Darren Aronofsky

Check Out A Reel About The Visual Effects In Black Swan

We posted a similar video to this a while back featuring some of the effects done on the HBO show Boardwalk Empire, but this here is for an Oscar contender, although not for effects, simply for being a really good (albeit ridiculously over the top) film. It's easy to forget how much visual effects work is done on what seems like the most straightforward character driven films, but as this reel from Look Effects about the work they did for Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan shows, even the indies get their fair share of computer magic.

And yes, the cunnilingus scene needed some effects.   [via ropes of silicon]

Movies
Visual Effects
Natalie Portman
Darren Aronofsky
Black Swan

68th Golden Globe Nominations Are Here, Hilarious

It's that time of year when the worst of all the film awards shows announces their nominees. Yes I'm talking about the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and their usually mostly ridiculous nominations for the Golden Globes Awards. Don't get me wrong they do a lot of stuff right, but they also have the dumb Comedy Or Musical awards that are reserved for popularity contests instead of quality films.

This year's big winners in quantity are The King's Speech with seven nominations, while The Fighter  and The Social Network each received six and thank god they didn't give Timberlake a nod as these are the douchenozzles most likely to open that Pandora's box. Johnny Depp is cool and all, for serious, but Alice In Wonderland and The Tourist were terrible at best. As for the big nominations in the drama field they seem to be pretty right on, although I assume True Grit should be on the list, I just can't confirm that at this time. What are your thoughts on this year's nominees?

The television nominations are available at the HFPA site if you are interested but they are usually a season behind so it feels like you're looking at three years ago's nominations. I'm looking at you Temple Grandin and You Don't Know Jack. On the plus side Katey Sagal got a way overdue nomination for her stellar work on Sons Of Anarchy, unfortunately it's a Golden Globe.

BEST PICTURE: DRAMA
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The King’s Speech
The Social Network

BEST PICTURE: COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alice in Wonderland
Burlesque
The Kids Are Alright
Red
The Tourist

BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronosfsky, Black Swan
David Fincher, The Social Network
Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
Christopher Nolan, Inception
David O. Russell, The Fighter

BEST ACTOR: DRAMA
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours
Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine
Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter

BEST ACTRESS: DRAMA
Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

BEST ACTRESS: COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Anette Bening, The Kids Are Alright
Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs
Angelina Jolie, The Tourist
Julianne Moore, The Kids Are Alright
Emma Stone, Easy A

News
Movies
Golden Globes
Awards Show
Inception
Black Swan
The Social Network
The Fighter
The King's Speech
Natalie Portman
Christian Bale
Mark Wahlberg
James Franco
Geoffrey Rush
Colin Firth
David Fincher
Darren Aronofsky
David O. Russell

Black Swan

For a movie that has a lot of ballerina dancing it looks pretty darn creepy, in the best way possible. The cast and director make it an automatic for me, and the fact that it looks extremely intense certainly doesn't hurt it any. What are your thoughts on Black Swan?

Synopsis: 
BLACK SWAN follows the story of Nina (Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter’s professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.
Black Swan
Natalie Portman
Mila Kunis
Vincent Cassel
Winona Ryder
Darren Aronofsky
Movies
Trailer

Darren Aronofsky To Direct Rachel Weisz In Jackie Kennedy Biopic

Looks like biopics are the new remakes as it certainly feels like I've been reporting on them quite a bit.  Pretty soon we're going to have a biopic of a celebrity played by that same celebrity, featuring a soundtrack with the celebrity actually singing, produced by T Bone Burnett of course.  Either way I'm guessing that this new Jackie Kennedy biopic will not have much singing as it is said to focus exclusively on the day's after the JFK assassination up until his burial.  Don't worry, no one is trying to capitalize on tragedy here.

The film is based on a spec script by Noah Oppenheim and will reportedly follow Kennedy during the four days between her husband infamous assassination and his burial, providing a new perspective to the story in showing the beloved Kennedy "at both her most vulnerable and her most graceful."

Titled "Jackie," the project was previously linked to Steven Spielberg and HBO however Aronofsky and Scott Franklin are now putting it together through their Protozoa Pictures shingle with CAA currently shopping it around major studios. The film will potentially be Aronofsky's first collaboration with Weisz since 2006's "The Fountain" and will be an interesting turn for the director, marking his first film about on a real life figure.   [via the playlist]

Aside from Hollywood regurgitating the same formulas over and over (remakes, biopics, romantic comedies, oh my) they can't spend any time coming up with an actual title either.  Jackie, Namath, Hoover, come on now.  Aronofsky is one of the best out there, Weisz is always outstanding, and the subject matter obviously will be of interest to movie goers, especially those that were alive during those tragic times.  Considering what the director's last character piece did for Mickey Rourke, and the respect many have for Jackie Kennedy, I wouldn't be shocked to see Aronofsky's real life fiance, the previously mentioned Weisz, take home a Best Actress Oscar.

Casting
Movies
Biopic
Jackie Kennedy
Jackie
Rachel Weisz
Darren Aronofsky