Ellen Burstyn won an Oscar, a Tony, two Emmys and has been co-president (along with Al Pacino) of The Actors Studio for 24 years. She is a fearless actor as evidenced here. She won the Independent Spirit Award for this, and she should have won the Oscar. At 91 she is still working and still giving fearless performances.
I've seen this movie probably a dozen times and I've always thought about their "endings" as being in relation to their stories, like an open ended cause and effect. Seeing it interpretated so succinctly like this is really messing with me.
@GreggThompson-vb6mt A dismissive but comforting thought, to be sure; as though avoiding drugs will somehow spare you from the pain of losing something you deeply care about.
@tibb75 Full disclosure, I shamelessly stole this from the comment section of another reaction to this film, but it just struck such a cord and, like you said, so succinctly summarized each of their stories, that it stayed with me as an integral part of how I have interpreted this film.
Definitely a few more that could be number 1: - Irréversible - Enter the Void - Come and See - Oldboy - Koyaanisqatsi, etc. but yes this is probably Top 5 and at least Top 10
Agreed! What’s crazy about the basketball diaries is that I’ve never been able to find it on any streaming service… I think you could still rent on prime, but it’s legitimately never been on a streaming service…too extreme i guess
@@tt8807Lol, I saw Kids in theater back in the day and wanted to watch it again recently but couldn't find it on any streamer. It WAS controversial in the day, but then one day I just googled it and the darn full thing was in yt. Obviously it was an oversight, but it was still wild.
Yeah. At least that one has some levity to it. This is my favorite on addiction, although I think Trainspotting did at least a little better at showing a tiny snippet of what it feels like to come down. It's THE worst feeling ever. It's like having every single disease on Earth, all at once.
This movie works for me because it's very accurate in portraying the details of what interaction with an addict is like. For example, the mom plays along with her son pawning the tv and she pays to get it back. In this way she is giving him money for his drugs but she can pretend she's not. In her mind she's just paying to get her tv back. I've seen this exact dynamic play out in real life. It's really sad because the parent is desperate to 'help' their son or daughter but giving money to an addict is making things worse, not helping them.
@@beckylang91 Right from the very start he's screaming at his mother and frightening her to hide in her own closet because she doesn't want him to take her television again.
@@beckylang91 i honestly love Requiem, seen it many times. When i first saw it i felt cold and disturbed but now when i watch it i just see a great flick --- even the opening which has such honesty about real life and such kinetic energy, i can't help but enjoy the strings warming up for the performance of a farce and tragedy.
Yep, this flick is rough af. You guys were spot on in your understanding and reaction to this. It is a beautifully shot work of art. I always thought that it would be impactful for high school kids to see this. The core issue, though, goes way deeper than just street drugs. It hits home for a much broader swath of society. Thanks, gentlemen, for sharing this reaction. I appreciate y’all’s content. 👊
Oh dear God. I'm not going to watch this again but I hope y'all enjoy this. Ellen Burnstyn gives one of the best performances of her long career. Good luck and poor Cam!
omg, this movie. I could only watch it once. I truly appreciate this film, all of the technical elements that makes it so haunting but it's the acting that really shines through for me. Everyone's acting was exceptional. But it was Ellen Burstyn that completely blew me away. In fact her acting in this movie is in my top 3 performances of all time.
My high school guidance counselor played this movie in class, she also left the room not knowing a thing, she was surprised seeing Jennifer Connelly bush 😂
17:30. Her scene is slightly out of frame. That's because during her monologue the cinematographer was moved to tears by the actress's performance, causing the eyepiece to fog up and he accidentally let the camera slip slightly. That's the take used in the final cut.
This is the reality of these situations. The despair, the loss, the tragedy of it all. I never got to this point, but I very well understand the power of addiction. This movie portrays the unsettling nature of the situation from an exterior POV. It makes you feel nasty afterward.
It always means something to me when i find myself not the only one out in the world traumatized by this film. Brilliant, but definitely not a rewatch kind of situation.
A very heavy movie that makes you feel as sweaty and uncomfortable as Sara must feel running around her stuffy apartment. Still, Director Darren Aronofsky is an impressive filmmaker, with a solid and varied filmography. This put him on the map, and into college dorm rooms for movie night all through the early 2000s.
of all the characters in this film, the one that breaks my heart is the mother. so loving yet so misguided and ultimately so lost. as others said, she should have won an oscar for this, but hollywood collectively squirmed away from the subject matter like the worms they are.
Heroin is a helluva drug. And you're right, they didn't shame. I've seen this path with someone I loved very much, and unfortunately, she never got out...
I remember the first time I saw this about 20 years ago, at the end I literally felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. I just laid on the couch staring into space trying to process what I just saw.
Great reaction Cam and Zay. Your commentary was thoughtful and your reactions were entertaining. Again, my apologies for subjecting you to this real life horror story (and not giving you advance notice of the trauma you’d endure), but I knew you would appreciate this as stellar storytelling and filmmaking.
