Film Screening Critiques

Tuesday 22nd April - Requiem for a Dream (2000)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgo3Hb5vWLE - trailer for the film

The film is based on a Novel by Hubert Selby Jr, directed by Darren Aronofsky.

Synopsis in my own words - The story revolves around four main character; Harry (Jared Leto), Tyrone (Marlon Wayans), Harry's Girlfriend, Marion (Jennifer Connelly) and Harry's mother, Sara (Ellen Burstyn). It begins with a tense scene of Harry threatening his mother in attempts to get her Television set, once he gets the set he sells it for money to buy drugs. That's when I was aware the film was about narcotics, we then meet his best friend Tyrone and girlfriend who also have addiction to drugs. As the film develops, Sara is sent a letter with the opportunity of going on her favourite game show on television. Sara decides she needs to lose weight to fit into the red dress she wore for Harry's graduation, which I think has a huge significance, she begins the diet by following a diet book but after one of her friends inform her that a friend of hers lost weight through diet pills from a 'good' doctor, Sara decides to go to the doctor. The pills act as a replacement for all of her meals and at first, she's at a battle with the passion for her favourite foods but after going back to the doctor, he ups her dose and tells her she'll lose weight. Sara begins losing weight but also her mind, she becomes obsessed with fitting into the red dress but also begins to experience hallucinations, which her doctor ignores and persists that there's no problem as she's losing weight. Whilst this is happening, it cuts between the stories of the other major characters. In Harry and Marion's relationship, the drug addiction starts off mild and they seem to just do it for fun but when Tyrone gets the idea of selling drugs, their individual addictions get stronger. Marion has a dream of becoming a fashion designer, Harry insists if they sell drugs that they'll be able to open a boutique together for her. At this point, they all seem in the high point of drug use however after a rollercoaster of events and a huge drug bust, the drugs become scarce and rare and their addictions grow stronger which leads to Harry and Marion falling away from each other to get their fixes. To end the film, a huge realisation of drug abuse is apparent when Sara becomes noticeably mentally unstable, her appearance is unhealthy; her hair is untamed and this significant red dress is like a tent on her fragile frame. The hallucinations are extreme, she begins to see the fridge moving and trying to eat her. Sara, becomes so obsessed with being on television to tell the world about her deceased husband and her boy Harry that she walks down the streets in attempts to find the television studio. Sara is then sectioned and force fed, at this point her mind is no longer hers and the doctors begin electric shock therapy which deteriorates her mind further. At this point, Harry and Marion are no longer together, Marion is sleeping with men to get her drug fixes. Harry and Tyrone are searching for a way to get drugs and sell them, whilst keeping a share to feed their addictions. However, Harry receives an infection from using needles in his arm which turns into a gruesome wound which leads to him having his arm amputated. Their stories end with them being alone and their dreams being further away then before.

The film shows the downhill spiral of drug use and personally, I felt it was really enlightening as the characters all had these dreams and beliefs which they thought these miracle drugs would help them achieve but in reality, the 'buzz' was temporary and wore off and they fell into the addiction, losing to the narcotics. It was my first time watching the film and I didn't expect it to end how it did as the characters appeared so alive and in control at the beginning, but it really emphasises how drug addiction can taint your life. Even though it's exaggerated, the effects are possible and not uncommon. From a costume point of view, I felt the costumes were really essential, particularly the red dress. Sara related this dress to the happiest time of her life, when she wasn't alone and had her husband alive and her son was on track and graduating. The dress put her story into perspective and was the main tool for her drug use, she didn't care about the side effects, her goal was to get into the dress as to her, this would bring her happiness again. However, when she finally fits into the dress, the red pigments have faded, the dress is damaged and lifeless which in my view relates to Sara's state of mind at this point. The once vibrant, eye catching iconic red dress has been tethered and aged, no longer expressing passion but instead suggests she alone reminisces in these dying memories. This is emphasized alongside the TV host's well tailored suit, he's clean and dominate and being well dressed conveys that he's a rich, powerful figure which most aspire to be like, especially Sara who's dream was to appear alongside her cherished TV host on the big screen.

Sara wearing the red dress - faded and worn.

With Marion wanting to be a fashion designer her costumes were key to her character and personality, I specifically remember her wearing a long sleeved top with the armpits cut out and a choker necklace which I felt was quirky and expressed her passion for clothing. Marion also dressed up in revealing dresses when meeting up with strangers in attempts to score money for drugs or drugs themselves which I thought emphasized the desperation for her addiction, she used her appearance to get narcotics and I think it expressed how she starting to believe that her body was an object and nothing more and that would be the only way she'd get what she wanted. At this point the choker necklaces, I feel emphasizes how she's become controlled. To me, it's like a pet collar, she's become dominated and someone else's possession. The men she sleeps with are all well dressed men, wearing fur coats and tailored suits with accessories suggesting they know they're in control and the use of their money can be used to their advantage, in this case spending money on Marion for sexual desires. Their dress sense is essential in showing their dominance and superiority on the bigger scale.

Marion wearing the choker necklace.

Marion wearing the cut out top and Harry wearing a long sleeved knitted jumper.

With Harry and Tyrone, their costume choices seems like the typical, oversized jeans and tee's, showing their characters weren't concerned with their appearances. The only vital change was when they dressed in dark colours when they began selling and buying narcotics after the eventful drug bust, suggesting the incognito impression, being hidden which I think was vital in those situations. Another significant costume for Tyrone is when he's in a prison uniform at the end, suggesting he's also been beaten and defeated by his obsession. When Harry developed the infection on his arm he began wearing longer sleeves which I think was effective as we stop thinking about the wound until Tyrone rolls up Harry's sleeve and discovers what began as a nasty looking boil has turned into a river of black and purple lines spreading from the dark open wound in the bend of his arm. Finally, the final scene where Harry and his mother are both pictured in hospital gowns, I feel is relevant as their relationship is key in the story and they're both unaware of the each other's situations which gives the story an emotional impact along with Tyrone in his prison uniform and Marion in erotic clothing laying on a strangers bed, the film ends with them all curling on a bed alone in the foetal position which really emphasizes the pain and isolation. Like new infants they are lost, confused and in need of help and guidance which I feel is a beautiful piece of imagery.

Harry's infected arm.