Black Swan- Page 3

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 2:15pm

Sound quality, picture quality, size...

There were so many suggestive sound effects that were all over the theatre and I know that wouldn't translate to a home theatre.

And hearing that music in a theatre...

Well, I think the sound has a lot to do with this film.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 2:16pm

Really, Botstal?? I want Benning to get her Oscar as much as anyone but not for that movie. Don't get me wrong, I loved that film but there wasn't anything Oscar worthy about that performance. I found Moore's character to be much stronger anyways.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 2:22pm

Meh, I have a big tv. The issues I have with it aren't inherent to the format I saw it. The quality of the dvd seemed fine to me. It's not like I was watching a camcorder bootleg.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 2:25pm

I think Moore had the showier role (that AWESOME monologue at the end), but Bening's big moment(s) were mostly silent...and amazingly compelling. I don't necessarily disagree with your assesment about Moore, but it's clear that awards season is choosing Bening to single out for this film. Which is a titch ironic (wrong use of the word?) as Moore also should have a received an Oscar by now.

In the end, I think it will be a reward for Bening for a 20 year career of terrific performances (even in SH*Tty movies like RUNNING WITH SCISSORS...if it was a better movie, or even a decent movie, she might have had a shot then). And I'm ok with Ms. Bening finally being given the award she so richly deserves.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 2:53pm

I get what you're saying, but as far as that film is concerned, I thought whenever those strong silent moments of Benning's happened, Moore was right there with her matching them. In a year of strong female performances (I'm upset Naomi Watts is being overlooked so far for FAIR GAME), I just don't think this is the film to reward to someone for their body of work. It's really not fair to other actresses who had stronger roles.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 3:22pm

I definitely would say it Bening's year. She was indistinguishable from her character in a layered and nuanced role. I love Moore, but her performance was a little too affected for my taste. It seemed a little forced and I had trouble buying it. And I thought Portman gave the best performance of her career thus far, but I don't know if it was enough to get her to the podium, especially up against a career path like Bening's.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 7:08pm

Don't really get the Oscar buzz for Annette Bening, if she had an Oscar already no one would be calling this an "Oscar-worthy" performance, and that's really apparent in the posts here.
Natalie Portman is simply stunning in this movie, she's one with the role, you don't have to look for anything in the performance, it's right there in front of you. It'd be a shame if she lost to Bening, I even liked Hailee Steinfeld (who for some ridiculous/political reason is being considered for supporting when she's the clear lead of TRUE GRIT) and Jennifer Lawrence better than Bening. I suspect Michelle Williams, Leslie Manville and Nicole Kidman are all better too, though I can't say for sure since I haven't watched the films. And yes, Moore was stronger than Bening in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, quiet and not quiet moments. Not to mention the fact that Bening's character is quite unlikable and not in a "great anti-hero" kind of way.
If Portman loses to Bening it'll be because of Oscar politics. It's a wonderful role for a wonderful actress.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/23/10 at 7:20pm

I think Natalie Portman may well be the most overrated actress of her generation. With the exception of the Hip Hop song she did on SNL a few years back, I've yet to see her be anything close to remarkable in a performance. And I still have her horrific Anne Frank seared on my brain.

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 11:36am

Portman has improved over the years. Back when I saw Star Wars episode II, I wanted to organize an impeachment to get her booted out of making another movie ever again. But in recent years I have seen her starting to really "let go". She's not a favorite ACTRESS by any means, but she's becoming a stunning movie star to watch nonetheless.

I enjoyed Black Swan a great deal, but there were a couple scenes that made my LAUGH OUT LOUD and one of em I know wasn't intentional.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 1:02pm

If the old apocryphal story about Pia Zadora (or whomever else is used) playing Anne Frank ("She's in the attic!") was told about Natalie Portman, I would have believed it in a heartbeat.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 3:29pm

It must have registered with me in ways I didn't realize because I dreamed about it all night. (and no... not the sex scenes. lol)

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 3:32pm

Oh please, judging Portman's performance in the STAR WARS movies is a bit absurd, the acting in the movies is absolutely terrible, especially with the dreadful dialogue by George Lucas. Everyone in that trilogy is so ridiculously bad, Lucas is notorious for his terrible work with actors (especially in those movies), and Liam Neeson has publicly slammed him for editing and digitally altering their performances (ie-making Anakin's eyes watery, etc).
Every actor has bad performances in their career, and I get people not liking BLACK SWAN, I however think Portman is insanely talented, her performance in CLOSER is perfection, she's incredibly likable in GARDEN STATE, and she is being showered with critics' prizes for BLACK SWAN, it's a star-making performance and IMO she owns the role. Hopefully Oscars will think the same.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 4:06pm

Annette Bening should be nominated for MOTHER AND CHILD. Now that was a shattering performance. She totally changed her voice, mannerisms and physicality for the role. Its a shame the film is getting looked over.

I thought Portman was great in Black Swan. She will win over Bening. The OSCARs always snub legendary actresses for flashes in the pan. The reason Glenn Close, Julianne Moore, and Toni Collette have no Oscars and Hilary Skank has TWO!!!

The year Julia Roberts won over Ellen Burstyn (in an Aronofsky film) I wanted to claw my eyes out. Burstyn was primal and Roberts was acting in a Lifetime movie. Tragic.