Sara's monologue about being old and alone (at 17:30) is heartbreaking. But at 30:01: "I just wanted to be on the show," is what stabs me in the f'king heart. She's brilliant in this movie!!
Everybody, and I mean Everybody, does the Mail box double check when they drop a letter in lol. maybe not so much anymore since mailing things snail mail is almost obsolete. The final 10-15 minutes of this movie are so wild and disturbing it's amazing. Also the mom is the the mom from 'The Exorcist'. she received Ocars Noms for both films,
Between this, Basketball Diaries and Kids… my ass was scared straight af!!! I was mid teens when all these flicks came out and it still haunts me in my 40s!
Yay! One of my favourite movies of all time. I watched it as a young teen and it’s forever been in my top 10, maybe even 5, top movie list. Welcome to a brilliant film. ❤❤❤
Great reaction guys, thank you! Such a disturbingly good movie. I have watched the movie a few times over the years because it’s so well-crafted and the narrative so impactful. But every time I rewatch it, and experience just how disturbing and unsettling it really is, I’m reminded why I haven’t watched it on more occasions. I only have to hear a tiny portion of that music score to start feeling uneasy and that awful sense of despair Aronofsky has woven into this masterwork. But watching it again alongside you guys and hearing your take on it, helped me cushion those thoughts of horror and focus far more on the cinematography and remember that it’s a work of Art, not a documentary. I’m a big fan of Aronofsky and would thoroughly recommend both Pi and The Fountain. But particularly The Fountain (starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weiss). It has an equally moving and disturbing message as Requiem and the beauty of the cinematography is just as undeniable. The big difference is that although a very sad movie, The Fountain does end on positive note of sorts. You’re left looking upward with hope and understanding, not looking down with your head in your hands. Why not give it a try here on your reaction channel? It’s a very underrated movie!
That one is haunting in its own way especially if you know anything about the world of ballet. For Black Swan, the addiction in question is one to perfection 😢
“Requiem for a Dream” stands out as one of my favorite films because of its unapologetic depiction of reality. Unlike so many movies that seek to wrap up with neatly packaged happy endings, this film dares to confront the darker, more unsettling truths of human existence. It serves as a stark reminder that not everyone’s story culminates in triumph or redemption. The film lays bare the devastating consequences of addiction, mental illness, and societal neglect, challenging viewers to reckon with the fragility of their own circumstances. Beyond its narrative, the film is a masterclass in visual storytelling. The use of cinematography, pacing, and editing is nothing short of extraordinary, immersing the audience in a world that is simultaneously harrowing and hypnotic. Every shot feels meticulously crafted, underscoring the characters’ descent into despair. There’s a tragic beauty to the way the film presents its subjects, capturing both their humanity and their downfall in a way that evokes both empathy and sorrow. In this sense, “Requiem for a Dream” is not just a film, but an artistic statement about the complexities of life, one that challenges the viewer to look beyond the surface and confront the uncomfortable realities that so many prefer to ignore.
Another thing I realised is at the ending, Harry and Tyrone are clean, and can no longer escape to the dream and are now stuck in their reality, while Sara and Marion are fully addicted and are trapped in their dream.
The used the score for the "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" trailer. I remember hearing it and going, "Oh, nooo." Haha. Music actually works really well in that trailer.
The only difference between the "Director's Cut" (which is the cut released to theaters) and the "Blockbuster Cut" is the camera angle for "ass to ass." There were no added or deleted scenes distinguishing the two versions. The run-time is exactly the same. Aronfsky's choice for the "ass-to-ass" was an overhead shot. The film was awarded an NC-17. Following an unsuccessful appeal, Aronofsky surrendered the rating and released his "Director's Cut" to the theaters unrated. A new version was made using a side shot of that sexual act. The new version was rated R. The only reason for the R-rated version was to get the movie into Blockbuster. I'm not sure that the R-rated version is even available anymore.
26:36 jennifer and jared actually had a fight that day, so the scene was really much more organic 😅 she said they made it up after, but it’s amazing this movie is the biggest punch in the gut ever…. such a snub at awards season too…. only ellen burstyn was nominated, and lost, sadly
This is an incredible movie but it's a one and done watch lol. Ellen Burstyn's performance is beautifully tragic and she was nominated for best actress that year.
This is probably the most disturbing great movie I know of! I'm glad to see that it hit you as it is meant to. Ellen Burstyn's monologue to Jared is heartbreaking!
