Darren Aronofsky supports his actress!

Does everyone know what's happening with whole Black Swan controversy?  Sarah Lane, a dance double for Natalie Portman in the Black Swan, recently came out with comments suggesting that Portman only did 5% of the actual dancing in the film and that Lane was never properly credited and instead told to hide in the back during Oscar season.

Since then Portman's fiancee, Benjamin Millipied (and choreographer on the film), fellow actress Mila Kunis and the director Darren Aronofsky have all spoken up in defense of Portman and her commitment and determination to the role.  In fact, Aronofsky released this statement "doing the math" and standing by his actress.

“Here is the reality. I had my editor count shots. There are 139 dance shots in the film. 111 are Natalie Portman untouched. 28 are her dance double Sarah Lane. If you do the math that’s 80% Natalie Portman. What about duration? The shots that feature the double are wide shots and rarely play for longer than one second. There are two complicated longer dance sequences that we used face replacement. Even so, if we were judging by time over 90% would be Natalie Portman.

And to be clear Natalie did dance on pointe in pointe shoes. If you look at the final shot of the opening prologue, which lasts 85 seconds, and was danced completely by Natalie, she exits the scene on pointe. That is completely her without any digital magic. I am responding to this to put this to rest and to defend my actor. Natalie sweated long and hard to deliver a great physical and emotional performance. And I don’t want anyone to think that’s not her they are watching. It is.”

Sarah Lane, who was probably trying to get recognition for her role in the movie has seen it all blow in her face.  She was trying to make it look like Natalie lied for the role while Natalie hasn't denied that a double was used in the movie for the hardcore dancing.  But at the end of the day, it's the acting that resonates through.  Yes, it is a dance film but it's not only about that.  Black Swan is highly performance oriented film, an acting piece that revolves mainly around one character, Nina played by Portman.  As Roger Ebert of the Sun Times, rightly pointed out:

Let us not forget Natalie Portman did ALL of her own acting in "Black Swan," and that's why she deserved her Oscar.less than a minute ago via SocialOomphRoger Ebert
ebertchicago

That is all that needs to be said on the matter.  Let the acting speak for itself!!

The 26th Independent Spirit Awards announced!

I can't believe it.  It seemed like yesterday that I was excited about the start of awards season and here we are at the very end.  Today is the turn of the anti-Oscars, The Independent Spirit Awards which honors the best of independent and small films that normally don't get noticed by Oscars.  There are few names that you will find on the Oscar ballot too.  In recent years, there are many names that are beginning to overlap.  Now, onto the winners!

(Pics: Thanks to Just Jared/Indiewire)

BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer)
Black Swan

BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
Get Low

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)
Daddy Longlegs

BEST SCREENPLAY
Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Lena Dunham, Tiny Furniture

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Natalie Portman, Black Swan

BEST MALE LEAD
James Franco, 127 Hours

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Dale Dickey, Winter’s Bone

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Matthew Libatique, Black Swan

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director)
Exit Through The Gift Shop

BEST FOREIGN FILM (Award given to the director)
The King’s Speech

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
(Given to one film’s director, casting director, and its ensemble cast)
Please Give
Director: Nicole Holofcener
Casting Director: Jeanne McCarthy
Ensemble Cast: Ann Guilbert, Rebecca Hall, Catherine Keener, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Lois Smith, Sara Steele

PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD
Anish Savjani, Meek’s Cutoff

SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
Mike Ott, Littlerock

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD
Jeff Malmberg, Marwencol
 

Golden Globes 2011 nominations

There are award winners and nominations pouring out of every corner.  Critics are releasing their best of lists from all across America and I promise I'll try to cover as many of them as I can.  But one of the biggest  awards nights of the season for movies and television, the grand party of them all is the Golden Globes and they just announced their nominations for 2011.   Let's have a look at the movie nominations.

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Black Swan

The Fighter

Inception

The King's Speech

The Social Network

My Take: All worthy nominees here.  I'm a bit surprised that the critically loved Winter's Bone didn't make it but seeing as it's an independent film, the big awards sometimes don't always acknowledge them.

