tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post8041293066739808462..comments2024-03-17T10:11:46.952-04:00Comments on Film Experience Blog: NYFCC's 2010 Wins: "The Social Kids That Are All Right Network"NATHANIEL Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-62518602065062952192010-12-14T14:14:09.966-05:002010-12-14T14:14:09.966-05:00http://www.huffingtonpost.com/debra-levine/natalie...http://www.huffingtonpost.com/debra-levine/natalie-portmans-evil-twi_b_789564.html<br /><br />Interesting article on Natalie's doubles. I would really like to know exactly how much dancing she did, but with the CGI face replace I guess we'll never know.Lilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-85763078568861259492010-12-14T13:55:54.057-05:002010-12-14T13:55:54.057-05:00Nathaniel, it's so funny you mention that mome...Nathaniel, it's so funny you mention that moment when she gets the role, as that's the moment most people I've talked to really connected to, especially the performers. <br /><br />I saw it the first time with a friend who danced professionally for over 20 years in New York with a major company, and was really impressed with her dancing. I thought that was a good vote. <br /><br />And though I don't want to play into the showdown thing - I like Bening, and I've seen her on stage. I feel like she does here what she does well - give deep emotion to a controlling, in-control character. Natalie's role, for me, was (forgive the pun) a stretch. And much more exhilarating. So, love it. <br /><br />And loved Tilda Swinton in I Am Love, but it looks like that's not happening. Triste.Criticlasmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942568777607340234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-38944197111605120782010-12-14T13:36:57.788-05:002010-12-14T13:36:57.788-05:00First of all let me say I'm on Team Bening and...First of all let me say I'm on Team Bening and hoping she wins this year.Because she gave the best performance in my opinion. Natalie is great but Annette was subtle, natural and had such truth in her emotions.<br /><br />However she did not desrve to win against Swank. I think most can agree that Swank was more deserving the first time out for Boys Don't Cry. As for the second time, Million Dollar Baby was just a much better movie than Being Julia. It did win Best pic so it had lots of appeal. If i was voting I'd say Winslet for Eternal Sunshine.Murtadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708403648510141998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-13427190253407247412010-12-14T13:09:37.851-05:002010-12-14T13:09:37.851-05:00Janice -- i'm pretty sure that if Bening had n...Janice -- i'm pretty sure that if Bening had not previously lost to Swank, there wouldn't have been so much sentiment about it, i'd agree. but being bested by an actress to whom you are far superior has got to sting.<br /><br />if Bening does eventually win an Oscar (i'm guessing she won't) she should probably thank Swank for the buildup of sentiment. Because it takes a LOT of sentiment for the Academy to break their age bias and vote for an older actresses. The statistics are just so against it. (more on that later today or tomorrow)NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-63881154481698061902010-12-14T09:56:51.863-05:002010-12-14T09:56:51.863-05:00I'm going to be a contrarian here and say that...I'm going to be a contrarian here and say that Bening's loss in 2004 didn't bother me then and doesn't now. I like Bening, but just didn't get the love for the performance - and yes, I saw both Being Julia and MDB at the theaters when they came out. (And, the film was a "comedy", and a very uneven one at that. We all know they prefer drama.) Bening was very competent in it, not much more. I'm not saying there weren't more deserving nominees or winners that year than Swank.<br /><br />I dislike giving out awards based on "deserving and we should have done it that other time!" as "so and so if famous and hot right now!" But I know sentiment factors into awardage, just as it factors into the conversations here and elsewhere.Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08049113750769117163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-71622255694101788742010-12-13T22:58:00.889-05:002010-12-13T22:58:00.889-05:00And on a less than shrill note -
Good on the Sou...And on a less than shrill note - <br /><br />Good on the Southeastern folks for showing "Winter's Bone" some love. Regional bias for the Ozarks, perhaps, but this is still in my top three (admittedly, with several contenders yet to see), and I still have hope for Dale Dickey once the Academy members see the film. A plus for "Bone"...it is one of the few films that loses almost nothing going from screen to 'screeners'.Carlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-10204599163445424012010-12-13T22:43:07.223-05:002010-12-13T22:43:07.223-05:00I just heard today about Portman not doing her own...I just heard today about Portman not doing her own dancing. I guess it remains to be seen just how much she did. Let the backlash begin...<br /><br />From a lamen's point of view, the dancing seemed plenty competent, and it didn't distract from the authenticity of the rest of the performance. She obviously wasn't going to be prima ballerina-level. But it's a fair point that the dancing wasn't all her.<br /><br />This may turn into more of a horserace if <em>Kids</em> regains momentum, and Natalie experiences backlash about the dancing. But I still say Natalie takes it. And I think she deserves it. But that's assuming people like Swinton and Huppert never get close to a nomination, and I still haven't seen Manville, Kidman, or Williams.adam k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13485604493059621307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-27294358330638923662010-12-13T21:29:52.221-05:002010-12-13T21:29:52.221-05:00It would be too much to expect Portman to reach th...It would be too much to expect Portman to reach the level of prima ballerina, but what she offered was very, very competent. <br /><br />I suppose they could've cast a real dancer for the role of Nina, but heck, that wouldn't have been half as fun. <br /><br />Portman's performance really gets better after repeat viewings, I have to say. One scene that stood out was **SPOILERS** right after she falls on stage during the Swan Lake ballet, she looks down and expresses her silent anguish, goes right back to arms of the Swan Prince, and then.... she dances on pointe towards the curtains, tears streaming down her face as Tchaikovsky's score blaring in the background.