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Black Swan

Who’s ready for some ballet? Hey, get back here. I wanted to drop the boom on you first before you freaked out. Yes, Black Swan, another darling of recent film festivals, is set in the world of ballet in New York City, but if you’ve seen the trailer for the film (I would suggest it unless you’re too concerned that it may ruin your experience), you know that Black Swan isn’t austere, low-key, or boring. If anything, Black Swan may be a ballet film filtered through Requiem for a Dream. Of course, this is no surprise, as the film’s director is Darren Aronofsky. Aronofsky’s name is automatically a reason to get excited, but the cast also seems intriguing, if not worthy of excitement. In the lead, as a fragile ballerina who’s given a shot at stardom, is Natalie Portman. She’s supported by Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, and Barbara Hershey.

The movie seems to have a supernatural bent (or the main character’s wacked out of her mind), what with images of Portman, red-eyed, pulling metallic spines out of her skin. This isn’t exactly what you think of when you think of ballet, but continuing in the tradition of such great directors as Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, and Robert Altman is a daring enough choice. Aronofsky’s visual prowess appears to be on display here, and Portman’s performance has been hailed by many critics, who are hoping for an Oscar nomination for the young actress. I’ve already crowed about Kunis as a performer, so I’m hoping that the film lives up to expectations. Because of the daring presentation of the material, the prognosticators aren’t yet swayed to the film being an Oscar favorite, but who cares? Aronofsky and Portman are enough to get me in the theater.

True Grit

Let’s see how far you get into this paragraph before you realize that, OF COURSE, True Grit is one of the most exciting-sounding movies you’ve heard about in a while. On the one hand, yes, it’s a remake of the 1969 Western starring John Wayne as an eye-patched cowboy. So there’s that against it. But here’s what’s on the other hand: True Grit was written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Rooster Cogburn is being portrayed by Jeff Bridges, which will be awesome for a number of reasons, chief among them that the Dude is reuniting with the Coens. The film also stars Josh Brolin, formerly of No Country For Old Men, and Matt Damon, continuing the Coens’ strategy of having everyone from Ocean’s Eleven star in their films. Have I gotten your attention yet? If not, check out the teaser or full trailer for the film.

You’re salivating now, right? And why wouldn’t you be? Even though their track record isn’t flawless, a new film from Joel and Ethan Coen should always be an event for any film buff. And putting these two back with one of their best leading men, fresh off an Oscar win, should get butts in the seats. I can’t say there was an audible response to the trailer as it played in front of The Social Network, but there’s no question that the footage has not disappointed yet. Though I’m not the biggest fan of Westerns, as I’ve mentioned in the past here, any Coen film is a film I’m going to see. What’s more, they succeeded at making a postmodern Western, so I’m curious to see their take on something more potentially old-fashioned. Christmas Day is for many things, but this year, it’s for True Grit.

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