Best Motion Picture -Comedy/Musical

Alice in Wonderland

Burlesque

The Kids Are All Right

Red

The Tourist

My Take: What in the world is Burlesque doing on this list?  What are they thinking?  In my opinion, the race is between Alice in Wonderland and The Kids are All Right.  The rest should be just happy to be nominated.  

Best Director - Motion Picture

Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan

David Fincher, The Social Network

Tom Hooper, The King's Speech

Christopher Nolan, Inception

David O. Russell, The Fighter

My Take: Now this is a race for best director! Hurray for Nolan, Fincher and Aronofsky who are at their creative best in this year's films.  Who's missing? No Danny Boyle for 127 Hours, or Lisa Cholodenko for The Kids Are All Right or Debra Granik for Winter's Bone.  I would have hoped that after Kathryn Bigelow's win, we could see more female nominees.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network

Colin Firth, The King's Speech

James Franco, 127 Hours

Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine

Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter

My Take: Mark Wahlberg made it on to the list edging out Leonardo DiCaprio who had a double chance at making it with his performances in Shutter Island and Inception.  Shame, really!  Both Colin Firth and Jesse Eisenberg have been the top of most critic's lists so it will be interesting to see who gets the big price in January.  Ryan Gosling and James Franco could also be the dark horses if the Globes decide to go another way.  

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice

Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole

Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone

Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

My Take: The lone and sole nominee for Winter's Bone, Jennifer Lawrence's performance couldn't be ignored.  All of the women here are capable nominees but I feel the award already belongs to Natalie Portman.  Could she be one of the youngest Best Actress winners? 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical

Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland

Johnny Depp, The Tourist

Paul Giamatti, Barney's Version

Jake Gyllenhaal, Love & Other Drugs

Kevin Spacey, Casino Jack

My Take: I really don't know what to say in this category.  I'm glad the Golden Globes does divide it according to category but the nominations are usually so random for comedy/musical.  I'm happy for the Johnny Depp double nomination and hurray for Jake Gyllenhaal in Love & Other Drugs (I really want to see this movie!) but this is a wide open category, people.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical

Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right

Anne Hathaway, Love & Other Drugs

Angelina Jolie, The Tourist

Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right

Emma Stone, Easy A

My Take: Sorry to say, but Angelina Jolie is the odd woman out in this category.  I'm sure they could find another worthy performance this year.  I'm truly surprised that Julia Roberts didn't sneak in for Eat Pray Love.  Everyone loves Julia but not the Golden Globes this year, it seems.  I'm really happy to see Emma Stone recognized for Easy A.  Younger actors never usually get noticed and Stone's was really a breakthrough performance for the year.  But seriously, the competition is between Annette Bening and Julianne Moore for The Kids Are All Right with Bening having the edge here.  

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Christian Bale, The Fighter

Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Andrew Garfield, The Social Network

Jeremy Renner, The Town

Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech

My Take:  Christian Bale has been on almost every critic's list for Best Supporting Actor so it's no surprise to see his name here, he's the frontrunner.  Everyone else, be glad for the nomination and smile for the cameras.  Nice to see Michael Douglas recognized for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps; he also had another worthy performance in Solitary Man.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Amy Adams, The Fighter

Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech

Mila Kunis, Black Swan

Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

My Take:  Ditto here for Melissa Leo for The Fighter although she's got competition from Amy Adams but do not count out Helena Bonham Carter for The King's Speech.  Dark Horse of this category could be Jacki Weaver who just won the Australian Film Institute award for the same role.    

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy, 127 Hours

Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg, The Kids Are All Right

Christopher Nolan, Inception

David Seidler, The King's Speech

Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

My Take: As much I love and am in love with Inception and its deeply complicated screenplay, I know the screenplay award is Aaron Sorkin's to lose.  It's his year.  

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

Alexandre Desplat, The King's Speech

Danny Elfman, Alice in Wonderland

A.R. Rahman, 127 Hours

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network

Hans Zimmer, Inception

My Take: Out of all the films, I think the most impact through music shown would be Inception.  It was the soundtrack that everybody was talking about this summer.  However, I haven't hear the soundtrack for 127 Hours or The King's Speech so I can't comment on that.  But kudos to A.R. Rahman to making back on the list again.  Not a one-hit wonder for Slumdog Millionaire.  I would have liked to see How To Train Your Dragon and John Powell make an appearance here.  

