Nicole Portman makes like she's flying.
“The only thing you done was Yesterday and since you’ve been gone you’re Just Another Day”. John Lennon was not feeling much love towards Paul McCartney when he wrote How Do You Sleep?
This venomous song is an illustration of the rivalry between the two that helped make them the most important and influential songwriting partnership in contemporary music. Continue reading
I had fun compiling a list of best British cult movies but putting together a year’s best of list is a taller order as I don’t actually go the cinema that much these days.
I tend to be a little over dependent on DVDs and downloads which often means I miss stuff or see things late.
I just about managed to put together a top ten, however, although keen-eyed buffs will note that some of these were actually released in 2010.
1. Tree of Life.
Terrence Malick’s epic was panned by some and booed at Cannes but for ambition, scope and sheer beauty movie experiences don’t come much better than this. Continue reading
"Me, Thor. You, Jane"
Thor is a pretty silly movie but the fact that is was directed by ex-luvvie Kenneth Branagh intrigued me as it obviously did Natalie Portman since she accepted the role of astrophysicist Jane Foster without even seeing the script.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is an arrogant hot-headed hunk who must learn some humility before he can inherit the crown of Asgard or win the heart of the comely damsel.
In the process he has to contend with a scheming half brother and a demanding father, Odin, played by Anthony Hopkins. He must also learn to wield the mighty hammer Mjolnir in a more appropriate manner if he is to conquer the frost giants.
As far as superhero implements go, the hammer is about as far from a concealed weapon as you can get and a hard object to handle without looking like a contender in an athletics event. Poor Thor does his best on the basis that a good superhero never blames his tools.
The family feud and power play have certain comic book Shakespearean aspects which Hopkins in particular exploits to the full. This might also account for why Branagh decided to direct the movie (that and a hefty financial incentive!)
The most watchable scenes feature Natalie Portman who, like George Eliot’s Miss Brooke in Middelmarch, demonstrates she has “the kind of beauty which seems to be thrown into relief by poor dress”. Despite her relatively drab wardrobe, she manages to look terrific; all the more irritating to see her swooning over Thor’s pumped up body (check out his workout tips). You’d hope she’d be be more discerning than this.
The best scenes of the movie are when the once mighty Thor is cast down to Earth hammer-less. The contrast between Asgard and small New Mexico town is played out with some good deadpan humour.
It all ends with Thor gazing longingly down to Earth dreaming of Jane and wondering if he’s done enough to merit a sequel.
I had some reservations about Darren Aranofsky‘s ‘Requiem For A Dream‘ (see my post of 18th Feb) but I have no such doubts about Black Swan.
It’s a brilliant piece of total cinema – dramatic story, great soundtrack, stunning costumes, breathtaking choreography and no holds barred performances.
In what will surely be an Oscar winning performance, Natalie Portman is exceptional as Nina. To say she threw herself into this part would be an understatement. She looks totally convincing as the psychotic perfectionist and is quite remarkable in the dance sequences (perhaps helped by dating New York Ballet’s Benjamin Millepied – the two met on set, are engaged and she is expecting a baby in Summer 2011).
Aranofsky’s directing style tends towards exaggeration but it doesn’t look over the top for this movie. He creates a genuinely spooky atmosphere from the start so there is always the tension of knowing something BAD is going to happen – it’s just a case of what , when and how.
Another positive about the movie is that it is one where the female roles are not defined by the male counterparts. Thomas (Vincent Cassel) pushes her as the ballet director but it is the challenging role of white/black swan , not him , that dictates the level of psycho-sexual growth she needs.
I could say more but Matt Goldberg’s review on Collider.com sums up pretty well my opinions of this movie.
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