tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post8518981372557819694..comments2024-02-10T01:22:29.316-08:00Comments on Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies: Black SwanKevin J. Olsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-4857609423690245372011-01-07T20:39:41.499-08:002011-01-07T20:39:41.499-08:00Fantastic news Kevin about graduate school!
Gentl...Fantastic news Kevin about graduate school!<br /><br />Gentleman, scholar and all-around nice guy adds up to a winning combo!<br /><br />And I eagerly await that year-end list!Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-53767200100322091002011-01-05T09:22:25.376-08:002011-01-05T09:22:25.376-08:00Jason:
I like what you say about the question mar...Jason:<br /><br />I like what you say about the question marks turning more and more into exclamation points. I feel the same way. My brother (if you haven't read his piece yet you should) had a different reaction to it than I did. I think he was ready to move on after the movie was over...I was thinking about it all night and the next day. I'm ready for a third viewing!<br /><br />Sam:<br /><br />Yes, this is another we just have to disagree on. My Christmas was great, by the way! Hehe. Oh, and I finish Grad school in two months! Woo Hoo! Hehe. My ten best list (and year in review) will appear, as it usually does, towards the end of this month to celebrate the anniversary of the blog.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-24831452209672424582011-01-02T19:10:58.336-08:002011-01-02T19:10:58.336-08:00Black Swan, eh?
Hey Kevin, what's the weather...Black Swan, eh?<br /><br />Hey Kevin, what's the weather like by you these days? How is it going in school? What did you get for Christmas? Are you planning to make a ten best list? Heck, let's discuss 'Inglourious Basterds.'<br /><br /><br />Ha! Superlative work here, I just have over-engaged, though a second viewing was a bit better than the first.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-84830951571381621712011-01-01T18:47:55.948-08:002011-01-01T18:47:55.948-08:00First of all, thanks for the compliments on the co...First of all, thanks for the compliments on the convos piece. It means a lot.<br /><br />Secondly ...<br /><br /><em>The conventional angle on the film – and from the point of view of some of the characters – is that Nina must get in touch with her repressed sexuality in order to become the person she wants to be. However, I think Aronofsky is approaching it from a different perspective (although certainly that psycho-sexual reading is there): I think Nina must overcome her timidity to be the fully-realized starlet she wants to be. This is a film about a young woman who must overcome diffidence to truly get what she wants: a starring role. In order to do that, it is not her repressed sexuality that she must embrace, but it is her individual power – her confidence.</em><br /><br />Yes. The film's sexuality can't be ignored, but I think a lot of people have confused what Thomas <em>tells</em> Nina will unlock her with what actually unlocks her. I think it's key that the moment Nina walks up to Thomas and surprises him with an aggressive kiss comes <em>after</em> she's triumphed as the Black Swan. In essence, she becomes a woman first. Only then does she <em>actually</em> become sexual.<br /><br />This film does linger. I've seen it twice now. I agree: there are still faults. And in many respects my initial reaction quoted at the top of your piece still stands. But with each day the question mark gives way to the exclamation point. It's my favorite film of the year.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-25765271602862319232011-01-01T11:30:53.686-08:002011-01-01T11:30:53.686-08:00Thanks, Ed! You're correct in your assumption ...Thanks, Ed! You're correct in your assumption about what I mean by Aronofsky being disingenuous towards Nina. I was left wondering, after my second viewing of the film, that if the film had taken a slow-burn approach to Nina's devolution that the ending would have resonated more with me (in the same way I wish Scorsese would have re-edited SHUTTER ISLAND to show Leo's character having to deal with what he did from the beginning of the film...making his quest for "truth" more interesting). If Aronofsky wasn't mashin' things up here, I think I would have been with Nina all the way to the end. Instead, I saw her strictly as horror protagonist in peril, a Final Girl if you will, and to that extent I thought Portman's performance was right on; however, if I was supposed to feel anything genuine about her descent into madness -- if she was meant to be a character I empathize with -- I think Aronofsky's muddy-aesthetic gets in the way from me feeling that (much like I could never really feel bad for Connelly's character in REQUIEM FOR A DREAM despite her fantastic performance at the end of that film).<br /><br />But yes, we were in agreement for the most part about BLACK SWAN. As I've mentioned to you and Jason already, I really appreciate the work you guys put in on The Conversations. I love having a resource like that so readily available after I've finished writing about the film. I don't think I'll ever be done thinking about BLACK SWAN, and I hope it's the one movie -- warts and all -- that people look back and recognize Aronofsky for.<br /><br />Finally, I was thinking about the BLACK SWAN'S reputation. When was the last time a film that was being pretty overt about its horror-ness nominated for so many awards, specifically the lead actress? I suppose THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS? Sigourney Weaver in ALIENS?Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-22021031248435371852011-01-01T05:59:11.810-08:002011-01-01T05:59:11.810-08:00Nice piece, Kevin, thanks for the shout-outs. Soun...Nice piece, Kevin, thanks for the shout-outs. Sounds like we basically agree that, whatever its problems, this is a fascinating film with a lot going on. I like your counterintuitive feminist reading, too. As you say, it's a stretch, but an interesting one. It is a film about a young woman who's held back by her timidity and repression, which is certainly a cliché, and Aronofsky treats it all like an exploitation film premise, but there are at least seeds of a more progressive reading in there. I assume that's what you mean by Aronofsky being "disingenuous" in his treatment of the character, trying to have it both ways.Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-44141849650205494482010-12-31T19:11:30.720-08:002010-12-31T19:11:30.720-08:00JAFB:
Thanks for the kind words! Same to you!
B...JAFB: <br /><br />Thanks for the kind words! Same to you!<br /><br />Bryce:<br /><br />I definitely caught in the way movie is essentially Nina living through a waking nightmare. I also caught it in the editing of the scene where Thomas ushers Nina through the party, and the film fades out of and into the same setting.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-26507106863607461592010-12-31T18:36:54.529-08:002010-12-31T18:36:54.529-08:00I also caught a definite whiff of Eyes (and mentio...I also caught a definite whiff of Eyes (and mentioned it in my review). Even If I can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe it's just the sexually charged atmosphere paired with classical music, and stylistic repetition.Bryce Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17040954580033470664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-89268455606012751622010-12-31T08:17:14.085-08:002010-12-31T08:17:14.085-08:00Hey Kevin.
So much to catch up here. WIsh you a ...Hey Kevin.<br /><br />So much to catch up here. WIsh you a great year ahead.<br /><br />Cheers!Just Another Film Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17880550053788464732noreply@blogger.com