestler are supposed to be pretty good as well but I haven't seen them yet).

Calabi · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:22

apeZ said:
I don't really know quite what to write after seeing this film... so I'm going to sleep on it and edit this post tomorrow.

I just feel confused.

One thing to make of it is, Drugs are bad mkay...

Beansprout · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:25

Calabi said:
One thing to make of it is, Drugs are bad mkay...

And gameshows are good

"andy" · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:27

jp_bl_68 said:
ianother Aronofsky film. The Fountain and The Wrestler are supposed to be pretty good as well but I haven't seen them yet).

i really really enjoyed the wrestler. one of best films i watched last year for sure

it got very mixed reviews in the press mind. some loved it and some said it was a bit slow

Ziggy · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:27

Anyone know a proxy that works wth iPlayer? ;D

Borden · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:29

Good film. Watched it again with uni mates and one girl started crying and had to walk out of the room. LOL!

The Wrestler is good, I've yet to see Pi but it's high on my list of films to watch.

simisker · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:37

Jeez, I don't know. For years we've all been told about how brilliant drugs are, from the media, the government, our parents and - most important of all - our teachers... but having now watched this, I'm having second thoughts.

Hmm.

The only thought-provoking thing about this film is the fact that Ellen Burstyn was beaten to the Academy Award by Julia Roberts. I've got to see Erin Brockovich now, to see exactly what constitutes a superior performance. Other than ninety minutes of clungefocus, I can't see how it could possibly be more deserving.

Personal highlight for me: seeing a cameo appearance from the brilliant Dylan Baker, the 'special' dad from Todd Solondz's Happiness. I thought he'd never work again!

Chimerical · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:37

It is good and well shot but the ending seems too contrived and tries to smash you over the head with a hammer of depression. For example, would an addict keep injecting into an infected wound? Why not just use the other arm?

And would the doctor seriously call the police before treating him?

simisker · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:39

Chimerical said:
[...] And would the doctor seriously call the police before treating him?

Hey, stop analysing! Just lie back and accept the message-beating, goddamnit.

jp_bl_68 · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:42

Chimerical said:
For example, would an addict keep injecting into an infected wound? Why not just use the other arm?

I'm pretty sure Leto's character says that he'll blow it if he tries to shoot anywhere else. It's perfectly believable that a junkie would inject into an infected wound.

I'm not sure where they were when they got busted or what the laws are in that part of America. However, Travolta had a similar problem in Pulp Fiction. He knew that taking an ODing Thurman to the hospital would guarantee police involvement so he dealt with it himself.

Chimerical · 11 Jan 2010 at 00:44

simisker said:
Personal highlight for me: seeing a cameo appearance from the brilliant Dylan Baker, the 'special' dad from Todd Solonz's Happiness. I thought he'd never work again!

Aye, that film is ****ed up. So depressing, more so than Requiem.

jp_bl_68 said:
I'm pretty sure Leto's character says that he'll blow it if he tries to shoot anywhere else. It's perfectly believable that a junkie would inject into an infected wound. I'm not sure where they were when they got busted or what the laws are in that part of America. However, Travolta had a similar problem in Pulp Fiction. He knew that taking an ODing Thurman to the hospital would guarantee police involvement so he dealt with it himself.

Police involvement surely wouldn't stop treatment being conducted though. The whole "arm getting sawn off" bit just seems too over the top. In Pulp Fiction, they still acknowledged that taking Uma to the hospital would result in treatment.