asoifer Reviews

Black Swan (2010)

MASTERPIECE!

[10/10 · 28 December 2022]

Darren Aronofsky is always original, but that is a means - the goal is to create great art. In my opinion, he succeeded once, in "Black Swan. It is a masterpiece and a perfection. "Black Swan" was the best directorial work, not just of the year, but of the dozen years 2010- 2022. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis had to work hard for looking and moving like ballerinas in film. They are beautiful in every film - this is nature. But in this film, Aronofsky squeezed out of Natalie Portman an unbelievable performance, best female role of 2010 - 2022. A fabulous interplay of dreams, nightmares, and 'reality.' The spectacular cinematography ought to be viewed on big screen, not your laptop or even fine TV.

A glorious work of cinematic Art!

The Command (2018)

If you announce "Based on True Story", respect the truth!

[5/10 · 22 April 2021]

I watch all films by Thomas Vinterberg. "Festen" was great; "The Hunt" was excellent. "Kursk" ("The Command") successfully recreates the tight life on a submarine. But it does not live up to its self-billing of a "true story." The film blames Navy admirals (sweet to see the old Max von Sydow one last time) for refusing foreign help. In fact, the new Russian President Vladimir Putin was the one who refused help for days. Moreover, Putin did not interrupt his Black Sea vacation to engage in the rescue of the sailors. It was not "Admiral Petrenko" but Putin himself who met with the families in a closed doors multi-hour meeting. A new widow of the submarine sailor emotionally criticized Putin, and was forcibly tranquilized and removed from the room.

Dear Vinterberg: were you scared to portray Putin in the film? If so, don't undertake such a film, or at least don't call it a "true story." Even later, when Larry King, asked Putin in an interview "What happened to the submarine?" - Putin replied with a callous smirk "She drowned." The heart-breaking letter was written by Dmitri Kolesnikov, the commander of the torpedo section - why not honor him by using the real name? You ascribed the letter to the submarinen commander-in-chief, which is false. Listen to a song "Captain Kolesnokov" By Yuri Shevchuk - it is true to real feelings from this tragedy.

Who about death will tell us two truthful words, It is a pity the fallen sailors have no black boxes.

Pencil breaks, it's cold, it's dark -- Captain Kolesnikov is writing a letter to us.

Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)

Can an actor make a decent director?

[10/10 · 24 November 2005]

Can an actor make a decent director? I think not. I can think of a long list of actors who proved to be at best mediocre directors: Clint Estwood, Robert Redford, Jack Nicholson, Jody Foster, etc. Fellini comes as a rare exception of an actor turned a genius director. Yet, I was very impressed by "Good Night and Good Luck", and so George Clooney appears to be an exception. Clooney showed a great deal of taste in his reserved, minimalist approach, in creating the sense of tightness in broadcasting room and broadcasting business itself, both physical and psychological. And in addition to artistic qualities, the film, in its unobtrusive way, addresses some of the most important issues we are facing today: demand for civil liberties abroad while undermining them at home, lack of Murrow-like journalists in our age of corporate (I almost wrote corrupt) journalism. I am very impressed, and will give a look to future works of Clooney. Wanna play number game? OK, I'll give a 10 to his effort. And thank you, George.