Black Swan

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

Aronofsky And Portman Go To Ballet For Black Swan

Everybody's favorite whispy mustached director Darren Aronofsky, and everybody's favorite Padwan queen Natalie Portman, are set to join forces for Black Swan, a very weird sounding movie.

"Swan" centers on a veteran ballerina (Portman) who finds herself locked in a competitive situation with a rival dancer, with the stakes and twists increasing as the dancers approach a big performance. But it's unclear whether the rival is a supernatural apparition or if the protagonist is simply having delusions.

Considering that we are dealing with two extremely competent people here, I guess this sounds somewhat interesting. As long as Haley Joel Osment isn't the other dancer I am willing to give it a shot. It will be extremely interesting to see where Aronofsky's career goes from here after the onslaught of acclaim that was thrown at him for The Wrestler. I've always enjoyed his films, but admittedly they are usually not for the mainstream. Let's hope to he sticks to what he knows best, and from the sound of Black Swan, he is doing just that. Of course the other side of the equation is the fact that he is currently developing a Robocop reboot. Which straddles the line between somewhat awesome, and somewhat nauseating.

Casting
Movies
Darren Aronofsky
Black Swan
Natalie Portman
THR article