Anyone compare requiem for a dream to another film?

311

Can anyone recommend a film that would be as realistic as requiem for a dream.
My own comparison would be 21 Grams ,but I'm sure there are closer knit stories.

johnny_ultimate

Trainspotting, of course, but have always preferred Requiem.

Possibly try the recent Diving Bell and the Butterfly: same kind of imaginative visuals tied with a very human story. Its one of the best films in years, and definitely comparable to Requiem (probably even a bit superior!).

311

Thanks johnny ,I would never have thought of trainspotting when thinking of requiem. I think I'm mostly impressed by the split camera work and the intertwined stories. To me trainspotting is a tragic comedy as much as a semi-documentary.
I'll get a look at your recommendation ,thanks. Just got my hands on nanook of the north ,not watched it yet :O

Holy Christ! I downloaded RFOD during the weekend and I realised how I had forgotten how intense this movie is. Great film, would definatley put you off ever touching the skag. The penultimute scene towards the end is horrific. Ellen Burstyn getting ECT, Jennifer "Maid Marion" Connelly and the whole 'ass to ass'. Jesus, some bit of cinema there.

I remember that on the week that I had bought this film years ago (since having lost it), I watched Larry Clark's 'Kids'. Now THAT was one disgusting film...

Eirebear

Kids is an outstanding film, a really terrifying indictment of the world we live in now.

RFAD is an awesome film, but semi-documentary? really?

L31mr0d

Friend in work recommended Angst as a movie thats as shocking and disturbing as RFAD. Haven't watched it yet myself.

johnny_ultimate

Yeah Kids is pretty brutal alright. Worth a watch.

Irreversiable as well come to think of it - uncompromising vision with amazing visuals. Be warned though - if you thought Requiem was tough viewing, Irreversiable is another unpleasant notch above. That damn fire extinguisher.

kraggy

Don't really see the similarity between RFAD and Trainspotting besides the drugs.

And 21 grams, don't really see that either. Just the changing between time or what?

21 g's is a smashing film though. Really liked it.

Otis Driftwood

Spun is quality IMO.

Same goes for Bully,Renfro (rip) and Stahl are outstanding in it.

311

Thanks for the reccomendations ,don't mind my documentary comment I was slightly greased on that post. I actually didnt know what drug they were using during the film ,I thought it was crack or something.

They actually made the drug look clean looking ,which probably helped a great deal towards the end of the film.

Anyways ,I'll keep my eye for the ones mentioned above ,
Thanks.

Dudess

Christiane F (a German movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082176/) is the only other heroin film I've seen which affected me as deeply as, possibly moreso than, Requiem for a Dream.

Interestingly, it's directed by Ulrich Edel, who also directed Last Exit to Brooklyn, based on the book by Hubert Selby Jr who also wrote... Requiem for a Dream.

And there's the whole Lou Reed's New York of Coney Island tying in with Bowie's Berlin (he was using very heavily during his years living in Berlin, and in Christiane F the main character goes to a Bowie concert) But that's just me overly reading into the two! I do find myself constantly comparing them though.

Running Bing

David Lynch wrote: »

Holy Christ! I downloaded RFOD during the weekend and I realised how I had forgotten how intense this movie is. Great film, would definatley put you off ever touching the skag. The penultimute scene towards the end is horrific. Ellen Burstyn getting ECT, Jennifer "Maid Marion" Connelly and the whole 'ass to ass'. Jesus, some bit of cinema there.

I remember that on the week that I had bought this film years ago (since having lost it), I watched Larry Clark's 'Kids'. Now THAT was one disgusting film...

And with that music building.....incredibly powerful stuff, absolutely gutwrenching.


Have this on DVD and tbh as great as it was and as much as I loved it I think I will be really hard pressed to ever watch it again.

shrapnel222

drug connected, you can add drugstore cowboy to that list. if you're looking for intertwining stories, the film that comes to mind is short cuts by robert altman (not drug related at all)

The Austrailian film 'Candy' starring Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish is also about herion. As is 'The Basketball Diaries' with Leonardo Di Capri. The same goes for 'Gia' starring Angelina Jolie.

Seems I know a lot about Junkie film noir. My dad must be so proud!

shrapnel222

David Lynch wrote: »

The Austrailian film 'Candy' starring Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish is also about herion. As is 'The Basketball Diaries' with Leonardo Di Capri. The same goes for 'Gia' starring Angelina Jolie.

Seems I know a lot about Junkie film noir. My dad must be so proud!

for more junkie films add rush and fear and loathing in las vegas

adonis

youd have to say pi is similar because its the same director...?
surprised nobody has mentioned it...its been a while since i have seen RFAD so i cant remember...good movie though

Eirebear

shrapnel222 wrote: »

for more junkie films add rush and fear and loathing in las vegas

Fear and Loathing is so much more than a mere "junkie" film.....

shrapnel222

Eirebear wrote: »

Fear and Loathing is so much more than a mere "junkie" film.....

fair enough but i was going with the drug abusers story line

311

Fear and loathing is a mad piece of stuff ,I still don't appreciate it like I probably should.
I think if johnny depp wasn't in it ,I would never have taken any notice of it.

Eirebear

311 wrote: »

Fear and loathing is a mad piece of stuff ,I still don't appreciate it like I probably should.
I think if johnny depp wasn't in it ,I would never have taken any notice of it.

I think Gilliam done pretty much the best he could with the source material, and Johnny Depp played HST fantastically IMO.

But it does lose a lot in translation if im being honest.

johnny_ultimate

Eirebear wrote: »

I think Gilliam done pretty much the best he could with the source material, and Johnny Depp played HST fantastically IMO.

But it does lose a lot in translation if im being honest.

Yeah its a good adaptation of what should never have become a film, but it really isn't anywhere near the standard of the book. Film drags, book feels like a constant rush. Johnny Depp is hilarious in it, and some great Gilliam touches, but definitely the book over the film.

Eirebear

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Yeah its a good adaptation of what should never have become a film, but it really isn't anywhere near the standard of the book. Film drags, book feels like a constant rush. Johnny Depp is hilarious in it, and some great Gilliam touches, but definitely the book over the film.

It did give me one of my favourite song to scene film moments though with White Rabbit.:D

Dudess

Haven't seen The Basketball Diaries but that's supposed to be pretty damn heavy too. When I was working in HMV it was probably the most common film for which payment could not be accepted due to the buyer being under 18 (this was 1998 - Leo fever!)

Dont be at yourself

Good shout on Basketball Diaries - it's a bit of a hidden gem.

I don't care for Fear and Loathing at all though. Boorish cinema at its very worst.

Dudess

This is turning into a "name the drug film" thread which wasn't the OP's intention, but such is the fickle world of Boards.
Two more: The Man With The Golden Arm, The Panic in Needle Park.

I'm fascinated by the drug movie in much the same way as I'm fascinated by the nuclear holocaust movie.