Black Swan (2010)

Ok, so this is definitely a movie that's actually worth all the Oscar buzz. The story is thrilling/disturbing/unsettling/entertaining and Natalie Portman gives an incredibly compelling performance.

'Black Swan' is about a ballet dancer (Portman) who wins the leading role in the production of "Swan Lake." However, Portman's character, Nina Sayers, is all about perfection. She spends hours and hours making sure every move is just right. But the director, played by Vincent Cassel, wants to make the performance edgier than ever before, and he really pushes Nina to perform both the angelic white swan but also be able to let go of her rigid perfection with the evil black swan. The immense pressure starts to get to Nina, and with that comes feelings of paranoia, doubt and fear.

Portman is one of the few actresses I truly enjoy watching on film. She has played so many different roles in her career, many of them being strong-willed characters, but here she is playing a fragile and meek dancer... and I instantly believed it. She can easily convey so many complex emotions with grace and ease. Not to mention the strange metamorphosis she undergoes during this particular film. It's incredible to watch.

Mila Kunis plays Lily, another dancer in the ballet who exudes sex appeal and charm. It becomes clear to Nina that Lily is able to portray the black swan with much less effort. At one point, Nina fears Lily is trying to usurp the role of swan queen. The two leading ladies make for an interesting dichotomy on screen, and Kunis delivers an equally convincing role.

Both actresses began training for the roles six months prior to shooting in order to attain the proper body type and tone for a ballet dancer. They underwent daily exercise regimens and dance training (several hours a day) along with a strict diet of 1,200 calories a day. It was reported that Kunis actually got down to under 100 pounds. Although that all sounds pretty hardcore, I think it ultimately paid off and made the movie look that much more authentic.

Intense and haunting, this film takes the audience through a psychological nightmare that will leave their nerves shot and minds blown... and possibly needing a hug afterward.

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Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Drama
Synopsis: A ballet dancer wins the lead in "Swan Lake" and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan - Princess Odette - but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odette's evil sister, Odile, the Black Swan.

Rated: R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use
Running Time: 1 hr. 50 min.
In Theaters: Dec 3, 2010 Limited
Box Office:$95.9M

Distributor:Fox Searchlight
Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

Doom (2005)

Ok, so I rented this movie on a whim... I had low expectations, but I was curious to see what it was all about. I mean, it's got Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Karl Urban. Come on!

If you go into it like I did, you probably won't be too disappointed. It obviously wasn't a thought provoking blockbuster or an inspiring academy award winner, but I don't think it was trying to be. Just some old-fashioned shoot-em up fun!

To sum up, the film is about some space marines who are sent to investigate a research facility on another planet only to discover the facility has been overtaken by genetically modified monsters. Blah blah blah... back story about scientists with god complexes who experimented on human test subjects... blah blah.. must kill or be killed. They also threw in a cute brother and sister storyline to try and get the audience somewhat emotionally invested. The plot is seriously lacking, but I guess that's what happens when you make a movie based on a video game.

One thing I did enjoy is when the movie switches to a POV (point of view) shot that simulates the video game experience. You are seeing everything through the perspective of John Grimm (played by Urban), and as you view only his arms and gun as he takes aim on aliens lurking in corners and on ceilings, you get a sense that you are actually playing the first person shooter game. I'm not sure how true the actual story was to the original game, but the look and feel was an interesting homage to video gamers.

Overall, I must admit, I was entertained. It's a fun, mindless action-horror movie, and as long as you don't expect anything more, it will probably be your newest guilty pleasure.

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Genre: Action & Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Synopsis: When a Special Ops squadron answers a distress call from a science lab on the planet Olduvai, the investigation reveals that a series of mutant beings... When a Special Ops squadron answers a distress call from a science lab on the planet Olduvai, the investigation reveals that a series of mutant beings are systematically killing off the population there. 

Rated: R for strong violence/gore and language
Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min.
In Theaters: Oct 21, 2005 Wide
Box Office:$28.0M

Distributor:Universal Pictures
Directed By: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Written By: Wesley Strick, Dave Callaham