Ah, the most famous movie that audiences watch at most once. I think one of the most important lessons I took away from this movie when I saw it at age 20 is: fantasies turn against you when you deny reality in order to believe in them. All four of the main cast are heartbreaking, but Ellen Burstyn's character Sara is the one that hit me the hardest at the time... her true addiction (the TV, to cope with her loneliness / lack of meaningful emotional connection) started a long time before she got the weight loss pills, and the fantasy it served (that being a guest on her favorite infomercial and standing in front of millions of strangers while wearing the red dress would *somehow* give her life meaning) was the *most* out-of-touch with reality of all the fantasies we see in the movie. Which is kind of appropriate for the drugs she ultimately falls into: most people who abuse amphetamines don't end up with that level of psychosis, but she was already vulnerable to it, and she had no idea of the risks they presented to her. Meanwhile, opiates like heroin (the drug of choice for Leto, Connelly, and Wayans' characters) don't particularly mess with your sense of reality itself... so much as they make you feel like everything is fine, to the point that you're creepily unbothered by things that *ought* to bother you.
Coming off of opiates/opioids of any kind is literally the worst feeling ever. You can't even imagine what it's like to come down and not have anything. You're constantly too cold, too hot, too cold, too hot, too cold, every bone in your body hurts, you can't sleep but you're exhausted, your anxiety is through the roof so you have constant and severe panic attacks, your body is desperately trying to force you to throw up and sh*t even when there's nothing left in your body so you still have the nausea and cramps, you have seizures, heart palpitations, your legs won't stop shaking, you can't think, you can't rest but you can't move either. It's like having every known disease on Earth, all at once and NOTHING anyone says can even come close to describing how it actually feels. I wouldn't wish it on the worst person who's ever lived.
Great reaction! Some other great films about addiction are bad lieutenant (1992 nc-17 cut) and clean and sober (1988). Highly recommend both of those films, especially bad lieutenant which was written and directed by addicts and is a masterpiece
This movie scared me from doing drugs because of the horrible outcome for all the characters. I saw this movie when I was like 15/16 when still in HS. You feel REALLY sad for the mother, because I don't think she realized she was taking speed until her son told her, but by that time she was addicted to the drug and the weight loss aspect of it. Really messed up since she thought she was taking a miracle diet pill. Also, it makes me feel even more sorry for her knowing that A FRIEND told her to see this doctor. This is what I would consider a true horror film. If you want another amazing drug movie, watch Trainspotting. Another trippy movie that gives some of the same trippy vibes as this, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Such a powerful movie. I cry at the end for the mother every time. On that note, I'm very curious to see your reaction to Darren Aronofsky's "Mother!" with Jennifer Lawrence. Go in blind and buckle up for the ride. I saw it in theaters and I can only say that the movie is an escalating 2 hour anxiety attack. The sound design is unnerving and I have never felt so uneasy and uncomfortable in a theater.
mother is an incredible film --- and i honestly couldn't help but laugh watching Jenifer Lawrence's growing confusion. i take the movie seriously, but it's a fun ride in its own way and the end makes me applause.
I unfortunately am one of the people, who watched it and got reminded of a family member, who acted just like Sarah. My grandmother passed away this march on the 4th, and for the past 10 years she slowly destroyed herself with her drug addiction. Towards her final years we got it under control, but at it's worst, she took about 30-40 different medications A DAY. We found out that she thought, that whatever the doctor gave her and told her to take, she didn't stop. She once had a bladder infections about 8 years ago, and she kept taking the pills for it years after having that problem. She also lived alone, since my grandpa died 24 years ago. The similarities between Sarah and my grandma is eerie, to say the least, and the fact that I watched this movie the day before she died, made it a much much more worse viewing experience for me.
New subscriber...love the reactions and analysis. I am a recovering addict as as much as some people say that this is a "cautionary tale", it kinda triggered me to use more. My weird ass would literally listen to the soundtrack/score when i was in psychosis. Anyway, i would love to see a reaction of "the sandlot", "can't hardly wait" or "200 cigarettes".
This movie and Trainspotting will keep you off drugs for sure. If you want to see Jared Leto in one his best roles, react to "Dallas Buyers Club", which, btw, is a really good movie.
If you want "intense" in a different way, react to the movie "Death Sentence" (2007), starring Kevin Bacon, John Goodman, Kelly Preston, and Garrett Hedlund. One of the most intense films you will ever see.
Another extremely intense, and insane movie you guys will really enjoy is "High Tension" (2004), starring Cécile de France, and Maïwenn (from The Fifth Element, 1997). Edge of your seat kinda flick!
Stay off the dr^gs, kids. Also, Cam and Zay are probably rethinking this Patreon tier! 😂 But good on you guys for doing reactions to movies others won’t. This has been a long time favorite and as I age it actually is more difficult to watch.
I just realized that if those were scammers and got all her info, there is no one to complain. They can get all her money to include social security and no one notice.
This movie is both brilliant and haunting. I want to see your reaction to it, but at the same time I don't want. I don't know how far I'm going to make it.
i love this movie, didn't know there was a director's cut, discovered that it's clever marketing --- the original movie from 2000 IS the director's cut, there are no additional scenes here. There was also censored R rated version back in the day so they're getting away with calling the original edit (that most would have seen anyhow) a "director's cut" for this 2020 release.
