Special Guests: Ellen Burstyn, Keith David, Christopher McDonald, Mark MargolisGuest Co-Host: Emily Intravia
"Everyone is a junkie." - William S. Burroughs
We talk about Darren Aronofsky's 2000 film, Requiem for a Dream. Based on the 1978 book by Hubert Selby, Jr., it tells the tale of four New Yorkers whose lives spiral out of control due to addiction.
We've got a star-studded line-up of guests on this one including our co-host from The Feminine Critique, Emily Intravia.
Links:
Buy Requiem for a Dream on Blu-Ray
Buy Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby, Jr.
Buy Dopefiend by Donald Goines
Visit the official Keith David website
See Keith David in the new season of Community
Read this great article on Christopher McDonald from Salon
Listen/Download Now:
Bonus Interview: Mark Margolis
Music:
"Lux Aeterna" - Clint Mansell & The Kronos Quartet
"Heroin" - The Velvet Underground
"Just One Fix" - Ministry
Watch:
Pupil – A Darren Aronofsky Supercut from WarmBakedBread on Vimeo.
This was another great episode. With its unique blending of film technique with storytelling, Requiem for a Dream is certainly is not an easy film to discuss.
ReplyDeleteI watched Requiem for a Dream for the first time a few weeks ago. It was a great (and harrowing) film experience. Not being a big fan of the output of American cinema over the last twenty years, it was refreshing to come across a movie with a vision and a cast and crew more than capable of bringing that vision to life. I appreciate the way the film relentlessly assaults the sensibilities of the viewer.
The DVD of the movie is undoubtedly one of the most amusing I have ever come across. Anticipating a menu to appear right away, I was confounded when the commercial for Tappy Tibbons' system began. The smooth transition from this commercial to the DVD menu, in the style of those blue-colored information stills for infomercials, elicited a laugh from me.
Thanks for the kind words on the show.
DeleteThis is one of those films that feels like, what I consider, the last great era in American film - the 1970s. It's a hard film to talk about, but I was so honored to have all the guest we had for this episode - great stuff.
ALL THE BEST,
Rob St. Mary
co-host of "The Projection Booth"
I agree with you that Requiem for a Dream is reminiscent of 1970s filmmaking. Over most of the past decade I have been drawn to movies produced in the 1960s and 1970s. In European art films, New Hollywood, Italian genre films, exploitation films, and many other kinds of cinematic fare of the era there is a spirit of creative freedom that is invigorating to me. I wish I could derive as much enjoyment from modern-day Hollywood productions as I do from films like Spider Baby, Supervixens, or The Red Queen Kills Seven Times.
DeletePossibly the best film you will never want to see again. So stirring, so moving and so sobering. So glad I found this podcast, and so sorry this title did not garner more critical acclaim and success.
ReplyDelete