there are dozens of adjectives that could be used to describe requiem for a dream. let's go with this one----harrowing. this film had me sucked in completely. i couldn't have turned away if i had wanted to. and the fact is there were several times i wanted to. but i stuck it out. and i will say it's an absolute work of genius. i doubt director darren aronofsky will ever top it. he may have things that are more financially successful, but actually better........don't believe so. and the acting tour de force of requiem is easily ellen burstyn. your heart truly goes out to her character. and speaking of ms. burstyn, no way did julia roberts deserve the oscar over ellen in 2001. the other main characters don 't generate nearly as much compassion, but you don't hope bad things for them either. they just don't resonate with the viewer as much as ellen burstyn does playing sarah goldfarb. this is however the most impressive jared leto has ever been. the other two main characters are played by jennifer connelly, and marlon wayans. ms. connelly, as always, does an outstanding job. while mr. wayans stretches beyond his comedian roots. he also gives the performance of a lifetime. everyone involved with this picture really impressed me so much. it would be much higher on my list of favorites, if it weren't the most down movie i've seen in recent memory. still, life isn't all butterflies, and flowers. this drives that point home with a sledgehammer.