Requiem For a Dream - Mango Rating - Ripe
Having just saw Requiem for a Dream recently (thanks TLish!) I feel it necessary to debut a new feature on my blog - the Mango Rating System. Before I delve into the intricacies of RFD, I'll explain the MRS a little.
Branched - Shouldn't have even been made, just like overly young mango shouldn't of even been harvested.
Green - Not bad, has potential - would be good with a more work.
Underripe - Good, but not perfect.
Ripe - Perfect.
Overripe - Over the top movie making basically. For example... Rocky anything beyond the first one.
So having defined the MRS, I'll dive into my first DVD Review. Of note, I'll review four things in each DVD if I can: 1. The Movie itself
2. Extras
3. Video
4. Sound
I'm doing most of this on the fly and off the top of my head, so I apologize for grammatical and spelling errors.
Requiem For A Dream
The Film
I had no idea what this movie was about before I launched into it. My only exposure to the innerworkings of its plot was basically what was on the box. I knew it had something to do with drugs, but little did I know that the movie essentially places you into the world of addiction in a way that is dizzying, terrifying, and poignant all in one.
Briefly, the story involves four characters, Sara Goldfarb (a widowed 50/60 something year old woman living on her own played by Ellen Burstyn), Harry Goldfarb (Sara's son played by Jared Leto), Marion (Harry's Girlfriend played by Jennifer Connelly), and Tyrone (Harry's friend played by Marlon Wayans). The movie starts by setting up each character's addictions - Tyrone, Marion, and Harry use all sorts of drugs and Sara lives for the TV. The high point occurs about 30 minutes into the film, when all of the characters start to rise out of their addictions and just touch the face of happiness, but only for a moment. The rest of the movie portrays the dark and spiralling fall of each character as their dreams dissolve into a horribly distressing ending. The movie is difficult to watch near the end at best.
That said, difficult to watch doesn't equate to bad filmmaking. Darren Aranofsky, the director of this and another favorite of mine Pi, puts together a stirring film that depicts what I'd imagine to be the mindset of a junkie and the junkie's fall from grace. There is no cheesiness, no moralizing, no light at the end of the tunnel. Aranofsky just tells it like it is - addiction to anything can lead to disastrous consequences and the loss of happiness.
The acting is wonderful. Especially poignant is Jared Leto and Ellen Burstyn's talk in her kitchen when it seems things are going well for everyone. Marlon Wayan's acting is very good - you completely forget he's Marlon Wayans and realize that he has the ability to act well, if well directed. And I can't say enough for Jennifer Connelly's job here. She pulls together a performance I never expected out of her, pre-Beautiful Mind.
That said, the movie does push the boundaries a little too much. Aranofsky borders on excessive in the brutality of his depiction of junkie-dom. Its necessary and graphic altogether, but it could be reigned in just a hair - but I'm reaching here.
This isn't a good movie to watch on a Sunday night. Its depressing - but in a way that provokes thought and remembrance. I haven't seen a movie this good for awhile.
Video
Actually pretty nicely transferred. Very minor edge enhancement and fairly free of grain. The color contrast is minimal given the dark and stark nature of the movie - but the few moments that there is color is rendered well.
Sound
A pleasant surprise. There are multiple examples of well placed sound effects. When Sara starts to spin in the room, the sound of the phone spins with her, so that you hear the phone go from front to left to rear left to rear to rear right to right to center with an amazing speed. Its quite impressive. Even more impressive is the end credits after the music dies down. The director puts you into Coney Island with a roller coaster on teh left, the ocean sounds in front of you and other sound and ambience cues to make it seem like you're standing right in Coney island's park. Amazing.
Summary
RFD is a great movie. Its depressing and brutally honest. The acting is wonderful and the pacing and cinmetography is first rate. The sound and video support the movie well. I highly recommend this movie, its just perfect for me - however bordering on excessive. Not enough to make it OVERRIPE, so it stays RIPE in Mango's eyes!
Branched - Shouldn't have even been made, just like overly young mango shouldn't of even been harvested.
Green - Not bad, has potential - would be good with a more work.
Underripe - Good, but not perfect.
Ripe - Perfect.
Overripe - Over the top movie making basically. For example... Rocky anything beyond the first one.
So having defined the MRS, I'll dive into my first DVD Review. Of note, I'll review four things in each DVD if I can: 1. The Movie itself
2. Extras
3. Video
4. Sound
I'm doing most of this on the fly and off the top of my head, so I apologize for grammatical and spelling errors.
Requiem For A Dream
The Film
I had no idea what this movie was about before I launched into it. My only exposure to the innerworkings of its plot was basically what was on the box. I knew it had something to do with drugs, but little did I know that the movie essentially places you into the world of addiction in a way that is dizzying, terrifying, and poignant all in one.
Briefly, the story involves four characters, Sara Goldfarb (a widowed 50/60 something year old woman living on her own played by Ellen Burstyn), Harry Goldfarb (Sara's son played by Jared Leto), Marion (Harry's Girlfriend played by Jennifer Connelly), and Tyrone (Harry's friend played by Marlon Wayans). The movie starts by setting up each character's addictions - Tyrone, Marion, and Harry use all sorts of drugs and Sara lives for the TV. The high point occurs about 30 minutes into the film, when all of the characters start to rise out of their addictions and just touch the face of happiness, but only for a moment. The rest of the movie portrays the dark and spiralling fall of each character as their dreams dissolve into a horribly distressing ending. The movie is difficult to watch near the end at best.
That said, difficult to watch doesn't equate to bad filmmaking. Darren Aranofsky, the director of this and another favorite of mine Pi, puts together a stirring film that depicts what I'd imagine to be the mindset of a junkie and the junkie's fall from grace. There is no cheesiness, no moralizing, no light at the end of the tunnel. Aranofsky just tells it like it is - addiction to anything can lead to disastrous consequences and the loss of happiness.
The acting is wonderful. Especially poignant is Jared Leto and Ellen Burstyn's talk in her kitchen when it seems things are going well for everyone. Marlon Wayan's acting is very good - you completely forget he's Marlon Wayans and realize that he has the ability to act well, if well directed. And I can't say enough for Jennifer Connelly's job here. She pulls together a performance I never expected out of her, pre-Beautiful Mind.
That said, the movie does push the boundaries a little too much. Aranofsky borders on excessive in the brutality of his depiction of junkie-dom. Its necessary and graphic altogether, but it could be reigned in just a hair - but I'm reaching here.
This isn't a good movie to watch on a Sunday night. Its depressing - but in a way that provokes thought and remembrance. I haven't seen a movie this good for awhile.
Video
Actually pretty nicely transferred. Very minor edge enhancement and fairly free of grain. The color contrast is minimal given the dark and stark nature of the movie - but the few moments that there is color is rendered well.
Sound
A pleasant surprise. There are multiple examples of well placed sound effects. When Sara starts to spin in the room, the sound of the phone spins with her, so that you hear the phone go from front to left to rear left to rear to rear right to right to center with an amazing speed. Its quite impressive. Even more impressive is the end credits after the music dies down. The director puts you into Coney Island with a roller coaster on teh left, the ocean sounds in front of you and other sound and ambience cues to make it seem like you're standing right in Coney island's park. Amazing.
Summary
RFD is a great movie. Its depressing and brutally honest. The acting is wonderful and the pacing and cinmetography is first rate. The sound and video support the movie well. I highly recommend this movie, its just perfect for me - however bordering on excessive. Not enough to make it OVERRIPE, so it stays RIPE in Mango's eyes!
posted by Richard at 3:07 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home