Tag Archives: Oscars

And “Black Swan” Marks My Oscar Finale

. . . and done.

I finally watched BLACK SWAN (2010) and was blown away. A few weeks ago I had a discussion with another theater/ballet fan about whether or not we liked the fact that an actress and not a professional ballerina was casted as Nina. I conclude, now being the one in that discussion who has actually seen the Oscar Nominated film, that Natalie Portman was the perfect choice. Put in charge of casting, I would have chosen her out of all my favorite actress. A few come to mind who could have been the part well, but damn Portman.

The film has also been described to me as a FIGHT CLUB (1999) for girls. I see the resemblance, but this was so much better. Perhaps I’m bias because I loved the dancing, but I don’t think so. Nina begins the film a little girl trapped in a woman’s body, striving to make her dreams of being a prima ballerina a reality. She concludes the film a martyr for art, for perfection. Oh, it was so good.

And this film was creepy. I covered by face several times in disbelief and then would re-situate in my chair when a twist turned the table for the fifth of sixth time.

This week I undertake the task of voting for the Oscars. I don’t think the Academy will take my thoughts into consideration, which is wise since I base my vote 85% on bias. For example, Colin Firth is going to win in my ballot because played the best Mr. Darcy in the BBc version of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1995). I’ve been in love ever since. He was pretty great in THE KING’S SPEECH (2010), not to take away from that performance. So I’m going to print off a ballot and contemplate my selections this week. I advise readers to do the same.

Winter to the Bone

As if my late night watch football and Glee did not put a slosh on my Monday morning, Ole Mother Nature had to dump a pathetic pile of mix winter weather on my poor student schedule.

This morning it rained. This afternoon it snowed. This evening it iced.

Coming out of class at 4:20 I almost slid down Western’s highest and most dramatic hill like it was a Slip and Slide. Not to mention my feet were soaked through. Once I finally got home I soaked  in hot water for half an hour, and now I feel much better. (The sweat pants and coffee help as well.)

Though today has been a struggle to get through, I have made it a productive day, which means I have the luxury to enjoy the winter weather from the warmth of my apartment without homework. My coffee, sweatpants and I are going to sit up in bed and watch WINTER’S BONE. After it, I only have BLACK SWAN left to watch from the Oscar’s Best Picture Nominations. Seriously, this is the best I’ve ever done on my Oscar watching!

WINTER’S BONE has been nominated for 4 Oscars and comes to me with the cherished recommendation of Molly McCaffrey. I don’t think the movie has a lot to do with snow and cold, but given my day I figured it was at least an appropriate title.

Keep warm!

A Note on Valentines

I watched Blue Valentine (2010) last night with Heather. It was kind of depressing. There are these flashbacks of this cute, goofy relationship and then it ends in a miserable break up. Blue is an appropriate tag for this Valentine movie.

On the subject of Valentine, may I request that Mr. John Keats write me a love note this year? I watched Bright Star (2009) the other night and re-watched the scenes where Ben Whishaw read poetry. Makes me almost feel like a girl.

In my Brit Lit class, we’re reading the Romantics. Keats is on the list as is Robert Burns. Ever hear of the poem, “Comin’ Through the Rye”? If you’ve read JD Salinger’s CATCHER IN THE RYE you should know what I’m talking about. Anyway, to my dismay, yesterday I learned that the poem accounts Burns chasing his mistresses through the rye field for a little adult fun. “Catch a body. . .” well, it gets explicit.

Men. Disgusting. Disappointing. Writing poetry for another girl.

I look for a little John Wayne in ever beau I entertain. Not a rancher or a gun slinging cowboy, but a tough, American man that embodies George Washington McClintock words —“You have to be a man before you can be a gentleman.” I could annotate the meaning, but I’ll just let who ever cares what it might mean, figure it out for themselves.