Black Swan

bnt

Let me see ... Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis as rival ballet dancers; Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder, Vincent Cassel (Mesrine); directed by Darren Aronofsky, the guy behind Requiem for a Dream. This is going to be ... interesting. :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViWQUOGIaSU

homerun_homer

It looks really good, and Natalie & Mila getting it on makes it 100 times better:)

heebusjeebus

Looks good but I've a feeling I know too much after seeing that trailer.
Will defo go to see it but would have preferred that final reveal

The swan feather

to have been a surprise

bnt

I wonder if this is a weird kind of sequel to The Red Shoes? Another film about Ballet that goes non-linear. :pac:

MrSir

bnt wrote: »

I wonder if this is a weird kind of sequel to The Red Shoes? Another film about Ballet that goes non-linear. :pac:

Similar in that sense but The Red Shoes is quite different in terms of storyline and girl on girl action.

mikhail

heebusjeebus wrote: »

Looks good but I've a feeling I know too much after seeing that trailer.
Will defo go to see it but would have preferred that final reveal

The swan feather

to have been a surprise

I had it figured out when you first see

the injury on her shoulder blades (remember the opening lines about a girl turning into a swan)

. Any other director, maybe not, but Aronofsky's quite capable of making something where the symbols are realised rather than hinted at, like The Fountain.

johnny_ultimate

Trailer certainly had me intrigued. A welcome to return to visualising a nightmare for Aronofsky. The Wrestler was great and all but a bit... normal by Aronofsky's standards. Whatever you say about Requiem and The Fountain - and I know many people seriously dislike those films - they look absolutely breathtaking: definitely two of the best directed films of contemporary times. I'm a big Aronofsky fan in storytelling terms as well - he tells simple stories with intensity and energy, barring the mind**** of Pi of course. So yeah, definitely excited - glad that this looks nuts after the grounded and gritty The Wrestler.

And I always love when Natalie Portman picks (potentially) good films Damn you Brothers!

mewso

Meh to the trailer tbh. Aronofsky is the only selling point for me here. I really hope the trailer is leaving out loads of content.

JP Liz V1

It has a David Lynch vibe to it

Sad Professor

Reveals a bit too much, but great trailer. Very Mulholland Drive-ish.

filmfan

It definitely looks interesting, but I don't think I'd bother going to see it in the cinema....

Watched The Wrestler again last night, it's anything but 'normal', love it!

Sad Professor

I just watched the trailer again in 720p and it's incredibly grainy. Looks like Aronofsky is still shooting in 16mm, which suited the gritty, guerilla style of The Wrestler, but I'm not sure about this one. Although with a budget of 10 million according to Wikipedia, I guess that's all he could afford. I can already hear the cries of the grain-haters.

storm2811

Aronofsky?Ohh this should be interesting!
Love his work.:D

bnt

I don't think it's too much of a spoiler - not if you know what the ballet Swan Lake is about ...

Valmont

Arnofsky and Portman! I've been following this one for a while and I'm looking forward to it. I'm slightly worried about Kunis' dramatic capabilities but I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Valmont

bnt wrote: »

I don't think it's too much of a spoiler - not if you know what the ballet Swan Lake is about ...

Should I watch that soon if I haven't seen it? Before watching Black Swan, I mean. Is there even a film?

bnt

Valmont wrote: »

Should I watch that soon if I haven't seen it? Before watching Black Swan, I mean. Is there even a film?

Nah, I don't think it would make much difference. It's a ballet, a showcase for ballerinas, and the story is there as a framework for the dancing. Lots of TV versions, and even a film adaptation starring Barbie. :rolleyes:

JP Liz V1

http://www.studiobriefing.net/2010/09/movie-reviews-black-swan/

Several critics have given Darren Aranofsky’s Black Swan the same sort of ecstatic praise that they bestowed on his The Wrestler two years ago. The film opened the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday (to a standing ovation), where The Wrestler won the coveted Golden Lion award when it premiered there in 2008. “Every film festival benefits hugely from a strong opening film, and they don’t come much stronger than Black Swan,” critic David Gritten wrote in the London Daily Telegraph. But Roderick Conway Morris commented in the New York Times, “The movie is billed as a psychological thriller but the psychology is as monochrome as the settings and characterization. … And the climax of the film is as inevitable as it is implausible.” Todd McCarthy, the former Variety critic, gave the film a mixed review on Indiewire.com, remarking, “As a sensory experience for the eyes and ears, Black Swan provides bountiful stimulation. … But when the script by Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz, based on the latter’s story, struggles to carve out a real-world parallel to the life-and-death struggle depicted in the dance story, it goes over the top in something approaching grand guignol fashion.” Nevertheless, the performances of Natalie Portman and Winona Ryder, have received virtually unanimous praise, with several already predicting Oscar nods for each.

Sad Professor

I read the script for this that got leaked. And it's really, really good. Can't wait to see what Aranofsky has done with it.

JP Liz V1

http://oscar-watch.ew.com/2010/09/12/danny-boyle-darren-aronofsky-toronto/

Its getting oscar buzz already

bnt

The Good Doctor Kermode has posted his initial thoughts on this here, straight after seeing it. "Jaw-dropping, not sure if that's good or bad." Can't wait. :pac:

johnny_ultimate

February 2011

But I don't want to wait!

bnt

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

February 2011

But I don't want to wait!

It's a bummer all right, and not just in Ireland. I'm off to the UK this weekend (Cardiff), and no cinema there has it coming up, either.

Handsome Bob

Looking forward to this, I really like all of the actors. I'm glad that Mila Kunis is continuing her resurge back into the spotlight.

xalot

Cannot wait to see this. the reviews from the various festivals were excellent.

Basq

Heard great things about this..

.. gonna watch it tonight!

bnt

bnt wrote: »

The Good Doctor Kermode has posted his initial thoughts on this here, straight after seeing it. "Jaw-dropping, not sure if that's good or bad." Can't wait. :pac:

Just quoting this to say that they wished me good luck in my exams during their most recent podcast.. and also Mark Strong too.

I cannot wait to see this movie - Aronofsky is one of the greatest directors around at the moment. It'll be interesting to see how he works with Mila Kunis - who I would give my left arm to meet.

Mickeroo

basquille wrote: »

Heard great things about this..

.. gonna watch it tonight!

Where's it on?

johnny_ultimate

Please no boasting about 'acquiring' it guys, 'tis against the charter.

Me? I'm happy to wait for the big screen, the way most films demand to be seen.

Basq

A fantastic film on so many fronts..

Great all round performances from the main cast.. but particularly Portman and Hershey were superb. Although, being brutally honest, I didn't think Kunis really brought a whole lot to the role. It's odd as her character is pretty crucial, and yet forgettable at the same time.

Great direction from Aronofsky too, with the final act being both beautifully shot and very surreal.

Recommended!

Richard Dower

OVERRATED!....just literally finished watching it...it's basically about obsession, the persuit of perfection and decent into madness. The cinematography is pretty good but very "shakycam"/handheld in nature, lots of handheld, moving circular about the action.

The story is simplistic, Natalie Portman gives (for her) a fine performance, but Oscar worthy?...if any part was gong worthy it was her

transformation into the black swan

, her facial expressions really sold it. As for Mila Kunis....again for HER in relation to the roles she's had to date, it was her best to date.

I thought Ksenia Solo was very good also, you might also spot Janet Montgomery from Human Target at the start.

Barbara Hersey was the best actor imo, the unhinged mom living through her daughter, the rather weird mother/daughter relationship. It was a good movie, it's an arthouse/indie movie....repeat viewing?, hell no.

It's a one off "what's all the hype about?" viewing, there is nothing new or original in this from directing/acting and photography. I think this movie is a PRIME example of critics polishing each others E-Penis, probably due to a very weak movie year.

Anyone notice all these Oscar movies turn up at the end of the year?...they are all limited release movies?, all kinda underground and artsy?....you never see big mainstream movies in this vein.

I'm not slamming the movie moreso the critics and hype, it's not all that, it's good for what it is, a curiosity, an artsy movie, a directors wet dream....that's all it is.

Basq

Jeez Rich.. it's like we were watching two different movies.

Ksenia Solo was very good? She had a pretty tiny role.. probably 5 - 7 lines of dialogue tops! Can't say she made an impression at all!

It's a one off "what's all the hype about?" viewing, there is nothing new or original in this from directing/acting and photography. I think this movie is a PRIME example of critics polishing each others E-Penis, probably due to a very weak movie year.

Couple of top-notch performances, fantastic choreography, stunning imagery (

the transformation to Black Swan

)..

.. I normally don't give a "monkeys" what the critics think of a film.. you clearly pay more attention to them than me.. but it was definitely one of the most unique and engaging films to come out of the US this year.

I watched this today because of all the good reviews. Wasn't my cup of tea however. I knew it was going to be dark but I found it a bit lurid as well. I mean were

the graphic lesbo scenes

really necessary? I'm disappointed I didn't like it considering so many others did....give me Unstoppable ahead of it any day of the week.

mdwexford

Awesome movie, prob the best ive seen this year.

Sad Professor

I thought it was fantastic. Probably best film of the year for me.

I had already read the script so I knew what was going to happen, but that just made me appreciate Aronofsky's directing even more. The film is flawlessly executed from start to finish.

The 16mm photography is gorgeous. It must have been somewhat expensive given the low budget but totally worth it.

Rabidlamb

Just watched it too but didn't fully understand so I was a little let down.
A few reads on Yahoo answers has set me right but it's a pity I didn't appreciate it at the time of watching.

Understanding what are actual scenes & what are hallucinations becomes a little blurred at times.

I take it she did stab herself during the black swan white swan fight & she actually died at the end.

Richard Dower

^ i thought the hallucinations were very easy to undertand and discern what was real and what was fantasy.

FlashD

Watched this last night, the performances are brillant, probably some of the best this year, Natalie Portman is amazing. The quality that Aronofsky brings to his films is also solid.

At the same time there is something niggling away in my brain that I haven't seen a film that's totally blown my mind so I feel a bit disappointed. The story itself feels like something I have seen a hundred times over just dressed up to give it that Aronofsky vibe of darkness. After 'The Wrestler' I think Aronofsky carries a lot of weight with his films now so maybe my expectations were too high.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's nominated for a few awards, it has that kind of feel about it but it could just as easily be forgotten about. In a poor year for film I would definately recommend it. It surpasses a lot of the rubbish out there.

I'm surprised looking at the posts here that this hasn't been released in Ireland yet. In this day and age with all our technology I don't understand why every film dosen't just get a worldwide release date, it's not like they have to ship reels halfway round the planet these days. It's also forcing film lovers who can't wait to use other means available.

losthorizon

bnt wrote: »

I wonder if this is a weird kind of sequel to The Red Shoes? Another film about Ballet that goes non-linear. :pac:

Also the Red Shoes had possibly the greatest movie making team ever working on the film - Powell & Pressburger. Although Its the only one of their films (and of Powell alone) that I don't like but I cant wait for the Black Swan. It sounds great. A bit like All About Eve.

Black Swan

A plot within a plot. On the surface the competition between rivals for a vacated lead; below the symbolic and dark psychological transition from white swan to black. Portman's best performance. Worth seeing. 9/10.

johntommy

basquille wrote: »

A fantastic film on so many fronts..

Great all round performances from the main cast.. but particularly Portman and Hershey were superb. Although, being brutally honest, I didn't think Kunis really brought a whole lot to the role. It's odd as her character is pretty crucial, and yet forgettable at the same time.

Great direction from Aronofsky too, with the final act being both beautifully shot and very surreal.

Recommended!

2 thumbs up here also.

johntommy

losthorizon wrote: »

Also the Red Shoes had possibly the greatest movie making team ever working on the film - Powell & Pressburger. Although Its the only one of their films (and of Powell alone) that I don't like but I cant wait for the Black Swan. It sounds great. A bit like All About Eve.

I dont like ballet but both films are amazing.
The red shoes in bluray is a must see.
Michael Powell is 1 of 5 best English film directors of all time.
Totally original films that were ahead of their time.

Selected

Brilliant!

Love that poster who referenced ‘The Red Shoes’ as some kind of preternatural without mentioning ‘Swan Lake’ itself. Don’t get me wrong, ‘The Red Shoes’ is most definitely in my top three films (of all time) list, however, the ‘Lake’ allows such derivation.

I challenge any serious thinker to debase this movie.

Aronofsky holds true to his ambivalence and blatant disregard for his target audience by leaving ridiculous imponderables in the contemporary ‘Franzenian’* mind.

That aside, the Portman, Kunis, and Ryder triumvirate is just downright genius - the pure, the one who kneels, the fallen.

BTW, BL, quietly admiring your taste - what kind of film would you like to make?

*Franzenian; as in Jonathan Franzen’s interpretation of life and relationships, which is at best, IMO, circumspective circumcision.

fillmore jive

It's just Fight Club with loads of ballerinas in it

Selected

fillmore jive wrote: »

It's just Fight Club with loads of ballerinas in it

Now you're just jive talkin'.

Selected

Selected wrote: »

Now you're just jive talkin'.

Ha ha ha, I'm so funny.

Eddie Ere

Really really enjoyed this movie, had me hooked from beginning to end. Definitely one of my favorite movies released in the last few years.

djkeogh

Fantastic performance from Portman here. She really nailed this role and brings a great level of emotion to it. Really outstanding and she deserves all the plaudits she gets for this one.

temply

This film was amazing - still haunted by it & going to give it a second watch this weekend. Creeped out & facinated by it - really wonderful.

the whole year inn

djkeogh wrote: »

Fantastic performance from Portman here. She really nailed this role and brings a great level of emotion to it. Really outstanding and she deserves all the plaudits she gets for this one.

Word of the day is it (had to google it )I am going to give this a watch tonight .

Mickeroo

Watched this today, wasn't sure what to expect. Thought it was brilliant, it never got boring and the shift from fairly straightforward to the more trippier stuff in the 2nd hour worked pretty well. Natalie Portman was amazing, the scene where

she transforms into the Black Swan

was outstanding both in terms of acting and imagery. Definitely will be watching this again.