Well this movie just made me a Patreon guys! Want to see you’re whole reaction to this. It’s not a movie I can rewatch often 😅 so disturbing, but excellent! Camerawork, editing, music, acting 👌 You feel miserable and tripping as a viewer too 🥴😵💫
This movie and the book were so good. Powerful and heartbreaking. As close as you can get to actual addiction. Ellen was robbed of best actress! They all were amazing in this and also the score was created for the movie. Lux Aeterna by Clint Mansell. Powerful score! I highly recommend The Wrestler and The Whale by Aronofsky too.
RFAD is clearly one of the best gut-punch films. It's an important piece of art. You guys are the best reviewers and reactioners; I may have to dig through the couch coushins to go to patteon. Ellen Burstyn played - the mom from the Excorist. Fitting somehow. Seriously consider doing The Deer Hunter.
![เจ็บที่ยังฮัก - ม่อน วรวิทย์ [ Official Mv ] จอนนี่มิวสิค](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KALIGSRSjFs/mqdefault.jpg)
![F.HERO Ft. JSPKK x ลำไย ไหทองคำ x M-PEE - ไม่สนิทบิดหมด (Thai Riders Anthem) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kPJZ0UihBfk/mqdefault.jpg)
This movie disturbed me more than any horror show.
This is maybe the only movie to just make me feel gross. Night Crawler is the only one I can think of that came even close.
If you think this is disturbing, watch "Enter the Void" - it's similar to this movie but on another level.
For another great Gaspar Noe film, try “Irreversible”.
Ellen Burstyn won an Oscar, a Tony, two Emmys and has been co-president (along with Al Pacino) of The Actors Studio for 24 years. She is a fearless actor as evidenced here. She won the Independent Spirit Award for this, and she should have won the Oscar. At 91 she is still working and still giving fearless performances.
Icon.
I love her in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.
She was the mom in The Exorcist. You're bound that have seen that.
@@Thomas-rw9nt I love it too. First time I saw Jodie Foster and I thought she was a boy for much of the movie.
A really great actress! From Regan's mother in "The Exorcist" to this movie. Not a single misstep.
Tyrone lost his freedom
Harry lost his arm
Sara lost her mind
And Marion lost her soul
I've seen this movie probably a dozen times and I've always thought about their "endings" as being in relation to their stories, like an open ended cause and effect. Seeing it interpretated so succinctly like this is really messing with me.
Drugs will do that to you.
@GreggThompson-vb6mt
A dismissive but comforting thought, to be sure; as though avoiding drugs will somehow spare you from the pain of losing something you deeply care about.
@tibb75
Full disclosure, I shamelessly stole this from the comment section of another reaction to this film, but it just struck such a cord and, like you said, so succinctly summarized each of their stories, that it stayed with me as an integral part of how I have interpreted this film.
@joshbates9015 We all lose loved ones at some point. But it usually doesn't screw up and destroy our lives the way drugs do.
I’ve seen multiple lists of “movies people watch once and never again,” and this one is _always_ Number One. ☝️
Definitely a few more that could be number 1:
- Irréversible
- Enter the Void
- Come and See
- Oldboy
- Koyaanisqatsi, etc. but yes this is probably Top 5 and at least Top 10
@@lenanicole2837 I couldn't make it through "that" scene in Irreversible. It was too real.
I watched it about 3 times but can't anymore - can't even listen to that song anymore
@@lenanicole2837
Cannibal Holocaust
The 120 days of Sodom
Black Mass of the Nazi Sex Wizard
Faces of Death
A cautionary tale of addiction if ever there was one. Another like that is The Basketball Diaries.
Agreed! What’s crazy about the basketball diaries is that I’ve never been able to find it on any streaming service… I think you could still rent on prime, but it’s legitimately never been on a streaming service…too extreme i guess
And Kids! Ugh, my poor soul!
@@tt8807Lol, I saw Kids in theater back in the day and wanted to watch it again recently but couldn't find it on any streamer. It WAS controversial in the day, but then one day I just googled it and the darn full thing was in yt.
Obviously it was an oversight, but it was still wild.
@@tt8807And this is total La Grange territory, but the full darn movie is available now as long as you know the title and year.
@@realitydrip3293it’s not at all too extreme. It’s soley due to rights issues with mgm. Lots of titles aren’t streaming.
This movie will stick with you forever
Ellen Burstyn deserved the Oscar for this. Super dark but incredibly well done. Trainspotting would be another must-see on the topic of addiction.
Yeah. At least that one has some levity to it. This is my favorite on addiction, although I think Trainspotting did at least a little better at showing a tiny snippet of what it feels like to come down. It's THE worst feeling ever. It's like having every single disease on Earth, all at once.
