Rating: R
Genre:
Drama
Theatrical Release: 10/06/2000(USA
Release Date: 08/14/2001
SubTitles: English
Dubbed: English
Sound: DD5.1
Run Time: 102 Minutes
Flags: Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Profanity, Substance Abuse (Alcohol, Drugs)
Distributor/Studio: Live/Artisan
Based on the novel by
Hubert Selby Jr., this gritty drama concerns four people trapped by their addictions. Harry (
Jared Leto), and his best friend Tyrone (
Marlon Wayans) are impoverished heroin addicts living in Coney Island, NY, while Harry's girlfriend Marion (
Jennifer Connelly) is a fellow addict trying to distance herself from her wealthy father. Harry dreams of scoring a pound of smack, from which he could make enough money to open a clothing boutique with Marion, but so far he and his friends can barely scrape by supporting their own habits. Meanwhile, Harry's mother Sara (
Ellen Burstyn), who spends her days watching television, is told she has the opportunity to appear on her favorite game show; wanting to lose enough weight to fit into her favorite red dress, she visits a sleazy doctor who gives her a prescription for amphetamines. Soon Sara has a drug habit of her own that is spiraling out of control.
Requiem for a Dream was directed by
Darren Aronofsky, who also co-wrote the screenplay with
Selby; it was
Aronofsky's second feature, following his acclaimed independent film
Pi.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide