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Black Swan posted: 02/06/11 at 5:34 AM
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I finally got to see Black Swan, when it was starting to leave the theaters. I really wanted to see this sooner, but I was so busy that it wasnt possible. I must say it was well worth the wait. I didnt know what to expect, but I was very interested in the almost lucid nightmare that was portrayed in the trailers.
Black Swan takes you inside the world of the professional ballet scene where Nina (Natalie Portman) has been working as a dancer for the company for years. She finally gets casted as the lead role in Swan Lake, a story about a girl trapped in the body of a swan. Nina is considered a perfectionist in her every move, however she lacks emotion and sensuality which she needs to portray the black swan. Tormented by her inability to do this, her insecurity turns obsessive when she meets Lily (mila kunis), a contrasting ballerina that seems to dance effortlessly fluid and seems to have way more fun than the tormented Nina.
This is a stunning and dark film. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. I was gripped to my seat the entire time and I loved the feelings and fear it produced in me. I almost couldn't watch it, but something told me I had to watch it more. Its raw, uncomfortable and almost frightening in its nightmarish decent into a maddening obsession to be perfect. Beautiful performances by everyone and made to prod and make you nervous and uneasy. The music from swan lake is gorgeous and fits fantastically with the story. A perfect ending works with this incredible film.
I have nothing, but great things to say, I never felt such raw ripping emotion and feelings like I have watched this coming from a film in quite a while. I loved it. A huge recommendation and a 10/10. One of the best films of the year!
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When I am at work, its like I am Iron Man...I feel invincible when I don the armor of success....
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posted: 02/18/11 at 8:59 PM
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I thought it was an interesting film, disturbing, suspenseful and had complex female characters, which is unusual these days. The performances were excellent. Agree, the music was was great but when you have Tchaikovsky as your composer...that's to be expected.
Overall, I like the premise/concept and story. However, I did have some problems with the film. I thought some elements were very hokey and contrived. And I found the 2nd half of it very confusing, perhaps it was meant to be--don't know.
I would have liked more clarity on the main character's (Nina-Natalie Portman) psychological problem/mental condition. Also, the character of Lily (Mila Kunis), was made out to be this "bad girl" villain and perhaps she was but in reality, Nina is the one who underhandedly convinces the ballet director to give her the lead role after the director tells her that he is going to cast Lily, so it is understandable that Lily may want revenge. I feel that could have been explored more effectively. It may, of course, have been a lie or a test to see if Nina could find her "black swan" side...but I think it would have added to the complex relationships involved.
But don't want to give everything away. Definitely worth seeing.
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Live in a way that leaves no regrets.
Strive most to understand what you fear most.
To change our lives, we must first change our minds.
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posted: 02/22/11 at 3:58 AM
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I think what makes it so confusing is that your trust in the characters story telling falls off when she goes insane. I really can imagine this being how insanity would feel like....and work. You cant trust what you are seeing anymore and neither could she. It made it uncomfortable and some what terrifying.
As for lily....actually she was normal compared to the psychotic episodes that Nina portrays her in. Lilys character is a huge contrast to the reality check that Nina needs to confirm her 'losing it' moment. I liked how things were designed because you couldnt tell after a while if it was reality or not and that is how she felt as well. Lily was not the bad guy in this film at all....she was just a bystandered that had no understanding the complexity of emotions that Nina had being her.
Which parts were hokey and contrived?
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When I am at work, its like I am Iron Man...I feel invincible when I don the armor of success....
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posted: 03/07/11 at 7:08 PM
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Sorry -- haven't been online that much lately and didn't see your comments.
I agree with what you say mostly. And I like the idea of Black Swan. However, I don't feel that it is completely successful.
It's tough to pull off psychotic episodes from the point of view of the psychotic person, including what is and what isn't fantasy and what is and what isn't reality. Or maybe the two converge. These are concepts I understand and find interesting. But there is the execution.
I found many scenes or moments that made me overly conscious of the director -- that is the only way I can describe it. Perhaps it's just my tastes or my interpretation. Some of it was a bit self-conscious, in my opinion. I would have to see the film again and go through each moment -- which I don't really want to do. I felt some of it was predictable. The rivalry between Nina and Lily was very in your face, for example. I think it would have been intriguing to see them as actually being friendly and liking each other early on as opposed to that immediate threat you feel. Then you slowly start to see something mutually sinister.
I thought when she kills Lily (whether real or not) was a bit hokey--it made me laugh a bit. Again, don't know if this was supposed to be funny or what, but just a bit weird to me.
Also, for some reason when Lily goes to Nina's apartment and Nina asks how she knew where she lived and Lily says, "I have my ways." Or something to that effect. For some reason, that really struck me as contrived....like a very cliched line. I just remember thinking "what a dumb line."
Anyway, that's my opinion and I could be completely wrong.
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Live in a way that leaves no regrets.
Strive most to understand what you fear most.
To change our lives, we must first change our minds.
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posted: 03/08/11 at 4:55 AM
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Why would you say you could be completely wrong? The whole point of movies like these are about interpretation. You dont need to be self-conscious about your opinion. I just was curious about how you saw it, thats all.
I actually missed the first like 10 min of the film...so I kind of was thrown into the lily vs nina bit quite quickly without much introduction. I thought that was a bit weird too, but nina is a bit weird of a character in herself.
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When I am at work, its like I am Iron Man...I feel invincible when I don the armor of success....
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posted: 03/08/11 at 3:56 PM
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The movie was not quite what I was expecting, which isn't a bad thing and I really liked Aronofsky's THE WRESTLER, so that's another reason I wanted to see the movie. Also, the ballet interested me and I did read in a description about the movie, that is was about rivalries between ballerinas, which is understandable in any competitive situation.
But I will say there is a lot to discuss about the film. It is intriguing, thought-provoking, and inspiring to see so many female characters pursuing something other than to get married so in that sense I put it in a true "film" category as opposed to your typical Hollywood flick. However, I think it could have gone further.
I can't quite remember the first 10 minutes actually. I think it was just introducing Nina's life and the ballet world in general.
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Live in a way that leaves no regrets.
Strive most to understand what you fear most.
To change our lives, we must first change our minds.
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