Now you should watch "Kids" from 1995 lol
Oh ya, great choice
This movie works for me because it's very accurate in portraying the details of what interaction with an addict is like. For example, the mom plays along with her son pawning the tv and she pays to get it back. In this way she is giving him money for his drugs but she can pretend she's not. In her mind she's just paying to get her tv back. I've seen this exact dynamic play out in real life. It's really sad because the parent is desperate to 'help' their son or daughter but giving money to an addict is making things worse, not helping them.
i think it goes beyond that --- she's scared of her son, he's abusive.
@@charoleawoodin what way is Harry abusive to his mother? (It’s been a minute since I’ve watched this movie, so maybe I’m forgetting something.)
@@beckylang91
Right from the very start he's screaming at his mother and frightening her to hide in her own closet because she doesn't want him to take her television again.
@@charoleawood omg yes, that’s right! I completely forgot about that.
@@beckylang91
i honestly love Requiem, seen it many times.
When i first saw it i felt cold and disturbed but now when i watch it i just see a great flick --- even the opening which has such honesty about real life and such kinetic energy, i can't help but enjoy the strings warming up for the performance of a farce and tragedy.
Yep, this flick is rough af. You guys were spot on in your understanding and reaction to this. It is a beautifully shot work of art. I always thought that it would be impactful for high school kids to see this. The core issue, though, goes way deeper than just street drugs. It hits home for a much broader swath of society. Thanks, gentlemen, for sharing this reaction. I appreciate y’all’s content. 👊
Oh dear God. I'm not going to watch this again but I hope y'all enjoy this. Ellen Burnstyn gives one of the best performances of her long career. Good luck and poor Cam!
I came to the comments to say exactly this
Ellen's the 🐐
Will never watch again. But have fun!
D.A.R.E. missed a huge opportunity. All they had to do was show this movie across the nation and it would’ve scared kids shitless.
@@rynefox7366 I look back at those lame after school specials and realize they never changed anyone’s minds but this movie, yeah, it might be the key.
omg, this movie. I could only watch it once. I truly appreciate this film, all of the technical elements that makes it so haunting but it's the acting that really shines through for me. Everyone's acting was exceptional. But it was Ellen Burstyn that completely blew me away. In fact her acting in this movie is in my top 3 performances of all time.
This is my #1 performance in a movie ever
One of the things I love about you guys is that you pronounce everything properly. It's rare.
My high school guidance counselor played this movie in class, she also left the room not knowing a thing, she was surprised seeing Jennifer Connelly bush 😂
I bet the flashlight party took her by surprise 😂
17:30. Her scene is slightly out of frame. That's because during her monologue the cinematographer was moved to tears by the actress's performance, causing the eyepiece to fog up and he accidentally let the camera slip slightly. That's the take used in the final cut.
Jennifer Connelly should have been nominated for an Oscar for this.
Kudos to the boys for watching some very challenging cinema.
This is the reality of these situations. The despair, the loss, the tragedy of it all. I never got to this point, but I very well understand the power of addiction. This movie portrays the unsettling nature of the situation from an exterior POV. It makes you feel nasty afterward.
It always means something to me when i find myself not the only one out in the world traumatized by this film. Brilliant, but definitely not a rewatch kind of situation.
One of the few movies that is both excellent, and something that you'd prefer to never have to see again as long as you live.
A very heavy movie that makes you feel as sweaty and uncomfortable as Sara must feel running around her stuffy apartment.
Still, Director Darren Aronofsky is an impressive filmmaker, with a solid and varied filmography. This put him on the map, and into college dorm rooms for movie night all through the early 2000s.
Hitting "rock bottom": The point at which one's circumstances deteriorate faster than the ability to lower one's standards.
of all the characters in this film, the one that breaks my heart is the mother. so loving yet so misguided and ultimately so lost.
as others said, she should have won an oscar for this, but hollywood collectively squirmed away from the subject matter like the worms they are.
Heroin is a helluva drug. And you're right, they didn't shame. I've seen this path with someone I loved very much, and unfortunately, she never got out...
I'm 51, and though a drug user (no addiction issues) myself, I've seen others go down this path or met them somewhere along it.
“Whoever played the mother?” How dare you. Y’all even watched the Exorcist!
Go watch Mother! And call your mothers.
Yes please react to "Mother! There are more Aronkofsky films to watch, first, though...
@@shotbybrady8793The Wrestler and Black Swan❤❤❤❤
@@jannathompson2262 Have you seen "The Fountain", Janna?
I remember the first time I saw this about 20 years ago, at the end I literally felt like I'd been punched in the stomach.
I just laid on the couch staring into space trying to process what I just saw.
Great reaction Cam and Zay. Your commentary was thoughtful and your reactions were entertaining. Again, my apologies for subjecting you to this real life horror story (and not giving you advance notice of the trauma you’d endure), but I knew you would appreciate this as stellar storytelling and filmmaking.
