If you can’t wait two weeks for Thor, starring Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman, we have a surprise for you. This is the post credit sequence at the end of the movie– the quality isn’t great and we’re looking for a better one, but you can figure out a whole lot.
Seriously, we aren’t kidding: if you don’t want to see what happens in this sequence, don’t view it, as it gives clues that lead us up to Marvel’s upcoming films Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers.
We have fallen in love with Natalie Portman again and again. Beginning with her debut in [[[The Professional]]], we have seen her take on a wide variety of dramatic roles that demonstrates a young woman with acting gifts. Even in the wretched [[[Star Wars]]] trilogy, she brought a gravity to Princess Amidala that went far beyond the meager scripts. All of this seems to have prepared her for the Academy Award winning rile in [[[Black Swan]]]. At 29, she has achieved a level of depth in her work that few peers can match.
Most of her work, such as roles in Closer, Cold Mountain, and even V for Vendetta, show a somber side to Portman, almost as cold and controlled as her Nina in this film, now out on disc from 20th Century Home Entertainment. The Darren Aronofsky-directed film is a visual treat and the psycho-sexual assault on the sense that one comes to expect from him.
Nina is a technically-perfect but emotionally cold ballerina who wins the role of the Swan Queen. Much of the film chronicles Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassell) and his attempts to unlock Nina’s emotions. He does this by seducing her by degrees and telling her to seduce herself. Nina, though, can’t let go, largely because she has been raised by Erica (Barbara Hershey), who stopped dancing when she gave birth to Nina and has lived through her ever since. Nina has had issues in the past that manifest themselves anew as the pressure mounts in the weeks leading up to her premier performance.
She sees threats, she watches her body change in unimaginable ways, and even has a real or imaginary one-night stand with her perceived rival, Lilly (Mila Kunis). Her descent into madness or elevation to a higher plane of existence is masterfully portrayed by Aronofsky.
Portman makes this her signature role and despite the current kerfuffle over how much of the dancing she actually did, that’s secondary to the character she brought to life. Dancing doubles have been a fact of filmmaking for decades and this is just another tempest in a teapot. Jennifer Beals made us believe in [[[Flashdance]]] as Portman does here and that’s really what matters.
The movie looks fabulous in high definition with strong sound, which fits the subject matter. You might notice a grainy quality to some of the film that you may not have noticed on the silver screen. That has to do with Aronofsky’s choice to shoot the movie by blending 16mm Arriflex cameras and two Canon 1080p video-capable DSLRs. It all meshes quite well, adding to the unusual feel of the story.
The Blu-ray disc is packed with several extras, beginning with “Black Swan Metamorphosis” (48:50) is the detailed production process. Bringing the dancers and characters to life is carefully explained during the three-parts, complete with plenty of interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. You also get “Ten Years in the Making”, a shorter piece on the lengthy development process as told by director and star; along with a useless look at Ballet (2:33), Production Design (4:00). Star and directed each get roughly three minute profiles and short snippets on “Preparing for the Role” and “Dancing with the Camera”. There are also five cast profiles; all culled from featurettes that originally ran on Fox Movie Channel.
The harrowing viewing experience that is at turns titillating, exciting, terrifying, and moving, shows moviemaking at its finest. An original concept, well-handled, can entertain and enlighten. This one is well worth your time and attention whether or not you like ballet.
20th Century Fox is going all out to promote the Tuesday release of their hit Black Swan on DVD and Blu-ray. First, you can see what sort of Swan you are by checking out the Black Swan Experience, a fun interactive website.
On April 2, there will be interactive midnight screenings, The Black Swan Experience, April 2nd in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Chicago. Those living in these cities and interested, can find details here, which will redirect you to a dedicated RSVP site to print their free passes.
We salute the film and its star, who genre fans can next see this spring first in the comedy Your Highness and then May’s Thor.
Amidala's sweet babboo finds Mike Huckabee's lack of faith "disturbing". Image by Doc_Brown via Flickr
Apparently Mike Huckabee, Fox News host and theoretical presidential candidate, thinks that Natalie Portman, star of Thor, Black Swan, V for Vendetta and the Star Wars prequels is actually Murphy Brown.
Here’s Mike Huckabee, in 2011, on Natalie Portman having a child with her fiancee before they’re actually married:
“One of the most troubling things is that people see a Natalie Portman or some other Hollywood starlet that boasts of, hey look, we’re having children, we’re not married, but we’re having children and they’re doing just fine.”
“There aren’t really a lot of single moms out there that are making millions of dollars each year by being in a movie.”
“I think it gives a distorted image that not everybody hires nannies and caretakers and nurses. Most single moms are very poor, uneducated, can’t get a job, and if it weren’t for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death and would not get healthcare.”
However, it seems that Gov. Huckabee has a short and/or selective memory.
Here’s Mike Huckabee, in 2008, on Bristol Palin having a child with her fiancee before they’re actually married:
“It ought to be a reminder that here is a family that loves one another. They stuck with each other though the tough times and that’s what families do.” … Huckabee said the surprise pregnancy announcement should not affect vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s support in the conservative and religious right communities. … “I’m grateful for the way she’s being supported by her family.”
I presume the difference here is that Natalie Portman is Jewish, or Huckabee thinks the father of Portman’s child really is Darth Vader. It makes as much sense as any other reason he can come up with for his double standard.
We, the fair and proud gentlemen of mirth, aka Comic Book Enthusiasts, have a new reason to celebrate forthwith! The mighty gods from the House of Ideas has given birth to a new trailer for their forthcoming magical visage of the thunder god himself. Yay, my brethren, Marvel hath beseech-ed unto us several minutes of the mighty Thor in action. Behold, through the power of the interwebsphere… and the arcane magicks of “embedded code”… THOR! (Cue the lightning. Wait. We don’t have lightning? Come on! I’m trying to set the mood here. What do you mean the mic is still on? I don’t believe you. Wait. Oh crap. Just play the danged video now, OK?)
However, you probably didn’t know that this isn’t their first time together on a project, and the last time they worked together it also was for a mythological piece involving the power of the gods.
Beyond that, I couldn’t even begin to describe it– and luckily, I don’t have to. Take a look– if you dare.
Ye gods, indeed. (Note: any similarities between this and another recent topic here probably aren’t that coincidental.)
on DVD and Blu-ray. First, you can see what sort of Swan you are by checking out the 
