Black Swan Review Thread (Spoilers)

[GreenScar]

(Spoiler warning: Since this article is based on a script review, there are spoilers all over. You’re warned.)

There’s a review of Mark Heyman’s script for Black Swan, soon to be a Darren Aronofsky film starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, over at ScriptShadow. There’s a lot of detail there and some good analysis, but the piece opens with a huge bit of salesmanship that will likely get at least half our readers interested in the film really, really fast:

[Show spoiler]“in this movie, Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis have sex…And not just nice sweet innocent sex either. We’re talking ecstasy-induced hungry aggressive angry sex.”

Does that make all you puerile bastards more interested in a movie about ballerinas? Yeah, I thought so.

I don’t always agree with the take of Carson at ScriptShadow, but I at least get where he’s coming from. And in this case, I’m intrigued by the premise and description. Basically, Black Swan sounds like it could be a Don’t Look Now sort of piece — ‘quiet slow burn’ sounds really appropriate, and I’d love to see Aronofsky make that work on screen. He can nail things this script suggests: soft tension, an increasing lack of trust in your own perception, a shaken sense of identity.

We’ve previously run this description: Portman is a veteran ballerina who finds herself locked in to a competitive showdown with a rival dancer, with the stakes and twists increasing as the dancers approach a big performance. Portman’s character is not sure whether her rival is a supernatural apparition or if she is having delusions.


Based on this review, that sounds more or less right. Portman’s character, Nina, is angling for the lead role in Swan Lake, where she’d have to play two halves of one being, the ‘White’ and the ‘Black’. Nina’s overtly sweet nature makes the White a snap, but her director has doubts about her ability with the dark side, and Nina struggles to find the right darkness. Then, as ScriptShadow summarizes:

[Show spoiler] Nina and Lily begin to revolve around each other, and in her mind Nina’s identity begins to blur with Lily’s.

One thing ScriptShadow notes is that the script really takes its time. The thing is 130 pages long, and a good chunk of that is evidently dedicated to creating moments and observing very small action. On the page that probably seems indulgent, but that’s the sort of thing I can see Aronofsky knowing how to work. He’s no slouch when it comes to timing and understanding how a subtle moment can change the tone of a scene. Oh, right, and then there’s

[Show spoiler] the sex.

You’re probably already thinking Requiem For A Dream, and who am I to stop you?

The film was put into turnaround by Universal two years ago before Portman’s interest and The Wrestler’s success helped revive it, and is currently a total independent production. Fox Searchlight may come on board to distribute. Filming will hopefully begin in the fall in New York City.

[Blu Titan]

I'll be honest, I hated the way Aronofsky filmed The Wrestler. I cannot stand watching a film when a camera follows the actors during the entire filming. I hope to avoid a repeat.

[tbizzle]

After I read that first spoiler tag, I think I just fell in love with this new movie.

I love Aronofsky even more now

[Al_The_Strange]

Ooh, sounds like "Bound" almost. And these pictures are great.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

I'll be honest, I hated the way Aronofsky filmed The Wrestler. I cannot stand watching a film when a camera follows the actors during the entire filming. I hope to avoid a repeat.

I agree; I hope he goes back to the styles and cameramanships he used in "Requiem for a Dream" or "The Fountain." The documentary style is novel, especially for "The Wrestler," but it can get dull too.

[deckardp]

Sounds really good and not just because of the first spoiler. I think the way the Wrestler was shot was perfect for the kind of movie that it was. Didn't mind it at all.

[anomynous]

Darren Aronofsky? Sold


That first spoiler? SOLD

[cflames89]

Originally Posted by anomynous

Darren Aronofsky? Sold


That first spoiler? SOLD

I approve of this message.

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by deckardp

Sounds really good and not just because of the first spoiler. I think the way the Wrestler was shot was perfect for the kind of movie that it was. Didn't mind it at all.

Yeah, that style totally fit the Wrestler and i doubt he's gonna film a movie about ballerinas guerrilla style.

[nolook]

Originally Posted by anomynous

Darren Aronofsky? Sold


That first spoiler? SOLD

+1

[Gamma_Winstead]

Natalie Potman and Mila Kunis together on screen alone sold me... and what they will do... Sold me even more.

[Lepidopterous]

I love what Aronofsky can do with character studies. It is why he is one of the most talented filmmakers in the business. Given that, this movie has the potential to be nothing short of incredible.

[PH3AR]

Originally Posted by gamma626

Natalie Potman and Mila Kunis together on screen alone sold me... and what they will do... Sold me even more.

I couldnt agree with you more gamma!

[GreenScar]

Mila Kunis Talks Aronosfky’s Black Swan

Mila Kunis is out promoting her work in the new Mike Judge film Extract, and Collider got her to talk a bit about Black Swan, the Darren Aronofsky film in which she’ll co-star with Natalie Portman. Kunis wouldn’t reveal too much, as she claims the project is under total lock and key, but there are a few choice statements after the jump.

“Yes, it is a go,” Kunis tells the site. “I’m starting production in November and for the past, we started a month ago with the ballet training and I have two more months of training before choreography begins and we start actual production in New York City.” Kunis has been made aware of the online chatter about the film that kicked in last week when a script review surfaced. But she won’t confirm any of the details of that review. “The script is so under lock and key that I can’t imagine anyone really truly ever getting a hold of it…I can’t really deny or confirm because I’m not aloud to talk about the script but all I’m going to say is that I can’t imagine anyone getting their hands on this project. Does that make sense?”

But there is evidently a new draft that could make that script review moot. “I think that Darren Aronofsky who’s directing it is a very…he just did the last rewrite on it and he’s very private about this one rewrite. So I don’t know how anyone could’ve ever gotten it. I have a copy but mine is so watermarked that you would know it came from me. Natalie has a copy and I’m guessing that there are, let’s say, two more out there.” The draft that was reviewed wasn’t Aronofsky’s; it was the previous draft, so at this point anything could have changed.

Kunis is training as a dancer right now, and the film goes before cameras for three months starting in November.

[Lepidopterous]

New striking photos released:


More photos:

[Show spoiler]

[tbizzle]

Can't wait for this.

[Q?]

Portman
Kunis
Aronofsky uhm...

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by Q!

Portman
Kunis
Arronofsky uhm...

Seriously!

A while back when I read Portman and Aronofsky, I was sold. Then I read what Portman and Kunis do together in this film....

[Q?]

Originally Posted by tbizzle

Seriously!

A while back when I read Portman and Aronofsky, I was sold. Then I read what Portman and Kunis do together in this film....

haha totally.

Which reminds me I need to get Requiem For A Dream and The Wrestler.

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by Q!

haha totally.

Which reminds me I need to get Requiem For A Dream and The Wrestler.

I have Requiem but I need to get The Wrestler. Saw it a few weeks ago and loved it. I need to watch the Fountain again soon!