Correct kudos for the perfect film title "Requiem for a Dream" goes to the author of the 1978 novel Hubert Selby Jr, on which this film is based.
The book is even more horrific if you can believe it. The abuse and torture Sara endures at the hospital is unbearable.
Sara's monologue about being old and alone (at 17:30) is heartbreaking. But at 30:01: "I just wanted to be on the show," is what stabs me in the f'king heart. She's brilliant in this movie!!
Every parent should have their teenager watch this
Everybody, and I mean Everybody, does the Mail box double check when they drop a letter in lol. maybe not so much anymore since mailing things snail mail is almost obsolete. The final 10-15 minutes of this movie are so wild and disturbing it's amazing. Also the mom is the the mom from 'The Exorcist'. she received Ocars Noms for both films,
Between this, Basketball Diaries and Kids… my ass was scared straight af!!! I was mid teens when all these flicks came out and it still haunts me in my 40s!
Yay! One of my favourite movies of all time. I watched it as a young teen and it’s forever been in my top 10, maybe even 5, top movie list. Welcome to a brilliant film. ❤❤❤
Great reaction guys, thank you! Such a disturbingly good movie. I have watched the movie a few times over the years because it’s so well-crafted and the narrative so impactful. But every time I rewatch it, and experience just how disturbing and unsettling it really is, I’m reminded why I haven’t watched it on more occasions. I only have to hear a tiny portion of that music score to start feeling uneasy and that awful sense of despair Aronofsky has woven into this masterwork. But watching it again alongside you guys and hearing your take on it, helped me cushion those thoughts of horror and focus far more on the cinematography and remember that it’s a work of Art, not a documentary. I’m a big fan of Aronofsky and would thoroughly recommend both Pi and The Fountain. But particularly The Fountain (starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weiss). It has an equally moving and disturbing message as Requiem and the beauty of the cinematography is just as undeniable. The big difference is that although a very sad movie, The Fountain does end on positive note of sorts. You’re left looking upward with hope and understanding, not looking down with your head in your hands. Why not give it a try here on your reaction channel? It’s a very underrated movie!
You've finally won me back after how you treated poor Frodo. A great reaction and discussion at the end.
This is A Original Score by Clint Mansell
I recommend Black Swan by Darren Aronofsky as well
That one is haunting in its own way especially if you know anything about the world of ballet. For Black Swan, the addiction in question is one to perfection 😢
OMG wooo child!!! This one?!
“Requiem for a Dream” stands out as one of my favorite films because of its unapologetic depiction of reality. Unlike so many movies that seek to wrap up with neatly packaged happy endings, this film dares to confront the darker, more unsettling truths of human existence. It serves as a stark reminder that not everyone’s story culminates in triumph or redemption. The film lays bare the devastating consequences of addiction, mental illness, and societal neglect, challenging viewers to reckon with the fragility of their own circumstances.
Beyond its narrative, the film is a masterclass in visual storytelling. The use of cinematography, pacing, and editing is nothing short of extraordinary, immersing the audience in a world that is simultaneously harrowing and hypnotic. Every shot feels meticulously crafted, underscoring the characters’ descent into despair. There’s a tragic beauty to the way the film presents its subjects, capturing both their humanity and their downfall in a way that evokes both empathy and sorrow. In this sense, “Requiem for a Dream” is not just a film, but an artistic statement about the complexities of life, one that challenges the viewer to look beyond the surface and confront the uncomfortable realities that so many prefer to ignore.
Good depiction of the torture "mental health" services inflict, too. I've seen it and it's always inhumane to some degree.
One of the best soundtrack ever hands down.
Another thing I realised is at the ending, Harry and Tyrone are clean, and can no longer escape to the dream and are now stuck in their reality, while Sara and Marion are fully addicted and are trapped in their dream.
The used the score for the "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" trailer. I remember hearing it and going, "Oh, nooo." Haha. Music actually works really well in that trailer.
OH NO THEY'RE GOING IN BLIND.
Watched this movie while disappointing a date AND throwing up homemade eatables. Incredible film, one of the greatest.
High schools should show upper classmen Requiem for a Dream, Shot Caller then Gattaca. I feel like kids would learn a lot watching those films.
The only difference between the "Director's Cut" (which is the cut released to theaters) and the "Blockbuster Cut" is the camera angle for "ass to ass." There were no added or deleted scenes distinguishing the two versions. The run-time is exactly the same. Aronfsky's choice for the "ass-to-ass" was an overhead shot. The film was awarded an NC-17. Following an unsuccessful appeal, Aronofsky surrendered the rating and released his "Director's Cut" to the theaters unrated. A new version was made using a side shot of that sexual act. The new version was rated R. The only reason for the R-rated version was to get the movie into Blockbuster. I'm not sure that the R-rated version is even available anymore.
