Posts tagged with “natalie portman”
Trailer Trash: Drug-Induced Zoot Suit Edition
Come join us for a discussion of the trailers we’ve been privileged to experience over the last month or so. Are they tantalizing nuggets of the hits of tomorrow? Or harbingers of Knight and Days to come? We do not know! But we will assume that we do, because it is our way. Have YOU seen a trailer lately? Do tell. In the Comments, please—we can’t hear you from our cubicles.
Sarah: Okay! It’s hard for me to properly introduce this trailer for Hanna. It looks so weird, and the movie’s plot is not at all clear here. What is going on with this tiny assassin girl in the Arctic? Why would Eric Bana leave his daughter alone to kill someone dangerous? What, exactly, is the deal with Cate Blanchett’s hair and accent? Can I get someone to please tell me how to pronounce Saoirse Ronan’s first name? Whatever the hell is going on, it definitely looks like it’s awesome. Count me in.
A Ballet World De Palma and Polanski Would Appreciate
BLACK SWAN (2010/IN THEATERS) There’s been so much buzz and hype surrounding this movie, I admit I was nervous entering the theater, having seen that creepy trailer one too many times. And the movie definitely lives up to its label as a psycho-sexual thriller, with an ending that is seriously open to debate and discussion. There’s plenty of gorgeous music (naturally) and some beautiful dancing to accompany those other cringe-inducing scenes, particularly involving nail files and nail clippers—I’ll say no more–but think Brian De Palma! Not to mention just enough blood to make you shift in your seat and that famous “girl-on-girl” sex scene between Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis that helped Blue Valentine get rid of its NC-17 rating. It’s no wonder that Portman is getting nominated for big acting awards—she is quite convincing as the innocent ballerina Nina, smothered by a mother (a very strong Barbara Hershey) who is living vicariously through her (big time shades of The Turning Point – remember that one?) and who is determined to be not just the white swan but more importantly the black swan that the company’s director (Vincent Cassel) is demanding—indeed really taunting her to become. Of course, the black swan equals sex—and this is essentially beaten over our heads by both Cassel and by the entry of Lily (Mila Kunis), another ballerina (from San Francisco) who both threatens and fascinates “sweet” Nina with her easy sexuality. Rounding out the portrait of the ballerina world is Winona Ryder as Beth—cast out by Cassel early in the picture for being too old a dancer— who reappears to help ratchet up the horror. What can I say? The film is already nominated for four Golden Globes (Picture, Director, Actress for Portman, Supporting for Kunis) and also four Independent Spirit Awards. It will factor into the Oscar season for sure. I was reminded completely of Polanski’s Repulsion and I think Aronofsky does a great job of depicting, as Polanski did with Catherine Deneuve in that film, the interior of a young woman’s mind as she loses her grip on reality and slides into insanity.
Grade: B+ Plenty of clichés
SPOILER ALERT: Care to read what two real-life dancers thought about the film? Check out this little article.
Trailer Trash: Portman’s Questionable Decisions Edition
Come join us for a discussion of the trailers we’ve been privileged to experience over the last month or so. Are they tantalizing nuggets of the hits of tomorrow? Or harbingers of The Next Three Dayses to come? We do not know! But we will assume that we do, because it is our way. Have YOU seen a trailer lately? Do tell. In the Comments, please—we can’t hear you from our cubicles.
Sarah: Kimberly! There are like 40 million new trailers making their way around the internets right now! I really had a hard time choosing just two to focus on here (although, Warner Brothers helped me out some by taking down the Green Lantern trailer that popped up briefly last week. Sexiest Man Alive [NOPE] Ryan Reynolds in tights! HEE!).
Anyway, I’ll begin with Your Highness from used-to-be-really-arty-and-interesting director David Gordon Green. This trailer pains me physically. A wacky period stoner comedy with pointlessly profane contemporary dialogue and gratuitous nudity? Did we as a nation learn nothing from Year One? This is a big deal cast, too! Danny McBride, James Franco, and even the lovely Zooey Deschanel: sure. But Portman is a bit of a surprise here, yes? Flashing her ass and her really, really bad British accent around? Help me understand, Kimberly. What are all these people doing in this? How did this get made? Will people see it? (A note before you click play: Red Band trailer alert! Pitifully misused F-words aplenty!)
Trailer Trash: Let’s Just Stay Awake Edition
Come join us for a discussion of the trailers we’ve been privileged to experience over the last month or so. Are they tantalizing nuggets of the hits of tomorrow? Or harbingers of Knight and Days to come? We do not know! But we will assume that we do, because it is our way. Have YOU seen a trailer lately? Do tell. In the Comments, please—we can’t hear you from our cubicles.
Sarah: Hey, so have you been sleeping a little too well lately? Allow me to remedy that with this terrifying trailer for Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman as a ballerina who may be the stalking victim of underminer-y Mila Kunis and/or is going totally nuts. Creepy, over-involved mom? Check. Creepy, condescending, handsy dance instructor (played by master creep-meister Vincent Cassel)? Check. WINGS SPROUTING OUT OF SHOULDER BLADES?! MIRROR IMAGES TURNING AROUND AND LOOKING RIGHT AT YOU?! Uh, check. I watched this trailer one time, and it showed up in my dreams that night. No shit. Nightmare Town.
Kimberly: Prepare yourself for the thrills and chills of Case 39! Is it a requirement that any actor with a string of recent successes (ie, Bradley Cooper) make a terrible-looking horror movie, often featuring an evil child? Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Greg Kinnear, Liev Schreiber, Sam Rockwell…the tragic list goes on. Who stands to profit from the salary-reduction that a shot of CGI insects spewing from an actor’s mouth will guarantee? Working on a conspiracy theory here. And I will qualify the following by saying that I am a nonparent: Renee, just let them take the kid. There are plenty more. I see tons of them just milling around unattended. Some even have normal little girl voices.
PS, I assume this set is where Cooweger was born. Congrats, Hollyweirdos! Read more »
