The Black Swan

Parent Cafe
21

<p>Training hard for a year on top of some childhood lessons does not a professional dancer make. I doubt that even in the simpler steps Portman is believable as a dancer chosen for the major roles in Swan Lake! Even standing still, the difference is obvious, for example:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.totalposter.com/tp-images/products/large/hg1008.jpg[/url]”>http://www.totalposter.com/tp-images/products/large/hg1008.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

22

<p>On the subject of expectations for dancers’ bodies, see this:</p>

<p>[msnbc.com</a> Video Player](<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/40639432#40639432]msnbc.com”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/40639432#40639432)</p>

<p>Unbelievable!</p>

23

<p>There was an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about local ballet dancers who were in “The Black Swan.” A number of them traveled up to Purchase, NY, where the filming was done.</p>

<p>One of the female dancers who was interviewed said Portman did quite well, although it was obvious to them that she was nothing like a professional dancer.</p>

<p>Probably to the vast majority of audience members Portman is believable, and that is all the movie would have been striving for.</p>

<p>This ballerina also said she and Portman share a passion for Nutella. I doubt either of them eats very much of it, though! :)</p>

24

<p>Is Portman actually good? In the movies I’ve seen her in, she was just awful. I’m not sure it was her fault in the Star Wars movies, given the awful lines she was given to say (“Hold me like you held me by the lakeside at Naboo!”)–but she was just terrible in “Goya’s Ghosts,” one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen.</p>

25

<p>Hunt, did you have the line memorized? LOL! If so, it obviously made an impression. I like her and will try to go see it!</p>

26

<p>Yes, Hunt, I think she is.</p>

27

<p>I’ve only seen Portman in Star Wars and V for Vendetta. I wasn’t overly thrilled by either. She seems a bit stiff in both.</p>

28

<p>I’m very anxious to see this movie. Natalie Portman is a fantastic actress. Regarding what others are saying about her previous movies, I feel as if, like Heath Ledger in a way with “The Dark Knight”, Natalie really plunged into this role and the result was amazing. </p>

<p>It’s nominated for 12 Critics’ Choice Awards by the way!</p>

29

<p>Most of the professional dancers in the movie are from the Pennsylvania Ballet located in Philadelphia. Portman apparently did a lot of her own dancing (although pro doubles were also obviously used) and in interviews with some of the leading pros, the consensus was that while it was obvious to them that Portman was not a pro level dancer, she none-the -less was viewed as very competent and earned their respect for her professionalism in meeting the demands of the role.</p>

30

<p>I read in the paper (and I forget which one now) that the choreographer said Portman did 90% of her character’s dancing.</p>

31

<p>The trailer has been edited to look scarier than what the film is. Natalie did a good job, and can see why she is receiving Oscar buzz.
What kills the movie for me is part of the plot (<em>possible spoiler alert</em>) Part of the plot has to many similarities to the movie Showgirls, which cheapens Black Swan. I totally loved the whole white to black development in Natalie’s character transformation, and that’s really what makes the film. I don’t think it’s best picture worthy, but it’s a good film about a “character”.
I would have rather seen FoxSearchlight push Never Let Me Go like they did Black Swan. Even though Never Let Me Go had some flaws, especially in comparison to the Novel, i think so much of the “human” story in it blows Black Swan out of the water.</p>

32

<p>I would have loved to have seen Never Let me Go…it came and went from our local theatre so fast that I didn’t have time to see it and it is not available on DVD yet.</p>

33

<p>I really want to see Never Let Me Go as well. That book was one of the most hauntingly powerful reads of my life, the movie has an awesome cast.</p>