<br />I mean, wow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-65875729756624946982010-12-13T21:01:17.166-05:002010-12-13T21:01:17.166-05:00amanda -- thanks for sharing. i always wonder abou...amanda -- thanks for sharing. i always wonder about those things (from professionals. to actedd things)NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-56090156610882916082010-12-13T19:40:34.904-05:002010-12-13T19:40:34.904-05:00well, that's not what I read. And I, as someon...well, that's not what I read. And I, as someone who has studied dance for 20 years of her life and has done such witch companies such as New York City Ballet and the National Ballet of Cuba, have a hard time believing it.<br /><br />It is one thing to be a amateur dancer who does it for the fun of it, of because it is a good exercise. It is something else entirely to be a professional dancer. And it is yet another thing to be a prima ballerina in one of the most prestigious companies in the world. She could never dance as one, no matter how hard she tried. It's seen on her body.<br /><br />I have read professional dancers discussing the scenes and most of them said that she did little of her own dancing, and in the coreographed scenes it was mostly the double and there were the cuts to her face but it was the double doing all the hard dancing. <br /><br />There's a scene in the trailer in which she is stretching at home talking to her mom and in that brief moment you can tell that she is not a professional dancer. Those are not the lines, the posture and the flexibility of a professional dancer aiming to become prima ballerina.aclphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11406220796611416156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-56348758504050182032010-12-13T19:19:43.989-05:002010-12-13T19:19:43.989-05:00Portman did, in fact, have a double, but Aronofsky...Portman did, in fact, have a double, but Aronofsky has said she was used only rarely. The majority of the dancing was done by Natalie herself.Adamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-31859290710765314842010-12-13T19:12:08.947-05:002010-12-13T19:12:08.947-05:00Stefano -- i haven't seen that information onl...Stefano -- i haven't seen that information online and they were tightlipped about their process this year as they didn't have the live announcements.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-77591229728392240302010-12-13T19:11:12.657-05:002010-12-13T19:11:12.657-05:00Adam, you do know thta she didn't do most fo t...Adam, you do know thta she didn't do most fo the dancing? That both she and Kunis had doubles who were in fact professional dancers? She did some of the rehearsal scenes, bar stretching but she did not do most of the dancing herself.<br /><br />And as good as her body work was, her lines were not those of a life long professional dencer. She was not flexible enough.aclphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11406220796611416156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-31556110745823193462010-12-13T18:53:13.825-05:002010-12-13T18:53:13.825-05:00Nat, do we know who the runners up at the NYFCC Aw...Nat, do we know who the runners up at the NYFCC Awards are? I'd like to know who came in second place...Stefanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-18262801787587717762010-12-13T18:52:48.635-05:002010-12-13T18:52:48.635-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.adam k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13485604493059621307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-69677523117837810062010-12-13T18:51:28.656-05:002010-12-13T18:51:28.656-05:00I understand, Nat, but even in 2003 you could use ...I understand, Nat, but even in 2003 you could use a much more positive example and say that yes, Uma Thurman's performance was that much more impressive because she was flying around killing people with swords.<br /><br />Getting great makeup applied to your face is VERY different from training to do awesome things with your body.<br /><br />I'd even argue that dancing is more impressive, performance-wise, than, say, Swank's boxing, since dancing is an expressive performing art, not a sport. <br /><br />I don't mean to keep harping on this, but I think it's a fascinating debate, and one worth having.adam k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13485604493059621307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-84022129877618188952010-12-13T18:27:40.462-05:002010-12-13T18:27:40.462-05:00i'm just sensitive to this issue after all the...i'm just sensitive to this issue after all the praise VCharlize Theron got for the makeup artists' genius in Monster. :) i get highly senstiive abotu these things.<br /><br />shutting up now.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-56286535153283085102010-12-13T18:26:43.152-05:002010-12-13T18:26:43.152-05:00i'm not saying physical challenges aren't ...i'm not saying physical challenges aren't part of acting. I guess I just wish they weren't counted MORE than other things (and they usually are). it's one reason why mimicry is such a guaranteed help to wins. <br /><br />I just get to tired of gimmicks winning performances and not performances winning.<br /><br />not that Portman was gimmicky but i'll just say this. That scene in the bathroom where she calls her mom and regresses to that little girl voice? Favorite part of the performance and had nothing to do with dance training.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-24584356100662069162010-12-13T18:20:39.651-05:002010-12-13T18:20:39.651-05:00Losing weight is one thing. Learning a skill is an...Losing weight is one thing. Learning a skill is another. You learn to play a guitar for a role? Quite a few points. You learn to dance? A lower amount of points. You gain or lose a freakish amount of weight? You're dedicated, I'll give you that, but it doesn't improve or lessen your performance.Volvagianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-81362437904450274172010-12-13T18:17:17.775-05:002010-12-13T18:17:17.775-05:00Had to get that out.