Best Original Song - Motion Picture 

"Bound to You," Burlesque

"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me," Burlesque

"There's a Place for Us," The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

"Coming Home," Country Strong

"I See the Light," Tangled 

My Take: Again, I haven't heard any of these songs here but I've read positive reviews of "I See the Light" from Tangled so I'll go with that.  We'll take your word for it, Golden Globes.   

Best Animated Feature Film 

Despicable Me 

How to Train Your Dragon 

The Illusionist 

Tangled 

Toy Story 3

My Take: I haven't seen Tangled or The Illusionist yet as they haven't released here but I'm hoping to correct that before the big awards.  All worthy nominees here although I'm bummed not to see Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole here.  As usual, Pixar has the edge but I'm hoping to see an upset with How To Train Your Dragon.

Best Foreign Language Film 

Biutiful, Mexico/Spain 

The Concert, France

The Edge, Russia 

I Am Love, Italy

In a Better World, Denmark

My Take: This one is an eclectic bunch.  The Concert from France made the list but I was expecting to see another French film, Of Gods and Men here.  No mention of the critically-acclaimed Mother from Korea or the big winner from Cannes, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives from Thailand.  Surprising!

Around the world in Posters!

With every new trailer, clip or poster they release, I want to see this film more and more.  

More posters of Blue Valentine, Little Fockers, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The Zookeeper, Paul and more after the cut.

Poster Artwork in Focus: Black Swan

These posters from Black Swan deserve their own post simply because they're stunning and speak a lot about what kind of movie we can expect.  Psychological thriller, indeed.  Have a look!  Which one is your favorite?

There are a lot of familiar faces out with new movies as the movie festival season is on with full swing with Venice and Telluride already on. Let's familiarize ourselves with the big ones, shall we?

First off the list is Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel.




Intense!!! Portman plays a ballerina who suddenly finds a new rival for the production Swan Lake and descends into the darkness and paranoia as she struggles to maintain her position. Darren Aronofsky can really explore the dark side as he did in Requiem for a Dream and this movie has been eagerly awaited since last year. I would imagine Portman would find herself on many Best Actress lists come January. I'm curious to see Mila Kunis' performance in this. I always kinda associated her with the popular comedies (That 70s Show, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and I was surprised when she was cast in this role.

Also from Fox Searchlight is Danny Boyle's next film after winning the Oscar for direction in Slumdog Millionaire. Very interesting choice for Boyle. 127 Hours is the true story of Aron Ralston a mountain climber who has to resort to some extreme measures to get himself out a tricky situation.



James Franco is Ralston and I don't doubt for a minute this movie is going to be tame. The trailer is fast-paced (similar to Slumdog Millionaire) and showcases gorgeous scenery. Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn also star in this but this movie is going to be all Franco. Can't wait for this.

Interesting fact: Boyle used two cinematographers for this film, Anthony Dod Mantle who also won for Slumdog and Enrique Chediak. Most of the main behind-the-scenes talent from Slumdog Millionaire all reunite for 127 Hours.

Fox Searchlight is on a roll! Never Let Me Go, based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, is Oscar bait already. It stars three young British talents in Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Spiderman himself, Andrew Garfield.



This trailer has a lovely sadness to it and I'm not going to include the plot summary because I fear it may give away some key points in the film.

From Focus Features comes Sofia Coppola's Somewhere about an actor who takes a good look at his life when his young daughter comes to live with him for a bit.



The movies stars Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning, younger sister of Dakota. I have admired Sofia Coppola for not sticking to the Hollywood stereotype as most star kids do. She always pick very different scripts for her films. Lost in Translation remains in most people's minds as the very perfect of films and I hope she returns to that form again.

Well, that's it for now. This post was a bit drama heavy and I hope to lighten it a bit next time as there some good movies releasing this September.