Black Swan (2010)

This movie is certainly not for everyone. Not everyone likes ballet. Not everyone likes mild psycho thrillers. Not every likes creepy overbearing parents or bosses. Not everyone like an overly dramatic finish. This story has all of those things and more that might turn the weak-minded away.

Natalie Portman is stunning and definitely earned her best actress Oscar here. Nominated in 4 other categories, this is certainly a movie for fans of cinema to see. It is done in a classic grand drama style, not often used by Hollywood anymore. Very well done indeed.

Barbara Hershey is great here as the control-freak mother. Vincent Cassel is creepy good as the ballet director. His range is made more obvious to those who have been following his career.

Even if you don't like many or all of the items mentioned above, you should see this movie. You will be talking about it for weeks. If you like ANY of the above items, you must see this one.

Watch this movie with someone who gave up a career in dancing.

Paris, je t'aime

Paris, I love you. Movie, you are wonderful too. Back in 2006 Tristan Carné got the idea to combine stories from a variety of talents to show what a great city means to a variety of people. Paris was first on the list. New York came later in 2009. We'll soon see Shanghai and Jerusalem and I hear Rio is in development.

There were so many great names in this I will list only the ones American audiences will be most familiar. Apologies to my many French readers. here are a few reasons to watch this movie:

Steve Buscemi in a subway scene many of us have dreamed of or feared.

Miranda Richardson in a hot red trench coat.

Juliette Binoche who finds a cowboy (Willem Dafoe) to look after her son.

Nick Nolte surprises everyone.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, Bob Hoskins, and Elijah Wood in 3 very odd relationships.

Olga Kurylenko as a very hot vampire.

Natalie Portman best sees Paris though the eyes of a blind man.

Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara show us how exs should get along.

Rufus Sewell and Emily Mortimer get a little help learning to laugh together.

There are truly too many other great performances to list here. Be patient and watch all the stories. The point is that everyone we see has an interesting story. And, from time to time our story lines cross.

Watch this with someone who has been to Paris and will delight in seeing it again.

Brothers

Based on the Dutch film of the same name, this gripping drama is more about family than it is about war. Like other recent war-related dramas, this movie does not dwell on the morality of any particular conflict, but rather addresses the humanity involved.

Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal play brothers - one "good" and the other "bad". As much as anything else, this movie is about labeling. Parents label kids. Kids label themselves.

Natalie Portman and Sam Shepard play influential roles here as soldier's wife and father respectively. All around, the acting here is solid. The characters are all likable, believable, and the audience will find someone to relate to.

At first I was afraid to watch this movie because I thought it would be too depressing. It was actually not at all what I expected. The story takes us through some complex emotions and real issues relevant to current society.

Watch this with someone who thinks they have issues to deal with.

The Other Boleyn Girl

If you like period films about life "at court" in the 1500s, you may like this one. If you like torturous family dramas, you may also like this one. If you like both, you are in for a treat.

Based somewhat in fact and reality, this story is dark, brutish, and short, much like life itself was in those days. The acting here is just this side of over the top, but I suppose one wants that in a romantic drama.

Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson play the two Boleyn sisters who are talked into seducing King Henry VIII to gain the family added prestige and power "at court" by their father and Uncle. Both girls are temporarily successful, and both produce a female heir to the throne.

The drama revolves around the alleged competition between the sisters and the scheming of other family members. It is a good story, but one that most folks may find a little difficult to relate to, depending on one's background and culture. No doubt things like this still happen today.

The story itself is well told. The costumes are great and the music is enjoyable. Eric Bana does a pretty good job or portraying the well-known monarch.

Watch this movie with someone who will understand that nobody wins in this story.