Black Swan

Genre: surrealistic horror

With: Natalie Portman (Nina Sayers), Mila Kunis (Lily), Vincent Cassel (Thomas Leroy), Barbara Hershey (Erica Sayers, Nina’s mother), Winona Ryder (Beth Macintyre), Benjamin Millepied (David)

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Release: 2010

Studio: Protozoa Pictures, Phoenix Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures et al.

Rating: 14A

MBiS score: 7.2/10

Killing Two Birds With One Single Movie  

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Story-line: a New York City ballet company faces turbulent times as it prepares for the new season. Nina, a dedicated dancer, hopes for more prominent roles, Beth, the prima ballerina, is unceremoniously sacked, ballet master Leroy plans a radical new production of Swan Lake and the hiring of Lily from San Francisco makes waves among the troupe.   

Pluses: a brutal look at the disciplined and pressure-filled world of ballet dancers, an outstanding turn by Natalie Portman and able support from Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel, impressive choreography, photography and music, topline production values and a startling screenplay (early on).

Minuses: an overstuffed, implausible and excruciating last act in which all hell breaks loose. During those 25 minutes or so, I laughed out loud several times – never a good sign for a ‟serious” movie – and hoped it would all end pronto.        

Comments: BLACK SWAN, a celebrated film about nerves and nightmares, unfortunately suffers from a split personality à la Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. As lovely and vibrant as it is in the first act – for which it deserved an 8.4 – it morphs into the campy, sleazy, self-aggrandizing affair it was aiming to be all along. You’ll find lots of angst and uproar here but not much human value, the yardstick against which I judge every movie. I hope you’ll like it more than I did.

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Monster

Genre: crime drama 

With: Charlize Theron (Aileen Wuornos), Christina Ricci (Selby Wall), Bruce Dern (Thomas), Annie Corley (Donna Tentler), Lee Tergesen (Vincent Corey)

Director: Patty Jenkins

Release: 2003

Studio: Media 8 Entertainment, Newmarket Films et al.

Rating: 18 A

MBiS score: 8.0/10

‟Yeah, I had a lot of dreams. And I guess you can call me a real romantic…”

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Story-line: somewhere in Florida, a sad young woman contemplating suicide enters a bar and makes herself a new friend. Is this her chance to start over, to finally lead a happy life?

Pluses: an Oscar-winning performance by Charlize Theron in an unglamorous role, superb acting by Christina Ricci, disciplined direction, faultless technicals, a tough screenplay based on real events.

Minuses: the movie’s gravity may put you off at first but you will feel its power once the characters’ motivations are fully revealed in the third act.

Comments: a lean, sincere and violent drama about one socially-challenged woman tormented by her emotions, a haunting past and misunderstandings around her. Be warned… the film’s ending is a stunner.    

MBiS

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Hoax (The)

Genre: comedy drama

With: Richard Gere (Clifford Irving), Alfred Molina (Dick Suskind), Marcia Gay Harden (Edith, Irving’s wife), Julie Delpy (Nina Van Pallandt), Hope Davis (Andrea Tate), David Aaron Baker (Brad Silber), Eli Wallach (Noah Dietrich), Stanley Tucci (Shelton Fisher), Zeljko Ivanek (Ralph Graves), Milton Buras (Howard Hughes)

Director: Lasse Hallström

Release: 2007

Studio: The Mark Gordon Company, City Entertainment, Yari Film Group, Bob Yari Productions, Miramax Films

Rating: R

MBiS score: 8.1/10

The Bigger The Fish, The Shinier The Bait

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Story-line: in 1971, a moderately successful writer named Clifford Irving approaches McGraw Hill with a sensational book project: he’s been chosen by Howard Hughes, the reclusive billionaire, to write his memoirs. A bestseller for sure!

Pluses: Richard Gere in fine form as a fast-talking hustler, Alfred Molina’s priceless support as his partner in crime, an outstanding cast, intelligent use of period film clips and music, an entertaining screenplay by Bill Wheeler (adapted from Clifford Irving’s book), solid direction and a superbly ironic ending.

Minuses: the story-line is a bit confusing when it deals with the political aspects of Irving’s claims and discoveries.  

Comments: a witty, mean-spirited and rollicking movie like Hollywood should make more often. Kudos to the whole gang for two hours of fabulously fraudulent fun!  

MBiS

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