On Aronofsky

Glad to see I'm not the only one excited about Black Swan.  I haven't seen a movie in the theater since Watchmen (wasn't worth it) and seeing Black Swan next week was going to be a nice little treat.  Of course, it doesn't look like it will be playing around here.  Guess I'll have to wait.

But, let's talk Aronofsky for a second.  The Fountain is also my favorite film of his, Brandon.  Visually, it was just really stunning to watch.  I also enjoyed the multiple time-lines going on and thought it was a really interesting way to tell a story.  But, about your major problem with the film, I have to say that I understand what you are saying a little bit, but can't totally agree with it.  I think it has to do with this: the female character, played by Rachel Weisz, is portrayed simply and beautifully throughout the movie.  She represents (mostly) peace and acceptance while the male character shows the dangers of blind devotion and fear.  She has already accepted what is going to happen and has embraced death and rejected its limitations.  Now she is patiently waiting for her husband to do the same.  That's what I love about the character.  I don't think that the viewer was necessarily meant to become really emotionally involved in her illness because she isn't emotionally involved in it.  We are supposed to focus on the husband because he is the one who is truly suffering.  Perhaps the love story could have been developed a bit more, but I think Aronofsky had something else in mind.

Anyway, it's been a few years since I've seen the movie.  Maybe I'll rewatch it again soon.  Also, interesting fact: Rachel Weisz went into labor the first time she watched the completed movie.  Talk about rebirth...

Requiem for a Dream came out around the same time that American Beauty, Fight Club and AI all did.  This was when I was in 9th or 10th grade.  All those films sort of made me realize that movies could be something more than just a stupid comedy and could approach the power of a good book.  So, maybe I'm biased towards it because I saw it at a time when movies were really starting to interest me more.  


I don't know, maybe you are right about the characters.  They are slick representations of strung-out addicts.  I think that their stories are so scary because, in a way, they can be you.  Aronofsky sacrifices a bit of reality for this.  And this is why the movie hits hard. These people are the anti-hero you want to win.  When the story is over and shit has hit the fan, you are left with a bit of a hollow what-the-fuck-movies-don't-end-like-this feeling.  Also, smoke a joint and then watch the movie.  Guarantee you will feel very sober when when it's over.  


The Wrestler is probably my least favorite of his movies so far.  I think there are a lot of good things going on in it.  However, since I've only seen it once and that was a while ago, I'm not going to comment much on it other than to agree with everyone else in the world and say that Rourke was excellent.