Movie Review: Black Swan

Black Swan is my first Darren Aronofsky film, and if it is any indication as to his previous work, as implied by other reviews I have read, then I am glad I didn't see them. Not that Black Swan was not a brilliantly presented film, it is. It is just that there is only so much raw, visceral pain I can handle.

Nina(Natalie Portman) is the child-woman used in this genre, a stereotype if you will, of the fragile, innocent, sexually immature protaganist who either finds it in herself to steel herself up for the task ahead or go mad. Of course, in Black Swan, the latter happens, and the documentation of the process and visualisation of her inner turmoil and struggles grip everything voyeuristic in the audience's psyche.

Nothing beats watching another human being's struggle to battle inner demons, and in Nina's case, her perceived outer demons too, personified by evil alter-ego/ valley girl Lily (Mila Kunis) and ballet director/ seducer with the cruel lips Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel). Aided and abetted by her domineering mother (whose art was designed to be creepy) and Nina's own paranoia and pursuit of perfection, the demons slowly consume Nina and transform into something she recognises all too well.

I loved the cinematography, the blue filters over all the scenes, the claustrophobic tightly framed shots, unsteady camera work.I especialy love the stark contrast of the mise en scene of her bedroom which is all pink and innocence and light compared to the bile-green decor of the rest of the house. Nina's frailty is placed in stark contrast to her mother's hard veneer, her bird-like eyes adding another element of terror to an otherwise terrifying alternate reality. The use of all the minor chord movements in Tchaikovsky's original Swan Lake compositions added to the mood of doom and disaster.

I love the seamless use of CGI in the film (the head replacements making up the majority), and was truly horrified everytime she morphed into the Black Swan. One of the CGI scenes made me go to the bathroom in my pants a little. TMI, I know.

Natalie Portmen deserved her Golden Globe, playing both good and bad girl with equal beleivability, making me want to slap some backbone into her with the former and applaud her gutsiness at the latter. Mila Kunis on the other hand did not seem to be playing anyone but herself, or at least a trumoed up version of her character in "That 70s Show". Losing 20 pounds for a role does not a nomination garner.

It was sheer joy to watch the masculine strength, virility and even cruelty portrayed by Vincent Cassel. The casting director made up for the Kunis error with giving him the role.

Watch this movie, even if, like me, you don't sleep a wink that night.

Mini Movie Reviews

Thanks to a steady steady bo pi pi movie buddy, I have watched more movies in the last 6 weeks than I have the whole of last year, probably. While I am immensely grateful that I have had the time, resources and company to do so, I also realise that I have been remiss in doing proper movie reviews for each of them. So, in a bid to document the movies I have watched, and to pen down my thoughts on them before they forever flee my memory, here is a mini movie review. (Thanks movie buddy for helping me remember them:) )

1) Gulliver's Travels
Like many Jack Black movies, this fell short of the comic genius it had the potential for. Unlike the passion and comic timing displayed in Nacho Libre or the intensity of School Of Rock, I felt that he was just phoning this in. Not cool, Jack, not cool. And I am a fan.


2) Love and Other Drugs
The poster for this movie completely belied the sheer intensity of emotion and pathos that this movie presented. Brilliantly casted, Anne and Jake really made you care for the characters and made me cry, time and again.

3) The Tourist
Johnny, were you saw enthralled about making a film with ice queen Angelina, that you accepted all the flaws in directing and editing this movie? She really ruined it for all of us didn't she? And there you were, trying so hard to be real, making us feel your heartache, when she displayed all the emotional range of a Vulcan.

4) Green Hornet
Is it me, or does Jay Chou look like John Cho when he has that mask on? The highlight of the movie for me was "Gangsta's Paradise'. Everthing else was merely meh, or cringingly bad.

5) Burlesque
Cher and Christina make an amazing vocal combination for this vocal-crazy movie. I loved all the showmanship and costumes and man, can that Christina belt! Cher is really under-rated as an actress, I thought she pulled off the role incredible well. This is definitely one of the better movies I have seen this season, although it was faintly reminscent of "Moulin Rouge". Did anyone else think that?

6) Yogi Bear
Fun-filled movie, lots of slapstick and predictable gags. Watched it with my kid. Good entertainment.

7) The Fighter
This is the closest competitior so far for "Love and Other Drugs" as my fave movie of the year. A atypical bromance of two brothers, based on a true story, and the indescribable excellence of Christian Bale. I really hope he gets an OSCAR for this.


8)Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader
I loved this movie for the Jesus moments, or Jesus jukes, as some people call them. But I really do love me a good allegory. Tell me, whose hair didn't stand on end when Aslan showed up? We all knew what, or Who, we were seeing. I love that Lucy has grown up into such a lovely young woman and can't wait to see her in other movies.

And that's it for now. Watching Black Swan tomorrow. Hopefully, there will be a full review of it.