Posts tagged with “vincent cassel”
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: 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 »
