Black Swan is perfect

Director Darren Aronofsky exploration into the world of ballet has more going on than rival dancers vying for the lead role in Swan Lake. This psychological thriller introduces us to Nina (Natalie Portman), a ballerina given the opportunity to play the dual role of the Swan Queen. She is ideal for the White Swan, but struggles with the sensuality and emotion needed to become the Black Swan. She is confronted with the possibility of losing the role to Lily (Mila Kunis), an uninhibited ballerina that fits nicely in the darker role. Nina’s is willing to do anything to become the principal dancer, but her pursuit for perfection begins to take its toll.

Aronofsky’s ability to tell stories about single-minded characters’ is unmatched. Their desires and obsessions lead to moments of ecstasy, but their passions lead to their demise. Nina is no different and Portman’s portrayal in the Black Swan is perfect. She was deserving of her Best Actress Academy Award.

WORD COUNT: 160

Adam’s Grade: A-

Chuck’s Grade: A+

Silent Beats (short film) taps into something great

In 2001, director Jon Chu’s taps into something great with a five-minute short film that takes on racism and people’s stereotypical assumptions about one another.  Silent Beats is a low-budget (400 dollars) black and white student film that mostly takes place in an Asian owned convenience store. The main character is a young African-American boy that enters the store to pick up a couple of things. The Asian store owner and an elderly Caucasian women profile him while the young man, also has his own set of preconceived notions about these two adult characters. The subtext is powerful and throughout the film the sound of a tap dancer is heard. This auditory effect is the backbone of the film and the creative force that lifts the performances to another level. Silent Beats is only the prelude to Chu’s affinity for dance oriented projects that I have come to appreciate for his ability to capture the passion of contemporary dance on film.

WORD COUNT: 159

Chuck’s Grade: A-

Adam’s Grade: A-