Black Swan (2011)

The light Rom-Com of a ballerina who only want's to meet the right man, but her bitch of a rival comes along and threatens everything, only for her to triumph in the end and become the prom queen/businesswoman of the year/ Head Ballerina thingy... This is, in fact what a film called "Black Swan" about the mental anguish of a young woman (Natalie Portman) dancing in a rendition of Swan Lake could well have been like. Fortunately, Darren Aronofsky plays by a different set of rules.

Dark Subject matter is nothing new for this man, "the Offsky" as I affectionately call him, made his Directorial début with π (pi, pronounced Pie, the mathematical term) The 1998 black and white thriller about a man trying to decode the the formula on which the stock exchange is based on, showing us the downfalls of great genius, as a man cannot escape his brilliance because his mind just won't cease calculating, ending with visuals and themes spawning the bastard child between Taxi Driver and A Beautiful Mind. While he later went on to achieve acclaim with Requiem For A Dream and The Wrestler, π was AronofskY setting the bar for himself, a high one at that.

So what can one expect? As I said before, it's the story of Nina, a working Ballet dancer in the high octane and pressure filled Ballet circuit, a mixture of bitchy stage-school kids and a more laid back cock tease Lily (integral to the plot, and Nina sexual/personal awakening played wonderfully by Mila Kunis). Landing the role of The Swan Queen seems to only add to the foundation of mental issues Nina has aquired because of her pushy mother, ever desperate to make her daughter live out the life she couldn't.

While she can execute the White Swan choreography to a T nearly every time, it's the more relaxed, emotional titular Black Swan Nina has trouble with. With manipulative Director Thomas (masterful yet bastardly turn by Vincent Cassel) pushing her to be more emotive, the film takes many dark, surreal and fantastical twists and turns before it's beautifully shot, performed and directed finale. Visually speaking one of the best films of the past 10 years.

Conclusion? Stellar cast performing a knockout piece I find hard to knock, perhaps the movie tried to hard to be subtle (Nina wearing a white, feathery scarf, Lily having black wings tattoo'd on her back) but it seems to suit the story Offsky was trying to tell. Though starving children in Africa and homelssness on the streets of London ARE big problems in the grand scheem of things, in the tiny world created for this little doll of a girl by her controlling mother (and subsequently, Director) means this life, and then this play is all she has, and her drive for perfection in her field only seems to fuel her mental downfall. An absolute must see, (whether or not the Academy grant it best picture), and it's also suitable to take the girlfriend to. Also, Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman getting it on.... win win? 9.9/10

Leon

Leon is a very famous, very well thought of, very influential film. But is it, in fact, any good?

Yes, mostly. Occasionally amazing, thanks to two fantastic lead performances. The dynamic between the quiet hit man Leon and the twelve year old Mathilda is multilayered and complex. It takes your assumptions of what the dynamic should be and throws them away, giving you something fresh yet familiar, loveable yet occasionally nauseating. I won't go in to too much detail, but having watched the aptly named 'Long Version', you'll be shown a picture of a relationship that will split opinions. I personally did not have any problems with the subject matter, however run time was an issue, something I feel a little guilty for having a go considering the afore mentioned version. Regardless, I think the film sags in the middle. The relationship, while interesting, arcs quickly and once the meat of the story is over, we're left trudging through familiar ground. In other places, the story is quite by the numbers, a tale of revenge. Gary Oldman is fantastic as the psychotic antagonist, with a lovely identity twist early on. It was the kind of performance that really leaves an impression.

The action sequences are great, the pay off is rewarding, and there is a lot to like, but as I have all ready said, the subject matter and occasionally overtly surreal moments may be a little of a turn off. Stylish, emotional, but an acquired taste.

7/10