I don't understand why people don't like this movie. I am not a huge fan of ballet but I found the movie mesmerizing and beautiful. Arronofsky did a wonderful job with this. One of my favorite movies ever (hence the username). But what do people not like about this movie?
shareits an okay movie. i dont hate it. its definitely one of Arronofsky's worst.
my problem with it is the symbolism is so obvious that the movie practically beats you over the head with it (which may be the point but it doesnt make the movie any more enjoyable). another problem is the movie comes off more as a comedy when much of looks as if its supposed to be taken seriously (though this could be the point and i even made a topic about this very issue on this board). also some of it is poorly paced but this is more of nitpick since most of it is paced well.
i loved everything else. the actors, the music, the direction, the editing, the costumes, the subject matter. its just the problems i mentioned above spoiled the film from being better. though even a bad Arronofsky film is better than most the dreck on the big screen these days, so take what you will from this.
Well to me,the film would have been a lot better without the trashy lesbian scene between Natalie and Mia. That was just pointless and so ridiculous to say the least.
shareI really liked the film. I've only seen it twice (once in the autumn last year and again a few days ago). I think it is a really good film. I don't watch a lot of these type of films but I do like Swan Lake (I saw the ballett in the Opera when I was little) Love the music. I think the story is very interesting and ver "grown up" and I like that. I do like disturbing and absurd things and this film is great, especially because you know most of the "weird stuff" is just fake or that you have to decide for yourself, because then you can sort of have your own view of how the movie actually is! I think it's one of my absolute favourite films ever and a must-see for everyone at least once before you die.
I believe 8/10
"Things we lose have a way of comming back to us in the end" - Luna
To me is a masterpiece. Black Swan was made for a mere $13 million and was a significant box office success, grossing $329 million worldwide (Among the blu-ray releases, the movie did very well too). I think they liked it.
you don't worry. it is a very very very nice film.
shareAfter many years your question was the one to finally get me to sign onto IMDB. So, you love the film and can not understand why others do not. We've all been in that position, but rest assured, you're in the majority, the film got plenty of industry praise including the Oscar gongs, of course. I have talked amongst friends and colleagues about this film more than most for the same reason as yours: many loved it, many hated it. It's a peculiar work of art that can polarise so effectively. I haven't checked all imdb comments to get a sense of the balance, but it does seem this is a film you love or hate, there is little of the in-between.
Personally, I (and my wife) HATED it. I would say it comes down to a few things: 1) whether or not you can dig Natalie Portman's character. I hated her character, I thought she was a royal pain-in-the-arse, with no depth, variety and offered no reason to be interested in her or her predicament. Therefore, the film was never going to appeal, and the whole premise, which was somewhat fantastical in nature, means you're not going to go with it if you can't identify with the lead. It's pretty much that simple.
Having said that, I started to hate it before Portman got a chance to deliver any acting. The lead bad dude (sorry, long time since I've seen it) comes in and says "We're going to do Swan Lake, but not like ever before" (or something). It was a dreadful cliche, and his pan-European accent was utterly bizarre. In other words, it was caricature, not acting. We were laughing at this stage at the cheesy melodrama, hoping to Christ it was going to get better.
And now, to Portman. The woman can act. Apparently. But I have not seen it. Perhaps that's my fault having only see the execrable Star Wars trilogy, and this. I don't blame her for SW at all. Lucas pulled off a minor miracle by making seasoned actors like McGregor and Neeson look high school thespians. Portman didn't stand a chance. And lets just forget Mr Vader dude. My dog is more convincing. Nonetheless, I felt Portman had two versions of a frown for her emotional range in Black Swan. Again, being nice, maybe this was the director/script's fault. How she won best actress, however, will remain one of life's many great mysteries to this filmgoer.
Films are like jokes, as you get older you just get to feeling you've heard them all. To my jaundiced eye, I had seen Black Swan many times before, done much, much better.
So, enjoy it, love it, but hopefully this might give you some insight into the contrary POV. it's the essence of art, is it not?
^
share"1) whether or not you can dig Natalie Portman's character. I hated her character, I thought she was a royal pain-in-the-arse, with no depth, variety and offered no reason to be interested in her or her predicament. Therefore, the film was never going to appeal, and the whole premise, which was somewhat fantastical in nature, means you're not going to go with it if you can't identify with the lead. It's pretty much that simple. "
To this point I disagree.
I hated her character as well. She was an unfriendly, anal, perfectionist sociopath. What's to like about her? I cannot empathize with her character at all as I'm pretty much the complete opposite. I don't know many people like her, and if I did meet someone like her, I would not be their friend.
This does not mean that I did not find her character interesting.
What makes someone a sociopath? What was her past like to turn her into the person she was in the film, and how did that unravel as she tried to take on this role that required the exact opposite of her meticulously-calculated perfectionist self?
THIS interested me a lot. The bits with her mother were particularly engaging because of the ambiguity there. We can only make our own interpretations as to what kind of relationship she had with her mother. (imo it was borderline creepy...)
I don't buy the argument that if you cannot empathize with the protagonist that you will not be interested in the film.
I hated her character as well. She was an unfriendly, anal, perfectionist sociopath. What's to like about her? I cannot empathize with her character at all as I'm pretty much the complete opposite. I don't know many people like her, and if I did meet someone like her, I would not be their friend.
A sociopath? What? Do you even know what a sociopath is? Sociopaths only care about impressing others to the extent it will help them. Nina worked to impress others to the extent it destroyed her. No sociopath would do that.
Unfriendly? Not really. She wasn't easy to talk to but she tried to be nice with most people, she just wasn't very good at socializing. With Lily it really was a combination of bad communication and seeing Lily as a threat to her career that made that relationship go sour. Yeah she treated her mother badly, but then her mother didn't exactly do the best job raising her either.
and you think anyone who sympathizes with her has something wrong with them. Just as well. I don't tend to befriend myopic, judgmental pricks who somehow thinks a mentally unstable and sheltered person is somehow so heinous that anyone who has empathy for her must be deranged. Never mind characters like Travis Bickle, Norman Bates, Darth Vader and a host of other cinematic characters who are generally empathized with by many movie goers and who have done FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR worse then Nina's even imagined.
"However cleverly you sneak up on a mirror, it's reflection always looks you straight in the eye"
blackswanfan:
"One of my favorite movies ever (hence the username)."
I love that username! Yes, I'm one of the biggest fansd,too, listneing to Swan Lake now, and watched it last night on my DVD, asaw it in the theatres...perhaps it/';s quite a bit confusing..maybe emotionally disturbing, but I enjoy it..!