I am worried for Portman, ho...Had to get that out.<br /><br />I am worried for Portman, however. <br /><br />There's a lot of love for Bening and, yes, she gave a good performance and that Mitchell scene rocked. <br /><br />But Portman took that role and SANG with it.<br /><br />Though I am worried that she'll suffer the Eddie Murphy Syndrome, however.<br /><br />When your next three films to be released include 'No Strings Attached', 'Thor', and 'Your Highness', that's not a sign that you're taking your career in a positive direction.<br /><br />They want to reward you for turning a corner in your career, not faceplanting on the sidewalk repeatedly for some dolla bills.<br /><br />Just sayin'. <br /><br />I mean, no one expects 'No Strings Attached' to be good, and 'Thor' looks like <br />*pleasestabmeinthetemplewithaknifesharperthansomethingreallyreallysharp*.Beauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12330740987516007108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-68871363050962548402010-12-13T18:09:04.626-05:002010-12-13T18:09:04.626-05:00BORING. YAWN.
REALLY? FIRTH AND BENING?
KEEP WI...BORING. YAWN.<br /><br />REALLY? FIRTH AND BENING? <br /><br />KEEP WITH THE GROOVE AND GO WITH EISENBERG AND PORTMAN. THEY HAD BETTER ROLES IN BETTER FILMS AND GAVE BETTER PERFORMANCES.<br /><br />BIG EFFING YAWN. UGH.<br /><br />AT LEAST FOR ACTRESS YOU COULD HAVE DONE KIDMAN, MANVILLE, WILLIAMS, OR LAWRENCE. OR SWINTON!!!!!!<br /><br />BOO.Beauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12330740987516007108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-80905217436566684152010-12-13T18:06:35.781-05:002010-12-13T18:06:35.781-05:00Criticlasm: I totally get you on Portman and Kuni...Criticlasm: I totally get you on Portman and Kunis. As much as I enjoyed Kunis' performance, I didn't really buy that she was a ballerina, cause she doesn't have that inner discipline and poise. But I kinda just went with it, since she's not supposed to be a technically great dancer anyway. <br /><br />Still, that's the best explanation I've heard as to why Kunis is not award-worthy.adam k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13485604493059621307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-69293574624831629442010-12-13T18:04:20.175-05:002010-12-13T18:04:20.175-05:00I'm so so happy for all the "Kids" l...I'm so so happy for all the "Kids" love from New York critics!!! I simply adored Annette's performance in the film, and I actually find Mark Ruffalo also very deserving. Plus, the Best Screenplay award is really a fantastic thing (I still hope "Kids" could beat "The King's Speech" in the same category at the Oscars... it has one of the most beautiful screenplays in recent years).<br />GO ANNETTE!!!!!! :)Stefanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-88365087599969305902010-12-13T17:57:38.222-05:002010-12-13T17:57:38.222-05:00@Nathaniel - I agree that physical challenge shoul...@Nathaniel - I agree that physical challenge shouldn't be the only thing looked at, but in Portman's case, I would figure it in. <br /><br />It's hard enough just to play the character she was playing, but to do it in point shoes and look natural doing it is another challenge completely. A friend who is a pro-dancer said she bought Portman but not Kunis because she had an inner stillness that Kunis didn't have that all ballet dancers, and dancers in general she's ever worked with, have. I think that's a challenging thing to capture. Being emotionally available or playing a role well is difficult at all, but adding having to do it while doing something insanely physically challenging is just a different thing. I don't think someone deserves an award just for doing it, but it does figure in to how we perceive the perf. If Portman had been obsessed with just staying on her feet and trying to dance, the role wouldn't have worked.<br /><br />Frankly, that's one of the reasons Streep's role was so thrilling last year - her physicality. It can't be discounted.Criticlasmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942568777607340234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-3778130217606612392010-12-13T17:54:39.627-05:002010-12-13T17:54:39.627-05:00I guess I just respectfully disagree on this point...I guess I just respectfully disagree on this point. Everything you do with your body, voice, mind, and spirit is part of your performance. And to me, what Portman did was just plain more impressive. And it also played into her movie star persona so incredibly well. <br /><br />The physical stuff is not the only element, not at all, but hell yeah I give her bonus points for it.<br /><br />I'm a bit biased, I admit, because I am someone who can (more or less) act and sing, but not dance. Whilst I've watched my sister do ballet for most of her life. Good dancing impresses the hell out of me. Especially on someone who hasn't been doing it her whole life.<br /><br />So yeah, that's just me. But I reject the notion that there's this rule that "great acting" is somehow separate and distinct from the grueling physical work required to play a role. The performance is the performance. It's like saying Ewan McGregor or Julie Andrews or Barbra Streisand or whoever was not really that great in such and such role because you shouldn't count the singing (except worse, because singing doesn't require the same kind of training). I don't buy it.adam k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13485604493059621307noreply@blogger.com