You guys need to be dressed up as Shaggy and Scooby for every reaction! Ruh-roh! Jinkies! :)
26:36
jennifer and jared actually had a fight that day, so the scene was really much more organic 😅 she said they made it up after, but it’s amazing
this movie is the biggest punch in the gut ever…. such a snub at awards season too…. only ellen burstyn was nominated, and lost, sadly
Ellen Burstyn gives one of the best performances of all time.
This is an incredible movie but it's a one and done watch lol. Ellen Burstyn's performance is beautifully tragic and she was nominated for best actress that year.
and she should have won!
This is probably the most disturbing great movie I know of! I'm glad to see that it hit you as it is meant to. Ellen Burstyn's monologue to Jared is heartbreaking!
Ah, the most famous movie that audiences watch at most once.
I think one of the most important lessons I took away from this movie when I saw it at age 20 is: fantasies turn against you when you deny reality in order to believe in them. All four of the main cast are heartbreaking, but Ellen Burstyn's character Sara is the one that hit me the hardest at the time... her true addiction (the TV, to cope with her loneliness / lack of meaningful emotional connection) started a long time before she got the weight loss pills, and the fantasy it served (that being a guest on her favorite infomercial and standing in front of millions of strangers while wearing the red dress would *somehow* give her life meaning) was the *most* out-of-touch with reality of all the fantasies we see in the movie.
Which is kind of appropriate for the drugs she ultimately falls into: most people who abuse amphetamines don't end up with that level of psychosis, but she was already vulnerable to it, and she had no idea of the risks they presented to her. Meanwhile, opiates like heroin (the drug of choice for Leto, Connelly, and Wayans' characters) don't particularly mess with your sense of reality itself... so much as they make you feel like everything is fine, to the point that you're creepily unbothered by things that *ought* to bother you.
Coming off of opiates/opioids of any kind is literally the worst feeling ever. You can't even imagine what it's like to come down and not have anything. You're constantly too cold, too hot, too cold, too hot, too cold, every bone in your body hurts, you can't sleep but you're exhausted, your anxiety is through the roof so you have constant and severe panic attacks, your body is desperately trying to force you to throw up and sh*t even when there's nothing left in your body so you still have the nausea and cramps, you have seizures, heart palpitations, your legs won't stop shaking, you can't think, you can't rest but you can't move either. It's like having every known disease on Earth, all at once and NOTHING anyone says can even come close to describing how it actually feels. I wouldn't wish it on the worst person who's ever lived.
Great reaction! Some other great films about addiction are bad lieutenant (1992 nc-17 cut) and clean and sober (1988). Highly recommend both of those films, especially bad lieutenant which was written and directed by addicts and is a masterpiece
Best movie I NEVER WANT TO SEE AGAIN IN MY LIFE.
This movie scared me from doing drugs because of the horrible outcome for all the characters. I saw this movie when I was like 15/16 when still in HS. You feel REALLY sad for the mother, because I don't think she realized she was taking speed until her son told her, but by that time she was addicted to the drug and the weight loss aspect of it. Really messed up since she thought she was taking a miracle diet pill. Also, it makes me feel even more sorry for her knowing that A FRIEND told her to see this doctor. This is what I would consider a true horror film. If you want another amazing drug movie, watch Trainspotting. Another trippy movie that gives some of the same trippy vibes as this, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Now react to Happiness. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman
Yes! Great movie
First time I ever heard someone bring that up in 20 years. Worth watching once and passing along to make others suffer the wrongness.
Saw this in the theater in 2000. When we left, it felt like we’d been beaten with a bag of oranges. Just brutal.
*Y’all thinking Sarah’s addiction was gonna be sugar*
Me watching: Oh you poor souls.
Same 😢
The film is based on a novel by the same name by Hubert Selby, Jr.
Thanks, Cameron! Thanks, Isaiah! 💊 Kudos to writer/director Darren Aronofsky.
Such a powerful movie. I cry at the end for the mother every time. On that note, I'm very curious to see your reaction to Darren Aronofsky's "Mother!" with Jennifer Lawrence. Go in blind and buckle up for the ride. I saw it in theaters and I can only say that the movie is an escalating 2 hour anxiety attack. The sound design is unnerving and I have never felt so uneasy and uncomfortable in a theater.
mother is an incredible film --- and i honestly couldn't help but laugh watching Jenifer Lawrence's growing confusion.
i take the movie seriously, but it's a fun ride in its own way and the end makes me applause.
The Wrestler is so much better!!!!
Darren Aronofsky's Masterpiece
La Obra Maestra de Darren Aronofsky
I unfortunately am one of the people, who watched it and got reminded of a family member, who acted just like Sarah. My grandmother passed away this march on the 4th, and for the past 10 years she slowly destroyed herself with her drug addiction. Towards her final years we got it under control, but at it's worst, she took about 30-40 different medications A DAY. We found out that she thought, that whatever the doctor gave her and told her to take, she didn't stop. She once had a bladder infections about 8 years ago, and she kept taking the pills for it years after having that problem. She also lived alone, since my grandpa died 24 years ago. The similarities between Sarah and my grandma is eerie, to say the least, and the fact that I watched this movie the day before she died, made it a much much more worse viewing experience for me.
