BLACK SWAN: GOOD MOVIE, GREAT ACTRESS

Thomas Leroy: We all know the story. Virginal girl, pure and sweet, trapped in the body of a swan. She desires freedom but only true love can break the spell. Her wish is nearly granted in the form of a prince, but before he can declare his love her lustful twin, the black swan, tricks and seduces him. Devastated the white swan leaps of a cliff killing herself and, in death, finds freedom.

Although this film began as more of an independent film, Natalie Portman's acting was outstanding enough to catapult it a mainstream release. Obviously, Portman has swept all of the award ceremonies this year for best actress for a reason. What some people fail to understand, is that while this film showcases an outstanding performance, that in itself does not make for a outstanding film in itself. I think many people found this film to be too psychologically layered and found the sub story a little too complex and confusing. The movie is about a ballerina whose whole world is consumed with dance. She has a mother (the fabulous Barbara Hershey) who smothers her and has denied herself a balanced life in order to be a great ballerina. The combination, sets her up to be psychologically fragile and when put under the stress of taking over the prima ballerina position for Swan Lake she eventually cracks. We see her descent into madness, including a rivalry that doesn't exist. I found it an interesting portrayal of a naïve young woman searching for her own identity, but then again, I enjoyed more psychologically-based films. Plainly put, however wonderful Portman's portrayal of Nina is, it is not a film for everyone. It is a very dark film, and involves the less than pretty part of the ballet world.

WHEN NIETZSCHE WEPT

WHEN NIETZSCHE WEPT WELL WORTH CRYING OVER
What a lovely surprise I've found! In living color, everything may be an illusion, but this film is one beautiful illusion. First I will caution you; this film is based on the real life events concerning the beginning of psychotherapy as we know it today, it is long and pensive and it contains an almost unknown cast. It isn't a film for everyone and certainly much more thoughtful and deep than many movies I see. That aside, it is visually stunning and contains wildly surreal dream sequences that jump out from the screen. But, I've gotten ahead of myself. Yes, it is a film about Friedrich Nietzsche (an unrecognisable Armand Assante) and the time of melancholy he succumbed to before finding his way to writing perhaps one of his best known works, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Assante is in excellent form and it's a shame this film is not better known. ALL of his dialogue is from Nietzsche's actual works. He is "set up" by Louise Salome, a friend who believes that Nietzsche is suicidal and feels that his mind is so brilliant that he needs intervention from a much respected doctor in Vienna, Dr. Josef Breuer, who happens to have a little friend about 25 years old, called Sigmund Freud. Dr. Breuer and "Ziggy" devise a plan to get Nietzsche to think he is helping the doctor with his "problems"; perhaps the first use of reverse psychology. But alas, the doctor is in for quite a surprise! This is the beginning of the use of the "talking cure" which was the cornerstone for Freud and psychotherapy. How interesting to see where ideas originated and become introduced to a world very deep in scholarly exploration. Although this is not an action movie by any means, the dream sequences are reminiscent of the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, using very vivid colors and wildly entertaining, borderline-slapstick, zany acting. It is a period piece and the costumes, more specifically Salome's costumes are beautiful and radiant. If you have interest in a thoughtful and well done film, then look no further. Pay close attention because everything has purpose and to see it come together as it does in the end is fine work by all.
Pick: A high-brow must see film; thoughtful, interesting and visually stunning