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Monday, December 27, 2010

Black Swan (a personal review)

Go See Black Swan!

I saw Black Swan a few days ago, and have not been able to stop thinking about it! THAT is what makes a great movie, in my opinion. I haven't felt this way since I saw "Doubt" a couple years ago. Natalie Portman should absolutely win Best Actress from the Academy. She completely became the character, Nina, who is a ballerina with perfectionist tendencies that eventually drive her mad. What I love about Darren Aronofsky is his ability to get the audience completely in the mind of his characters. (PS, Watch Requiem for a Dream if you haven't seen that!)

When you watch this movie, you FEEL for Natalie Portman because in a sense, you BECOME Natalie Portman's character. You understand her thoughts, feelings, and emotions. But the ending (don't worry, no spoiler YET) makes you wonder, "WTF JUST HAPPENED? Do I get it?!" The film is genius. The cinematography is phenomenal. I don't want to ruin it for anybody, but trust me and go see it!

*****SPOILER ALERT******
So after watching the movie, George and I analyzed it. My mom and sister saw it also, so we talked about it another time with them. George had this great idea-that the more I think about, the more I think is the case-that maybe she DOESN'T die in the end. Once you realize she is going mad, you no longer know what actually happened and what was just in her head. Was her death just in her head? I realize that since the character of the WHITE SWAN has to die (per the ballet plot), Nina only thinks she will perfect the role if she dies. So most people assume at the end, she dies. But does she? George thought it would have been better if they had shown after the white screen a "3 Months Later" segment with her going into the next ballet audition. I also wondered about the authenticity of Mila Kunis' role. Was she actually a cool, laid-back girl, who was only portrayed as manipulative in the mind of Natalie Portman? Did she put the ecstasy in the drink intentionally so Nina would relax, intentionally so Nina would miss rehearsal the next day, or did she not put it in the drink at all? I thought surely she did because she didn't deny it the following day when Nina told her about her experience. But Mila Kunis' character also joked about the lesbian scene, and I don't think that scene actually happened. Maybe she put the drug in the drink, knowing Nina saw it and wanted it deep down (only didn't want to ask for it), and after dropping her off at home, left the scene all together. Maybe that scene was completely hallucinated. Maybe Mila Kunis didn't sleep with the guy at all, and Nina was just completely paranoid. 


I also thought maybe her mom was a totally normal mom. She knew her daughter was borderline insane, and was trying to protect her like any mother would. In Nina's mind, she was over-bearing and controlling, but perhaps that was just attributed to the paranoia.
What's scary is thinking that Nina's mind probably isn't that crazy....I'm not making any confessions, but I have had some crazy thoughts! It's what we DO with our thoughts that defines our character. But this film highlights on the fact that we all have a little bit of crazy in us, and shows what can happen when that takes over.

That's what I'm leaning toward today, but I know that I might have a change of opinion based on other perceptions! I love talking about different interpretations and am so grateful I saw this movie!!!!!!!! Anybody out there have any thoughts?!?!

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