New subscriber...love the reactions and analysis. I am a recovering addict as as much as some people say that this is a "cautionary tale", it kinda triggered me to use more. My weird ass would literally listen to the soundtrack/score when i was in psychosis. Anyway, i would love to see a reaction of "the sandlot", "can't hardly wait" or "200 cigarettes".
This movie ending gave me a literal panic attack- I seriously had to use my inhaler- the message is so real life - so much more then other movies
My stomach was in knots and I had to meditate myself to sleep after having watched it even hours prior. This movie is VISCERAL but BRILLIANT 😵💫
Electro-Conductive Therapy
This movie and Trainspotting will keep you off drugs for sure.
If you want to see Jared Leto in one his best roles, react to "Dallas Buyers Club", which, btw, is a really good movie.
If you want "intense" in a different way, react to the movie "Death Sentence" (2007), starring Kevin Bacon, John Goodman, Kelly Preston, and Garrett Hedlund. One of the most intense films you will ever see.
love Death Sentence, directed by James Wan.
technically a remake but i've not seen the original.
The director also made 'The Fountain' and 'Black Swan'. They will give you similar weirdness. 'Pi' as well, if you want a math-thriller
I saw this in the theatre and thought I was going to throw up after.
One of the few movies that caused me involuntary tears.
You have voluntary tears?
@@theshadowfax239 I can stop them from happening pretty easily. Didn't really work with this film.
Get ready to feel horrible about everything in life…I love this movie
Another extremely intense, and insane movie you guys will really enjoy is "High Tension" (2004), starring Cécile de France, and Maïwenn (from The Fifth Element, 1997). Edge of your seat kinda flick!
This stuff is no laughing matter, guys. You have no idea what it feels like unless you're there.
Stay off the dr^gs, kids. Also, Cam and Zay are probably rethinking this Patreon tier! 😂 But good on you guys for doing reactions to movies others won’t. This has been a long time favorite and as I age it actually is more difficult to watch.
Watched it once...never needed to see it again!
such an amazing movie I never wanna watch it again.
I just realized that if those were scammers and got all her info, there is no one to complain. They can get all her money to include social security and no one notice.
Snuck outta work, saw a matinee, on opening day Friday...iconic independent film. ...!! PS...I didnt get fired. 😂...that was months later. ❤
The only thing more tragic would have been Sara knowing what happened to her son
Oh boy..... i don't think you're ready for this one.....
Electric Shock Therapy
Electroconvulsive Therapy
This movie is both brilliant and haunting. I want to see your reaction to it, but at the same time I don't want. I don't know how far I'm going to make it.
i love this movie, didn't know there was a director's cut, discovered that it's clever marketing --- the original movie from 2000 IS the director's cut, there are no additional scenes here.
There was also censored R rated version back in the day so they're getting away with calling the original edit (that most would have seen anyhow) a "director's cut" for this 2020 release.
Well this movie just made me a Patreon guys! Want to see you’re whole reaction to this. It’s not a movie I can rewatch often 😅 so disturbing, but excellent! Camerawork, editing, music, acting 👌 You feel miserable and tripping as a viewer too 🥴😵💫
The book was originally written in 1978 so maybe the movie does take place in the past.
I'll watch anything with Leto and man, was this one a scorcher. It's not one I ever planned to watch a second time. So, here I am.
This movie and the book were so good. Powerful and heartbreaking. As close as you can get to actual addiction. Ellen was robbed of best actress! They all were amazing in this and also the score was created for the movie. Lux Aeterna by Clint Mansell. Powerful score! I highly recommend The Wrestler and The Whale by Aronofsky too.
This movie messed me up. More than Martyrs, more than any horror movie I've seen. This was effed up
aw man this movies was meme'd to hell and back on tv shows and music back then all over the place. fun times.
Definitely want to see y’all react to the directors cut of Donnie Darko if you’re going for the mind-messing flicks
Quick question for Cameron: what's the frame behind you? (the art piece on the wall)
It's getting me curious on each video now.
RFAD is clearly one of the best gut-punch films. It's an important piece of art. You guys are the best reviewers and reactioners; I may have to dig through the couch coushins to go to patteon. Ellen Burstyn played - the mom from the Excorist. Fitting somehow. Seriously consider doing The Deer Hunter.
Ellen Burstyn deserved the Oscar. No mention of her performance though?
Great film…the performance from Ellen Burstyn is as good as any performance on film…ever
the greatest movie you'll never watch again
This was Marlon Waynes’ next best performance after White Chicks
One of the most brutal movies ever, the dont back off, brutal and yes uncomfortable, and the acting very good,