Darren Aronofsky Movies

If you’re looking for motion pictures that will mess with your head and force you to reexamine your life, give these Darren Aronofsky movies a try. He’s only directed five films since his debut in 1998, but each and every one is a self-contained masterpiece of longing and sadness.

A graduate of Harvard University (with honors), Aronofsky would later receive his MFA in directing from the AFI Conservatory. He also managed to hook up with critically-acclaimed British hottie Rachel Weisz for about nine years, so he deserves a round of applause from the peanut gallery for that feat.

Each and every one of the Darren Aronofsky movies listed below are available from Netflix, America’s most successful online movie rental company. A number of subscription options are available, and you can either have movies delivered to your door or choose to stream them over your home computer. Join Netflix today and see what all the fuss is about.

Pi (1998) – To raise money for his first feature film, Aronofsky solicited $100 donations from family and friends, promising to pay back $150 if the project was a success. He must have a big family, as his budget for the film ended up being $60,000. Sean Gullette stars as Max Cohen, a socially awkward math genius who suffers from headaches, hallucinations, and general paranoia. When he discovers a 216-digit code that seems to hold the secrets of the universe, he embarks on a mind-bending journey filled with Wall Street employees, games of Go, Hasidic Jews, and a little power drill surgery. For his efforts, Aronofsky won the Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival, as well as the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.

Requiem for a Dream (2000) – Harry (Jared Leto), Marion (Jennifer Connelly), and Tyrone (Marlon Wayans) are all pals with big dreams; they’re also heroin addicts. As Harry and Tyrone sell narcotics in an effort to get rich, they face a series of setbacks that result in soul-crushing desperation. Meanwhile, Harry’s mother (Ellen Burstyn) becomes obsessed with appearing on a TV game show, getting addicted to amphetamines in an effort to fit into her favorite red dress. The ultimate anti-drug movie, Requiem for a Dream concludes with a harrowing montage that depicts shock therapy, amputation, and perverse sex acts. Trust me, this one will stick with you for quite some time (especially the scenes of beautiful Jennifer Connelly transformed into a broken and utterly degraded shell of herself).

Below (2002) – While he didn’t direct this WWII horror movie, Aronofsky did serve as co-producer and co-writer. When a submarine rescues the survivors of a sunken British hospital ship, a series of bizarre accidents begin to claim lives at an alarming rate. You won’t learn the real reasons until the film’s closing minutes, but the journey is half the fun. Great for those who love ghost movies, Below stars Bruce Greenwood, Matthew Davis, Olivia Williams, Zach Galifianakis, and Jason Flemyng.

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The Fountain (2006) – Aronofsky’s then-wife Rachel Weisz co-starred alongside Hugh Jackman in this time-spanning tale of death, life, and love. These actors play three sets of characters: a futuristic space explorer who dreams of his true love a la Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” a modern-day scientist trying to cure his dying wife, and a brutal conquistador and his queen. While many critics felt the film fell short of its ambitions, I suggest you watch it and make up your own mind.

The Wrestler (2008) – Mickey Rourke revived his career by playing Randy “The Ram” Robinson, an over-the-hill wrestler who dreams of recapturing his glory days from the 1980s while romancing a stripper (Marisa Tomei) and seeking reconciliation with his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). Fans of pro wrestling will be delighted by all the cameos from real-life grapplers, while everyone else will be left in stunned silence by Rourke’s heartbreaking portrayal of a man who can’t let go of the past.

Black Swan (2010) – This inventive film about the price of artistic excellence has left many audience members searching for answers and explanations. Its subject is Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a ballerina in New York City who’s cast in dual roles for an upcoming production of Swan Lake. But as Nina is pushed to the breaking point by those around her (and herself), the walls of sanity slowly begin to fall apart, mostly in the form of her understudy Lily (Mila Kunis). You can view it as an engrossing look at mental illness, or simply a dark fantasy played out in the mind of an artist. Either way, it’s a trip that won’t soon be forgotten. Co-starring Vincent Cassel and Barbara Hershey.

If you’re unfamiliar with Darren Aronofsky movies, why not become a Netflix member and have them all delivered to your mailbox? You can then watch them at your convenience, never having to worry about late fees. You can also feel good knowing that the small commission we receive will help keep our doors open.

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