Movie #376 - Black Swan

Black Swan
2010 - Rated R - 1 hr 48 min
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder, Benjamin Millepied

Yes, this movie got a lot of hype. And yes, so did Natalie Portman and her dancer-in-six-months training program. Usually hype drives me far away from a movie. I'm not a bandwagon rider, you know?

Something about the chilling previews sucked me in and so I went to see it in theaters. For weeks afterwards, I got chills every time I thought about it.  Now that's an impression. Owning it (finally) is really exciting for me. And I want everyone to watch it, but I'm acutely aware that Black Swan is not for everyone.

It's not a dancing movie, it's not a chick movie, and it's not a romance. So stop you're whining already.  Instead, it's been dubbed a "psychosexual thriller," a new category of weird mind-altering movie that's incomparable so far.  Aronofsky takes the art and beauty of The Fountain and combines it with the warped mind twists of a movie like American Psycho. Natalie Portman is perfect as the symbolic white swan, fighting against her inner black swan, stuck in a schizophrenic battle that plays itself out on the stage. I won't give anything away, because it's best to experience it as I did - not knowing much but expecting a wild, chilling story.

And that ending.... yup, still gives me chills.

Movie #221 - Garden State

Garden State
2004 - Rated R - 1 hr 42 min
Director: Zach Braff
Starring: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Ian Holm, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Weston, Jim Parsons, Jean Smart, Method Man, Geoffrey Arend

With Zach Braff writing, directing, and starring in this movie, you'd think it would get more self-indulgent than it does. On the contrary, it's a well-balanced movie that takes two confused people, struggling on their own, and puts them together.  Their relationship develops fast but at a pace that still seems realistic and the connection between them is clear.  If nothing else, Braff and Natalie Portman create perfect chemistry.  At times, you feel like you're watching something almost too personal.

And even though mental health plays such a big part in Braff's character, it doesn't overtake the movie.  It's just background noise that sets up much of the action, but it never takes away from the romance piece.  These characters grow individually together and it's heartwarming to watch.

Movie #116 - Closer

Closer
Sony Pictures
2004 - Rated R - 1 hr 44 min
Director: Mike Nichols
Starring: Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Clive Owen, Natalie Portman

Want to watch Natalie Portman do a very raunchy strip tease? Borrow this DVD.

But seriously, this adapted-from-the-play movie is fantastic.  I'm not usually a big fan of movies that celebrate adultery (call me old-fashioned) but this script handles the taboo topic really well.  These four are so entwined in one another's lives that you get sucked right into their tangled mess and the only way out is to watch the whole movie to the end.  Who gets who? Why do you care? Do any of them deserve each other?

Actually, yeah. The only one who gets out of this mess is probably the best of all of them. 

I won't give anything away, but I'll say that this fantastic cast does more than justice to this film.  As virtually the only people in the movie, they can't phone it in either.  If you watch for the strip show, fine.... but pay attention to the message.  It's real, in your face, not afraid to get a little rude.  And best of all, the movie is true to the stage play (which is also amazing, if you've never seen it) so it's like seeing the original right in your own living room.  Enjoy, just promise me you'll give this hot, lustful mess some thought when it's over.