354) THE BLACK DAHLIA
(2006 dir. Brian De Palma) 2nd Viewing: July 9 2011
353) DEAD ALIVE
(1992 dir. Peter Jackson) 2nd Viewing: July 9 2011
TOBY'S PRIVATE WATCHLIST & THOUGHTS ON FILM.. PLEASE DON'T READ THESE
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Viewing Journal: 7/9/2011
354) THE BLACK DAHLIA
(2006 dir. Brian De Palma) 2nd Viewing: July 9 2011
353) DEAD ALIVE
(1992 dir. Peter Jackson) 2nd Viewing: July 9 2011
Viewing Journal: 7/8/2011
352) HEAVENLY CREATURES
(1994 dir. Peter Jackson) 4th Viewing: July 8 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Viewing Journal: 7/6/2011
350) ELEPHANT
(1989 dir. Alan Clarke) 2nd Viewing: July 6 2011
349) MADE IN BRITAIN
(1982 dir. Alan Clarke) Date Seen: July 6 2011
348) SCUM
(1979 dir. Alan Clarke) Date Seen: July 6 2011
347) THE GENERAL
(1998 dir. John Boorman) Date Seen: July 6 2011
346) THE FIELD
(1990 dir. Jim Sheridan) Date Seen: July 6 2011
345) ORGAZMO
(1997 dir. Trey Parker, Matt Stone) 2nd Viewing: July 6 2011
344) CSA: CONFEDERATE
(1998 dir. John Boorman) Date Seen: July 6 2011
346) THE FIELD
(1990 dir. Jim Sheridan) Date Seen: July 6 2011
345) ORGAZMO
(1997 dir. Trey Parker, Matt Stone) 2nd Viewing: July 6 2011
344) CSA: CONFEDERATE
STATES OF AMERICA
(2004 dir. Kevin Willmott) Date Seen: July 6 2011
(2004 dir. Kevin Willmott) Date Seen: July 6 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
BLACK SWAN
by Allison Preston
The word denouement means "the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel." It is a French word that literally means "an untying." I kept thinking of this word in the final act of BLACK SWAN, but I thought of the word as meaning "unraveling," because that is precisely what happens to Nina. Nobody does unraveling, or denouement, quite like Aronofsky. The resolution of his films (or at least of the ones I've seen: PI, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, and this) always comes with the complete mental and emotional unraveling of his protagonists. And he submerges the viewers so completely in that unraveling, drawing them in by degrees, showing his protagonists' good intentions and vulnerability, and finally hitting the viewers hard with the violent, mind-bending, inevitable heartbreak that comes in the end.
I loved so many things about this film. The abundance of mirrors is appropriate, as they are ever present in dance studios, and Aronofsky brilliantly uses them as a way to visually convey how Nina feels constantly exposed. There is no angle that she is allowed to keep to herself. The prismatic mirror at the entrance of her apartment shows that even her home is not private, as her mother constantly pushes her way into Nina's space. Notice the expressive fable-like use of black and white costumes and the way they chart Nina's transition from innocence (always in white at the beginning) to evil (beginning to wear gray, and eventually wearing black by the end). All of the negative characters in the film who put pressure on Nina in her transition wear black from beginning to end: her mother, Tomas, Lily, and Beth. It's made pretty obvious when Lily hands her a black leotard to change into when they go out together.
This was certainly one of the most unique and vivid films of 2010. Simply brilliant.
I loved so many things about this film. The abundance of mirrors is appropriate, as they are ever present in dance studios, and Aronofsky brilliantly uses them as a way to visually convey how Nina feels constantly exposed. There is no angle that she is allowed to keep to herself. The prismatic mirror at the entrance of her apartment shows that even her home is not private, as her mother constantly pushes her way into Nina's space. Notice the expressive fable-like use of black and white costumes and the way they chart Nina's transition from innocence (always in white at the beginning) to evil (beginning to wear gray, and eventually wearing black by the end). All of the negative characters in the film who put pressure on Nina in her transition wear black from beginning to end: her mother, Tomas, Lily, and Beth. It's made pretty obvious when Lily hands her a black leotard to change into when they go out together.
This was certainly one of the most unique and vivid films of 2010. Simply brilliant.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Viewing Journal: 7/4/2011
342) AMERICAN:
THE BILL HICKS STORY
(2010 dir. Harlock/Thomas) Date Seen: July 4 2011
(2010 dir. Harlock/Thomas) Date Seen: July 4 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Viewing Journal: 7/1/2011
339) KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
(2005 dir. Ridley Scott) 2nd Viewing: July 1 2011
338) CHOPPER
(2001 dir. Andrew Dominik) 2nd Viewing: July 1 2011
337) TROY
(2004 dir. Wolfgang Peterson) 2nd Viewing: July 1 2011
336) THE ILLUSIONIST
(2010 dir. Sylvain Chomet) 2nd Viewing: July 1 2011
Extended director's cut
first time seeing this edit of the movie.. & good lord, some suit at Fox butchered this in 2005!338) CHOPPER
(2001 dir. Andrew Dominik) 2nd Viewing: July 1 2011
337) TROY
(2004 dir. Wolfgang Peterson) 2nd Viewing: July 1 2011
Director's cut
336) THE ILLUSIONIST
(2010 dir. Sylvain Chomet) 2nd Viewing: July 1 2011
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