Before I reference it again... (Requiem for a Dream)

Requiem for a Dream
Drama
R
Good
Anyone who enjoys twisted or drug abuse films (Trainspotting, Donnie Darko, etc.)

I was walking through the Post Exchange one day when I saw this movie on the shelf. I read the bit on the cover that basically read "Edited Version." I was curious. I had to know why this movie had to be edited. I checked online only to find out that there was a 10 second bit taken out of the movie to make it the "Edited Version." I have yet to view the unedited version of the film, but I don't really think I'm missing anything that I can't already view on a pay-per-website. I digress. The movie is a dig on people with addictions. It covers several different types of addiction: heroin, diet pills, television, money, and possibly sex (I'm not going to say definitely, but in my own personal opinion, the money and sex go together for one of the characters). The movie follows the life of Jared Leto's character, one of the Wayans brothers (the funny one) as Jared Leto's friend, and Jennifer Connolly (however you spell her name) as Jared Leto's girlfriend. Jared and the funny Wayans brother steal and hock Jared's mom's TV to pay for drugs to feed their addictions. Over time, they try to get into drug-dealing, but go through hard times. Dude's girlfriend is like most sleezy women in America, in as much as she is only supportive of him during the good times, but as soon as things are going bad for them, she wants nothing to do with him. She turns to prostitution behind her boyfriend's back. Herein lies the double addiction. As all of this is happening, Jared Leto's mom is watching what seems to be an infomercial channel which shows the same infomercial 24/7, all jacked-up on diet pills. Over the course of the movie, everyone's addiction grows until it is unstoppable. Just when you think the movie is glorifying drug abuse...it brings in the reality. I promise, if you have a heart or conscience or soul, whatever made you a little teary at the end of Homeward Bound or when the kid gives up Buddy on Air Bud, you will feel a horrible sensation in the pit of your stomach. At the same time, you will remember the characters, who you felt an emotional attachment to, were bad people. I refuse to say they "deserve it," but Jared Leto did, at one time, have bleached hair...take that however you want to. 9 out of 10. Does that offend you, Butterfly Effect 2?

THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT
1. Graphic sex scenes (for those wondering, the 10 seconds removed from the original version was an extension of the sex scene referred to - for those seeking more details, you're a bunch of degenerate perverts).
2. Pretty consistent drug use (sometimes showing the needle in the skin, and yes...it does show the woman taking the diet pills...ORALLY! Those who offend easily, beware).
3. An all-you-can-eat buffet of curse words and slurs not specifically racial.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Serious moment, y'all: Drug abuse is often glorified in all media; however, people often forget that there is a darker side (much like when Luke discovered cocaine could be combined with Dollar Value baking soda to make a cheaper version of crack, even though Lando warned him). I know it may sound stupid, but to some people it obviously doesn't. Something else that can be taken from this film is it is not always drugs that are abused. Anything can be abused, be it drugs, alcohol, television, video games, caffeine, soup and crackers (for those without a more reasonable addiction). So...the more you know...and knowing is half the battle.