Requiem For A Dream

2000 – 5/5

JUICE BY TAPPY, JUICE BY TAPPY, WEEEEEEEEE GOTTA WINNER!!!

Plot: A+
The storyline for this movie is pretty simple. There are 4 people and each is consumed with their own drug addiction. This movie highlights the terrifying reality of drug addiction and how it can destroy people’s lives in different ways.

Script: A+

This movie was very well written. Probably one of my favorite screenplays! Some lines I really liked:

Marion: Anybody wanna waste some time?

Tyrone: All I’m saying is we should take a little taste so we know how much to cut. It’s business!

Doctor: I see you’re a little over weight.
Sara Goldfarb: A little? I have 50 pounds I’m willing to donate.

Sara Goldfarb: Purple in the morning, blue in the afternoon, orange in the evening and green at night. Just like that. One, two, three, four.

Harry: Well, uh, I’m sort of a distributor like for a big importer.

Harry: Hey ma, you on uppers?
Sara Goldfarb: I told you I’m going to a doctor.
Harry: What does he give you? Does he give you pills?
Sara Goldfarb: Course he gives me pills. He’s a doctor.

Sara Goldfarb: How come you know more about medicine than a doctor?

Acting: A+
Harry (Jared Leto) is a junky, as is his friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans), his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly), and eventually his mother Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn). As the movie goes on, each one of them becomes more dependent on drugs, which leads them to their inevitable fates (amputation, prison, prostitution, and insanity).

I really enjoyed everyone’s acting and more so the characters themselves. My favorite character in this movie was Sara Goldfarb and Ellen Burstyn did an amazing job portraying this naïve and vulnerable lady who thinks she’s taking ‘diet pills’ that were prescribed by her doctor. I also really liked Christopher McDonald’s character Tappy Tibbons; JUICE BY TAPPY!

Random:
The cinematography in this movie was amazing and the editing was probably the most noticeable part of this movie! I read on IMDB that this movie had more than 2,000 cuts, while most movies have 600-700 cuts. I liked the split screens, close ups, fast-forwards and the variety of camera angles. To some extent I think the subject matter of this movie deserved a highly stylized form of editing; it portrays how frantic and chaotic an addiction can be.

The music (score/ soundtrack/ sound effects) was SO good! It was perfectly paired with whatever was on screen and it added the right amount of tension and intensity to the overall mood.

The makeup, hair and outfits were very well done. Each actor looked the part and they were all believable in their roles.

Overall: A+
I want to mention is that although it was the most disturbing movie I’ve ever seen, I could not look away. With that being said, it is not a movie I can watch over and over again – perhaps once every couple of years…oh, and I’m scared shitless of my fridge now! I think this movie will leave a lasting impression on the viewer, but I don’t think this movie is for everyone.

Life Is Beautiful

1997 – 5/5
aka La Vita è bella

This is a foreign film therefore it is subtitled; however that should not deter you from seeing it. I recommend watching it in Italian with English subtitles rather than watching it dubbed – trust me! Also, keep in mind that this movie isn’t supposed to be historically accurate. Lastly, be prepared to laugh and cry.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Plot: A+
“This is a simple story. But not an easy one to tell” – Giosué Orefice (narrating as an adult).

This story takes place in the late 1930s with WWII looming in the near future. Guido, a charming Italian Jew makes his way into a city his uncle lives with hopes of opening a bookstore. His first day there he bumps into a lady named Dora whom he calls ‘Principessa’. Their paths cross a few more times and they eventually get married. The story fast-forwards 5 years later when they have a very cute son named Giosué and they’re living in the midst of WWII.

Because Guido and Giosué are Jews, they are put on a train by the Nazi’s and are sent to a concentration camp along with Guido’s uncle Eliseo. Dora gets wind of this and she demands to be put on the train as well. Guido tries to shield Giosué from the harsh reality of what’s really going on. To keep Giosué’s spirits up, he comes up with a clever explanation that they’re taking a trip and they’re going to be participating in a game in which the players need to earn 1000 points to get the 1st place prize: a real tank (Giosué’s favorite toy). This is the most heartbreaking movie ever and it has a great blend of tragedy and comedy.

Script: A
The dialogue is funny and heartwarming. Some lines I liked (which will make sense if you’ve seen the movie) are:

Guido: I wonder if we’ll ever bump into each other standing up.

Guido: I can only hear out of this ear.

Giosué Orefice: It’s raining. I’ll come down with a terrible fever.

Guido (pretending to translate): The game starts now. You have to score one thousand points. If you do that, you take home a tank with a big gun. Each day we will announce the scores from that loudspeaker. The one who has the fewest points will have to wear a sign that says "Jackass" on his back. There are three ways to lose points. One, turning into a big crybaby. Two, telling us you want to see your mommy. Three, saying you’re hungry and want something to eat.

And my absolute favorite:
Guido: Buongiorno, Principessa!

Acting: A
I thought the kid that played Giosué was adorable, and he did a great job! He may not have been the best child actor out there, but I’d rather have an actual 5 year old playing the part, rather than an older kid trying to pass off as a younger kid any day.

Roberto Benigni did an amazing job with his role. His goofy look added to Guido’s humorous personality. Nicoletta Braschi (as Dora) was really good too!

Overall: A
The first half is a light-hearted and pleasant comedy while the second half is about the hardships Guido faces to protect his son in the concentration camp. It’s a tragically beautiful movie and by the end, you will agree that life truly is beautiful.