Cinema--Black Swan

or: Crazy ballet.

One word to sum it up: Spooky.

I would say that Black Swan is a movie which you could either absolutely love of absolutely hate. It has the potential to be something artsy and beautiful, or it has the potential to be something which people would dismiss is 'oversexualized torture porn'. I tend to agree with the former. It must be a case of those who are into this sort of thing will love it, and I guess it helps if you are familiar with Darren Aronofsky's work. However, those who only want to see dancing...this film will go way over the top of their head.

Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side - a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

Here's the truth about Black Swan: I cannot recommend it to anybody. It's one of those movies which just can't be loved by anyone. It's fantastic, but most people might just go "ugh, she's crazy" and completely switch off the movie. That lesbian sex scene will probably also cause some eye rolls. However, to the right viewer, like me, Black Swan is a beautiful piece of art which explores the fine line between reality and insanity. We first meet Nina when she is an innocent young woman living with her overbearing mother. There is something so scary already about Nina: she's like a ten year old stuck in a 20-something year olds body. One of the problems is the fact that the movie spends a long time dwelling on this fact, and even though she gradually becomes more defiant, when she really becomes crazy comes far too quickly. It is wildly interesting to watch her rise and decline though, and this movie could really be set against any theatrical backdrop, as it's one of those stories which is ever so topical to that kind of thing.

When Darren Aronofsky is subtle, he does a brilliant job. With the help of some amazing cinematography from long time working partner Matthew Libatique, Aronofsky shoots ballet like he shot wrestling in The Wrestler, and it is absolutely beautiful. The ballet sequences in this movie are stand outs, but I would not go and see this film just for them. Rather, I would go see it for it's brilliant use of conflicting genres. In most ways, it is the epitome of a psychological thriller, but it also a very scary physical horror. While it zeroes on the paranoia that comes with taking a role, it also spares no details on the pain that ballerinas go through, to the point that it is almost unwatchable. Another fantastic detail of Black Swan is the use of the ever present mirrors. Never have I feared an inanimate object so much after seeing a film. They create this eerie feeling, which goes perfectly with the brilliant Tchaikovsky infused score by Clint Mansell. And there you have it: all the trimmings to go with an arty flick that any arty film lover will adore.

It goes without saying, Natalie Portman is perfect in this movie. The way she adapts to both sides of her character is amazing, even to the point that it is painful to watch what she is doing. Just give her that Oscar already. While the Oscars forgot the supporting players, it is hard to ignore them. Mila Kunis is simply amazing as Lily, the free spirit who is effortlessly good at what she does. Why ignore her, Academy, why? Barbara Hershey is the scariest mamma I've seen since Margaret White in Carrie, but you can see how much she cares for her gradually insane daughter. Vincent Cassel, possibly the most underrated out of the lot, uses his macho persona to convey the sensual, almost villain like presence on screen. Black Swan is an effortlessly well acted film, rounded off by a thrilling finale which messed with my brain in the most amazing way.


THE VERDICT: Black Swan is a perfectly made, well acted piece of film which is easily classified as 'art'. Aronofsky has never been better.

8/10

Top 10 Oscar fails in 2011

The Oscars decided that they wouldn’t be the same as everyone else, and decided to snub deserving people left right and centre. You know what the number one snub is going to be here, but there are nine more reasons as to why the Oscars got it wrooooong.


10. Best Actor: Ryan Gosling – Blue Valentine

I haven’t seen Blue Valentine, but I find it extremely disappointing that the Academy decided not to nominate Ryan Gosling for his performance or for anything other than Michelle Williams in the Best Actress category. I would have thought that it was one of those ‘nominate one, nominate the other’ kind of deals, but not to be. His spot was taken by Javier Bardem for his turn in Biutiful, which was a bit of a surprise, seeing as he hadn’t been nominated anywhere else but the BAFTAs.