If you want to see Portman act well watch ANYWHERE BUT HERE with Susan Sarandon. Its the best work Natalie has ever done. For the record I thought Portman sucked in CLOSER.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 4:14pm

Oh, Betty. A few things -

1) Swank deserved both of those Oscars much more tan anyone else nominated those years.
2) Julia Roberts is a Goddess and when she won the award that year, beating out the stunning Burstyn, it was only because God knows she is perfection.
3)I'm watching MOTHER AND CHILD tonight and I'm very excited to finally see it.
4) Portman was also excellent in WHERE THE HEART IS, even if the film itself could have been better.

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 4:18pm

1) Swank deserved both of those Oscars much more tan anyone else nominated those years.

I'll give you BOYS DON'T CRY, but do you really think that Swank was better than Imelda Staunton in VERA DRAKE? Or even Kate Winslet in ETERNAL SUNSHINE?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 4:34pm

I honestly do think that she gave the best performance that year and rightfully deserved the award.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 4:36pm

Jordan-Swank deserved Boys Dont Cry. Not the second by a long shot. Did you see Vera Drake?

Julia is lucky-far from an acting goddess. Far from perfection. Burstyn's "I'm old...I'm lonely" monologue from "Requiem for a Dream". Now THAT is perfection.

Yes, Natalie was great in WHERE THE HEART IS. I forgot about that. I really liked all the performances in that film (Judd and Channing too) even though the screenplay was poo.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 4:54pm

Oh please, judging Portman's performance in the STAR WARS movies is a bit absurd, the acting in the movies is absolutely terrible, especially with the dreadful dialogue by George Lucas

Yeah, but it's not like she hadn't been acting for ten years or so before she made it.

There's a scene in Everyone Says I Love You where she's crying and it's the fakest, most ridiculous thing.

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 4:59pm

Also, anyone who saw Portman in THE SEAGULL knows just how limited of an actress she is. Quite possibly the most unbelievably bad professional performance I've ever seen, and to have her on stage with the likes of Streep, Hoffman, Kline, Harden et al, you couldn't help but feel embarrassed for her.

Here's a taste of her Anne Frank. May she never set foot on a stage again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ymt_BYfqk

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 5:09pm

Natalie's always been hot and cold with me. I cannot really say if it is the director, the writing, or herself that causes her to be so inconsistent. I actually thought in The Phantom Menace she was one of the few actors that were unharmed by the project but then George Lucas widened her role, yet with no depth, attempted to bring 'romance' to the role and it went down hill. I thought she was great in Closer but as far as I was concerned it was the Clive Owen show. He should have won an Oscar for it (much as I love Morgan Freeman).

Love that people are mentioning Where the Heart Is and Anywhere But Here. Those films were my guilty pleasures.

She was okay in V For Vendetta and I thought her part in Cold Mountain with Jude Law nearly redeemed that snorefest. Then came Brothers (watch the original, please) and the so bad you cannot turn away The Other Boleyn Girl.

She did manage to take a really poorly written part in Garden State and turn in a good performance. I haven't seen Black Swan but my favorite performance of her was in Leon.

[Kasie]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 5:28pm

rayandallthatjazz, I completely agree with everything you have said, yet again.

Portman was perfection in this film.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 6:19pm

I honestly thought she looked constipated throughout the entire film. I think one good poo would have solved all of her issues.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/25/10 at 3:00am

Yeah, but it's not like she hadn't been acting for ten years or so before she made it.
Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Samuel Jackson had been acting for even longer and they all sucked in it.
And again, you mention EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU and I'd be hard-pressed to find a good performance in that god-awful film, not to mention the fact that she was incredibly young and working in a Woody Allen film where the likes of experienced actors that I find quite talented in other films like Julia Roberts, Josh Brolin, and

Also, anyone who saw Portman in THE SEAGULL knows just how limited of an actress she is.
Perhaps she's a bad stage actress, I think she's great on film, BLACK SWAN is a film, Oscars are given for films. At no point did I say she deserves a Tony, neither do I think she'd make a good Nina (from THE SEAGULL, not BLACK SWAN). I'd be hard-pressed to find any actress who could have made BLACK SWAN work as well as it does, she's almost in every frame of the movie, and carries the film throughout, it's a truly impressive turn. Her acting during the scene where she turns into the swan is terrific, and her interactions with Barbara Hershey and the teacher are just amazing.

Re Hillary Swank, it's sad she has two Oscars. I thought Bening was brilliant (in a much less showy role) in AMERICAN BEAUTY and Kate Winslet gave a ridiculously amazing performance in ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (a gazillion times better than the overrated turn she gave in THE READER). Maybe I feel about Hillary Swank the way some of you seem to feel about Natalie Portman...Swank was also supposed to be quite terrible as another Anne (Sullivan) on stage.

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 12/25/10 at 3:02am

Oh please, judging Portman's performance in the STAR WARS movies is a bit absurd, the acting in the movies is absolutely terrible, especially with the dreadful dialogue by George Lucas

Wait a minute, you say the acting in the movie is terrible, but I'm absurd for saying the acting in the movie is terrible?

[chekkyjr]

Posted: 12/25/10 at 7:06am

Was it kind of no big deal? ROSEMARY'S BABY crossed with THE FLY? A pinch of ALL ABOUT EVE and some TURNING POINT throw in? Natalie Portman was effective, in the way Mia Farrow was effective in ROSEMAR'S BABY. But was it acting? On the other hand, I didn't much like THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, either, but Annette Bening should have an Oscar for THE GRIFTERS and AMERICAN BEAUTY and for her performance onstage in Tina Howe's COASTAL DISTURBANCES. All right, it was a play. But what the hell. Give Annette her Oscar. Natalie Portman can wait.