The Summer of 100 Movie Reviews!!!

Alright...I am going to watch 100 movies this summer and write 100 reviews for these movies. These movies will be new, old, classic, cult, documentaries, etc. Expect at least one a day...maybe two if you are lucky. Don't worry, I'll throw in some regular blogs here and there, for those of you who are interested in keeping up with my day to day life in a non-stalker-ish/ "I creep because I care" type of way.

So...first review...
Requiem for a Dream-2000
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans

This could be one of the most interesting movies I have ever watched. Certainly it scored serious cinematography points and props to Darren Aronofsky for amazing directoral work. This is one of the few films to use the Kuleshov Effect in recent memory and have it work really really well. The montage of the drugs being prepared starts off as being nice and almost fun...by the end, the same montage makes the audience almost sick because the characters have created their own prison out of cocaine and heroin.

The story follows Harry Goldfarb, his mother Sara, his girlfirend, Marion, and his best friend Ty as they all become involved in their own drug-related hell. The transitions from season to season and that representation of the character's fall into despair and addiction is a little cliche and tired (Summer was the bright and happy part where everything looked great, Fall was their "fall" and Winter is when all hell broke loose). Each of the characters have a dream (as the title imples), and each of these dreams are shattered by their addiction to different drugs. For Harry and Ty (Leto and Wayans), the dream is to strike it rich and get "a pound of pure and retire." Granted, it is a drug related dream, it is shattered none the less by the end of the film. Marion (Connelly) wants to start her own clothing botique with her own designs. This one gets smashed very quickly. Sara (Burstyn) has possibly the most tragic downfall because she doesn't know what she is getting herself into. Wanting nothing more than to be loved and to be on television and fit in the red dress her late husband Seymore loved so much, Burstyn gives one of the most heartbreaking performances I've seen in a long time. She has such a physical transformation as well...she is almost unrecognizeable by the end of the film.

Overall, this movie is terriffic. If you can get over some rather explicit scenes of sexuality, then I highly recommend this movie (however, don't watch it with your parents, wink wink).

Rating: A

Review Schedule:
Monday, May 11th- Doubt
Tuesday, May 12th- Casablanca
Wednesday, May 13th- Rachel Getting Married
Thursday, May 14th- Slumdog Millionaire
Friday, May 15h- Milk