Black Swan – This Academy Award nominated film for Best Picture and Academy Award winner for Best Actress stars Natalie Portman as a ballet dancer who is given the leading role in an upcoming production of “Swan Lake”. Her director thinks she has the part of the White Swan nailed, but is not impressed with her take on the Black Swan role. As Portman’s character does her best to deal with the dual roles, her take on reality loosens, and soon she is lost between the worlds of fantasy and reality (much like the viewer, is as you will be questioning everything you see on screen). A surprise hit at the box office this winter, Black Swan is a psychological thriller that definitely demands repeat viewings.
Tangled – Disney tackles Rapunzel in this take on the classic story. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi are the lead voices of the film. When an elderly woman who helps the queen give birth to Rapunzel realizes that Rapunzel’s hair has magical healing powers, she takes her away to a tower so she can continue to use the magic properties of her hair. The disappearance of the young girl causes great panic in the kingdom, and every year on her birthday, the kingdom unleashes lanterns in the sky in the hopes that she’ll return. This film did well at the box office this winter, and is Walt Disney Pictures 50th animated release.
Fair Game – This film stars Naomi Watts and Sean Penn and is directed by Doug Liman. The film is based on the true story of a CIA agent who is outed as an agent by the CIA in retaliation for an article that her husband wrote against the Bush-Cheney administration saying that the intelligence they had on weapons of mass destruction was manipulated. The film did not last long in theatres, but should find an audience on DVD thanks to the talent involved on the film.
Made in Dagenham – This acclaimed film stars Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, Miranda Richardson and Rosamund Pike. The film is based on the true story of a group of women in 1960’s England who helped get women equality at the work place by going on strike at factory. I should warn you that the main character did not exist, but that should not lesson the enjoyment of the film.
TV ON DVD
Mad Men: Season Four
Treme: The Complete First Season
Xena – Warrior Princess: Season Two
Until Next Tuesday!
