So I've heard a bit about this movie and people have said that it's a real downer and heavy. I've seen The Fountain and The Wrestler and knew that the director was regarded as good. A co-worker brought in his DVD copy for me to watch yesterday - so I watched it last night interested about what the fuss was all about.
All I can say is...wow...that was really hard to sit through. It's truly an incredible movie but I can't think of a reason to ever watch it again other than to admire some of the amazing technical skill by the director/cinematographer.
**SPOILERS**
I sort of saw it coming for all of the characters but I didn't know the process of the downfall or really what was really to come. The last 15-20 minutes is an unrelenting assault that is sad, disturbing, beautiful...and draining.
That poor old lady hooked on diet pills...she had nothing left to her life at the end.
When the Jared Leto character is running on the Coney Island pier towards his girlfriend at the end...I admittedly got a little teary-eyed. And...that damn score/music that plays at the end. Just devastating. I can't get it out of my head and sat up for a few hours last night thinking about it. I can't imagine what it would be like to see it in a theater.
**END SPOILERS**
So yeah, I've seen tough movies (Martyrs, The Road, Irreversible, Dear Zachary) but this one really stood out. Curious to see what others thought.