Blue Valentine

If you’re looking for a lighthearted romantic comedy to watch on Valentine’s Day, keep looking. This is not the film for you.

“Blue Valentine” is a film about love, real love. It tells the story of Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) and their evolution into a married life they did not predict. Even with its gloomy undertones, I really enjoyed this movie. It is a beautiful story that is darkly sentimental and defiantly raw. “Blue Valentine” is not a Hollywood love story wrapped in a neat box with a shiny red bow. It’s not a fairytale. It leaves many questions unanswered and refuses to clearly identify right versus wrong. In actuality the title of this film could not have been more appropriate; this is a sad love story.

The movie begins with snapshots of the lives of Dean, Cindy, and their adorable daughter Frankie (Faith Wladyka). It starts in present day and slowly begins to reveal how Dean and Cindy met and fell in love. Through a series of flashbacks, moviegoers are charmed by Cindy and Dean and won over by the challenges they overcome together. The movie culminates in a seedy themed motel underneath the blue lighting of the “future room”. I admit that the name of this hotel room foreshadows the end of the movie to a nauseatingly opaque degree, but the scene sets a perfect stage for the main characters to flex their acting muscle. Gosling and Williams show exceptional talent in portraying their characters as unique, complex and flawed. Gosling in particular showcases exceptional skill, bringing to life a character that successfully – and at times simultaneously – both melts and rips your heart out.

I applaud the vision of the film’s writers, Derek Cianfrance, Cami Delavignem and Joey Curtis, for putting forth such a compelling story. It takes guts to release a film that is not designed to draw large crowds or leave audiences feeling warm and fuzzy. This film will not appeal to the hopeless romantic; a fact which is its greatest strength (and besides, plenty of films this season will fill that void). “Blue Valentine” is a clever and illusive film that will score high marks with those interested in a story about what can happen after “happily ever after”.

4 out of 5 stars

Black Swan

Why are the psychotic so captivating? Some of my favorite films depict characters with either a mental illness or who have experienced an emotional unraveling. Is it the complexity of acting such roles or the difficulty in depicting the intimacy of psychosis on the silver screen? I may never quite put my finger on it but believe that such films should only be attempted by the uber-talented and ambitious. Thankfully, the cast and crew of “Black Swan” have more than a helping of both.

“Black Swan” is a dark, psychological thriller that depicts the undoing of Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a dedicated ballerina. I applaud Portman for her ability to pull off Sayers’ delicate veneer of virtue while violently foreshadowing the character’s destruction. The film appears to be part “Mommy Dearest” part “Single White female” with surprising moments that brought Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness to mind. “Black Swan” brings together a talented cast, each of whom successfully portray a duality of personas. The film’s depiction of life behind the curtain of a New York ballet company is far more entertaining – and sexy – than one would expect.

I rarely find such depth of character development in Hollywood movies. It is also rare to find a film that successfully masters the handheld camera shot in a way that marries grit with glamour. The film provides a thrilling and often grotesque peek into Sayers’ life as she interacts with fellow ballerina Lily (Mila Kunis), Director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel), and, most disturbingly, herself. While watching “Black Swan”, the audience is forced to distinguish between Sayer’s delusions and their own. This alone should seal the deal for Portman’s Best Lead Actress Oscar win.

“Black Swan” is a smart, provocative film that will captivate audiences and leave them with a few unanswered questions. It is one of the few movies from 2010 that I am looking forward to watching again – quite an honor in my book. This is also one of the few films that will receive a five star rating from me. Don’t get used to that!

5 out of 5 stars

La Vie En Rose

La Vie En Rose is a favorite of my way-too-long list of favorite movies (it’s in the top 20 at least). The literal translation of the title is “Life in Pink” or, as it’s often referred to, “life through rose-tinted glasses”. My first blog post will not be a review of this movie – or any movie for that matter. But the film’s title does express my views on life, love and film.

As a child I was enamored with fiction. Some of my favorite memories (don’t laugh) were the Saturday mornings I spent at the children’s library with my mother. I was delighted to check out books because I knew that each story contained a window to a different world – a life I could explore within the safety of our split-level house. As an adult, I still maintain much of my fervor for the written word. However, I now expand my love of rich stories to cinema.

A good film, much like a well written novel, can truly open a new paradigm. Some of my favorite movies are those that serve as a poignant imitation of life. Even the darkest and grittiest of films can appear beautiful when presented authentically. Similarly, what I hope to express in this blog is that my rose-tinted view is not a symptom of “pollyannaism”; it is a declaration of my love for cinema – beyond the aesthetic.

Welcome to my blog….