9. Best Original Screenplay: Animal Kingdom – David Michôd

So this wasn’t nominated in many other places, but in my opinion, it should have been somewhere. It’s just a little sad that this film only came away with one nomination, seeing at it is one of the best reviewed movies of the years. Must be a case of ‘it’s Australian, who cares’. Hey, I’m a New Zealander, and I rustled up the energy to care about this movie. The screenplay for this movie was pretty darn good with its structure and plot, especially considering the fact that this was a debut feature for Michôd.

8. Best Animated Feature: Tangled

I guess this one goes for Despicable Me as well. Just because they aren’t as great as Toy Story 3 doesn’t mean they should have been forgotten. Tangled is the standard in animation, and it should at least be recognized for the amazing visuals and happiness it provides. Then again, with Toy Story 3 shaping up to be The Social Network of the animated feature category, it doesn’t really matter what else is nominated.

7. Best Supporting Actress: Barbara Hershey – Black Swan

I think anyone who has seen Black Swan would agree with me: Barbara Hershey is one scary mamma. Did anyone think that she was like Margaret White in Carrie? Black Swan is such a well acted film, so it is a little strange that it only got one acting nom (which will probably win). Hershey deserved the nomination, even if she only got a BAFTA nom along the way. No wonder Nina was such a damaged soul.

6. Best Visual Effects: TRON: Legacy

Didn’t this seem like a no-brainer? The effects were pretty much the only things that made TRON: Legacy worth sitting through, and to be honest, they were pretty darn good visual effects. Somehow, Iron Man 2 managed to sneak through (what the hell?). A movie which houses a young Jeff Bridges and an old Jeff Bridges (neither of which actually look like normal Jeff Bridges), more lights than the world knowingly has and some amazing set pieces surely deserves an Oscar nomination in this category, no?

5. Best Editing: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

You know how hard it is to put up a sign saying that Salt is ‘nominated for an Oscar’ but end up putting nothing by Scott Pilgrim vs. the World? Take a second to imagine the poor editor who had to go through that movie. They had to add all of those extra effects on screen making the movie as kick-ass as it was. Yet, no recognition. Jeez, if I had it my way I would nominate this movie in every bloody category. But I guess the Academy aren’t ‘cool’ enough for this movie. Prepare to die, obviously.

4. Best Supporting Actress: Mila Kunis – Black Swan

I was really disappointed when I saw that Mila Kunis wasn’t nominated. Come on, she totally owned on screen. While it was all Natalie Portman’s film, Mila too went through hell for this movie (dislocated shoulder, two torn calf ligaments...). She also got a Golden Globe and a SAG nomination. She’s also got a movie about a casual relationship coming out this year. So why no love for her, Academy? You disappoint me.

3. Best Editing: Inception

This really seemed like a no brainer. When you have to edit through all those different layers and put them together so they all make sense, then you should get some recognition. The editing in Inception should not have only been nominated, but it should have won. Anyone that edits a Nolan film should win.

2. Best Supporting Actor: Andrew Garfield – The Social Network

There was a small part of me that could see this coming (as the missing SAG nom probably harmed his chances), but ANDREW GARFIELD SHOULD HAVE BEEN BLOODY NOMINATED! In such a well-acted film, nominating just Jesse Eisenberg makes it seem like he is the only reason to go and watch the film. He is not. ANDREW GARFIELD IS THERE TOO! And, to be quite frank, Andrew has probably the biggest future ahead of him after this movie. He was the one that everyone put on their list as the ‘top rising star of 2010’. So why wasn’t he nominated? WHY?! I still love you, Andrew. Academy, you better lawyer up, assholes, because he's not coming back for just a nomination...he is coming back for everything!

1. Best Director: Christopher Nolan – Inception

WHAT. THE. HELL. So, you’ve probably read my rant or whatever, and now you probably think I’m crazy. But you don’t just not nominate Christopher Nolan and expect to get away with it. You don’t just nominate him in every other award show but not at the Oscars. You don’t just ignore him for The Dark Knight and then ignore him for Inception. You don’t just hate on Nolan, full stop. He is amazing (in my eyes, at least). To be honest, he doesn’t need a fancy Oscar nomination to prove that. It’s just a nice thought.