Requiem for a Dream

So, for my final English paper I had no idea what I wanted to write about, and then I realized that after I knew I wanted to write about films, why not make the research paper about my favorite film of all time, Requiem for a Dream? The paper is going to focus on four films, Spun, Blow, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Requiem for a Dream and I think it's going to turn out really good.

Requiem for a Dream came out in 2000, based of the book by Hubert Selby, Jr. I had always heard about the movie but was warned to never see it because it was "really fucked up". But I eventually saw it and loved it. Saying that it was amazing is an understatement. The acting was phenomenal, the writing and direction was unique and really drew the viewer to understand what the characters were going through. Then, when I found out that it was based off the book it turned out to be just as amazing. One of the best books I ever read and I always try to sell it. It's not written like traditional books, with paragraphs or dialogue quotes and the author literally writes the way the character speaks, but I've read it twice and plan on reading it again soon.



Spun came out in 2002 by an independent film company. This movie follows speed freaks for three days and what they do to get drugs and how it affects them. Another brilliantly done movie, with great direction and quick shots to show how speed freaks act and see things.



Blow came out in 2001 and depicts the life of George Jung and how he became the man behind the American coke market in the 70's. It shows how he grew up, got involved with drugs, how he realized that he could exploit it, and the consequences that came with it. The real George Jung is still in prison, and I read that Johnny Depp interviewed with him in order to prepare for the role; he did an amazing job.



Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was based off the book by Hunter S. Thompson, which depicts his three-day excursion to Las Vegas while on any drug or substance that you could name and his search for the American Dream. Johnny Depp did an amazing job bringing the brilliant book to life.