HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 14, 2000 — “It’s about drugs. That’s one subject I know a lot about,” says Courtney Love. No, she was not referring to her autobiography but to the controversial film “Requiem for a Dream,” which held its premiere Monday night.
The film has critics raving, the MPAA frowning, and the younger and older Hollywood elite showing up in droves to the Egyptian Theater to see what all the hoopla was about.
“I heard rumors that Ellen Burstyn‘s performance is worthy of an Academy Award, so that’s why I came to see it,” said seasoned actress Jacqueline Bisset.
The film, directed by Darren Aronofsky, stars Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans and Burstyn as four individuals who set out in pursuit of their modest dreams for a better life, but their addictions to heroin and diet pills cause things to spiral out of control toward a horrific end.
“It was a chance to make something truly unique, something that had never been done,” said Leto, who was rumored to have starved himself to create the ravaged, heroin-addicted look.
“I did it to challenge myself. You have to do that from time to time,” smiled Wayans.
“I loved the script and I felt for the characters,” Connelly added.
The movie also stars Christopher McDonald as a hyped-up motivational speaker and Keith David giving a chilling performance as a man who is interested in what he can get women to do for a little “fix.”
Also walking the red carpet were Oliver Stone, Wes Bentley, Josh Charles, Julie Delpy, Jason Bateman, Stephen Dorff, Luke Wilson, Mare Winningham, Scott Caan, Heather Paige Kent, Cameron Diaz, Jason Isaacs, Tom Everett Scott and Amy Smart.
“Requiem for a Dream” opened in New York Oct. 6th and is set to open in Los Angeles on Oct. 20th.
