Requiem For A Dream

The quality of light in this DVD is pristine, as is the Dolby sound.

Ellen Burstyn's interview with the writer is as candid as Selby's prose. He talks of pain, living in rage and being "probably the most untalented person in the world", with a great big grin on his face. He says he was brain damaged at birth and should have died three times in his Twenties. He turned to writing because there was nothing else he could do. "I finished the ninth grade," he says. "I knew the alphabet."

The making of the film commentary is fascinating for its insight into Aronofsky's way of working. He blends into the chaos of a cramped set, never raising his voice, even to say "Action!". He is shooting in his hometown, which means a lot to him. The importance of storyboarding appears paramount here and Aronofsky's delight in his actors is obvious. This section demonstrates how intense and collaborative the making of a movie can be, especially in Brooklyn, away from the luxury of Hollywood sound stages. Also, there's some good stuff on faking wounds and making Burstyn look older - admiration for her increases even more (is it possible?) - and how to stab a man in the hand with a fork.

The deleted scenes are interesting because of the director's comments. There is nothing that feels missed and the decision to cut makes sense, although losing anything of Jennifer Connelly seems a waste.

This is a superb DVD, with excellent extras. Highly recommended.