Reviews of "Black Swan" and "The Fighter"

As promised here is my review of Black Swan along with a bonus review of The Fighter.

Black Swan

Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

Run Time: 108 min.

Rated: R

Natalie Portman gives a tour de force performance as Nina Sayers in Darren Aronofsky's latest directorial effort, Black Swan. If you liked Aronofsky's own Requiem for a Dream this just may be the film for you. The movie is loaded with "what's-real-what's-imagination" sequences that may even give Inception a run for it's money.

Keep a close eye on the Oscar-worthy set and costume design full of black and white which represent Nina's darker and innocent sides. Throughout the movie watch how the colors transform to help viewers decipher the current mood. Also at play are the colors pink and green which represent Nina's childhood and envy/ambition. The colors speak much louder than the dialogue in this film, and steer Black Swan all the way into the credits.

Mila Kunis (That 70's Show) gives her best on-screen performance yet as Lily, a fellow ballerina in the Swan Lake ensemble. Kunis plays the understudy for the Swan Queen, the part Portman stars as. Nina's obsession for perfection and her up-tight attitude begins to raise doubt amongst her director (Vincent Cassel) that she can play the Black Swan (the more free-spirited counterpart of the White Swan).

Black Swan is Oscar-bait for sure, and expect nominations for Portman, Aronofsky, Kunis, and writing nods as well. Costuming, Production Design, and Cinematography are also looking bright for Black Swan. Not Aronofsky's best, but damn good. (3.5 out of 4 stars)

The Fighter

Directed By: David O. Russell

Run Time: 114 min.

Rated: R

The Fighter feels like Good Will Hunting (minus the smart people and unnecessary Red Sox references) meets Rocky (minus the drawn out training sequences and Sylvestor Stallone's dumb accent). The best part? The amazing ensemble of Mark Wahlberg (Mickey Ward), Christian Bale (Dicky Ecklund), Amy Adams (Charlene Fleming), and Melissa Leo (Alice Ward). Big nominations so far for all of the cast except Wahlberg who is good but nothing special. Wahlberg's co-stars, however, light up the screen led by Christian Bale (The Dark Knight) who is noticeably forty pounds skinnier.

The Fighter helmed by David O. Russell (I Heart Huckabees) is much faster-paced than most boxing flicks and will have you jumping out of your seats by the end of the film. Melissa Leo is perfectly cast as the bitchy mom, as is Amy Adams is Wahlberg's love interest. Christian Bale shows he is a force to be reckoned with whether or not he is a jerk.

Big Oscar potential for The Fighter with likely wins for Bale and Leo. A two hour film that seems like it's over all too fast, The Fighter is a triumphant picture worth seeing in theaters. (3.5 out of 4 stars)