Monday, December 20, 2010

Swan Swan H


We are inching closer to our ever-resistant movie goal: 12 per year.

Don't get me wrong, we're not going to make it this year either, but we always come close. I've learned to take some little victories in even coming close. I guess it's like nuclear war.

So over the weekend, we went to go see Black Swan.

Critically acclaimed; Award Winning; Award Nominated. Better than good, yet still just ok.

I've read one snippet that called the movie a "psycho-sexual thriller". Did I need to see another girl going down on Queen Amidala? I'm going with that being the "psycho" part.

The Orlando Sentinal called "a movie for all seasons, a film that is all things to all people."

It's not. Trust me. (and really, you can't say that about any one movie. Get real Orlando!)
Once again, even though we are past middle-aged, we were two of the youngest folks in the audience. The thought of 'ballet' might have lured the white-haireds into the theater, but I'm not 100% sure they were thrilled being there after the lights went down. The old guy a few rows in front of us, upon the movie ending, was wanting his money back. Whatever, grandpa.

I liked Sean's review of the movie and I think I agree with him on most, if not every, point.

Natalie Portman will be nominated for an Oscar, and she delivers an ok performance (certainly much better than her cardboard cutout self in the Star Wars movies), but the Academy has awarded far lesser performances, so it won't surprise me.

She is meek. Too meek. I wanted to bitch-slap her a few times. Though this what the story calls for and the premise for her character's would-be metamorphosis. The problem I had was, that the change isn't readily projected or at least strongly enough.

Either Darren Aronofsky had a great great editor, or Portman really put time into the dance. There are a few scenes you can assume it is not her, but more often than not, she looks like she's doing quite a bit of the work. If nothing else, her back muscles are incredible and certainly look like that of a ballerina.

I will say this: poor Barbara Hershey. Either time, or a make-up artist, has not been kind to her. She looks like Marsha Mason's stunt double. However, she plays the overbearing stage-mother (to a late 20-something!) just right. Or wrong.

...and Winona Ryder has been getting a hell of a lot of press for her role - all for, what, four minutes of screen time? She must have a hell of a press agent. At least you recognize her here, more easily than you did in Star Trek.

Was Black Swan worth all the heaps of praise it has been receiving? No, not really. It's good, but it is not great. But they have a good press agent too - and it'll reap the rewards, whether deserved or not.



Best part of the movie? One of the credits. Yes, we stay through all the credits for each movie. Both Denton and I spotted it at the same time - and if I ever did drag, I would make it my name:

Pandora Vanderpump-Todd.

I think it's the "Todd" part that really makes it, don't you?



Song by: R.E.M.

4 comments:

Birdie said...

I used to watch a movie a week, and at the theater. Now I see maybe a dozen a year. I've been on the fence about this one, and you haven't made it any easier.

Ur-spo said...

I want to watch the new Narnia movie.

cb said...

I think Winona had four minutes of "Scream" time.

rebecca said...

Pandora Vanderpump-Todd
Pandora Vanderpump-Todd
Pandora Vanderpump-Todd
Pandora Vanderpump-Todd

I'm not done!

Pandora Vanderpump-Todd
Pandora Vanderpump-Todd
Pandora Vanderpump-Todd...