On Friday, ‘Black Swan’ star Natalie Portman took home the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress for her role as Nina Sayers in Darren Aronofsky’s dark psychological thriller, set inside the competitive world of ballet. Flint area moviegoers that I have polled this week heading into the Critics Choice Awards and tonight’s Golden Globe Awards have had mixed thoughts about the film. For some, it has been too dark and disturbing. Others think that is a plus – dark and disturbing is the intent of the film, and the cast totally pulled it off. One moviegoer, who has seen the film three times, came away with something different each time and said, ‘Natalie Portman should get an Oscar. If she doesn’t get it, I’ll be really disappointed in the Academy.’
Vogue reported that Portman started ballet training a year before filming, dancing for 5-8 hours a day as filming got closer. She also lost 20 pounds for the role, as Nina is anorexically thin. Portman, as Nina, displays many psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations which become increasingly more acute as the film progresses. Portman never breaks character, not even for a second. She is obsessive about ballet. She is mentally disturbed. She will not rest, (Nina OR Portman) until she has delivered perfection.
And the critics agree. The Broadcast Film Critics Association awarded her Best Actress for her role. In her acceptance speech, she thanked Aronofsky for making her skinny and then being indirectly responsible for getting her fat. Benjamin Millepied is the film’s choreographer. Portman told Aronofsky, ‘you introduced me to my love.’ Portman is engaged to Millepied and now she is pregnant with his child.
Portman is nominated for a Golden Globe Award tonight for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama. A lot of buzz projects her winner. Her contenders for the Golden Globe are:
- Halle Berry – ‘Frankie and Alice
- Nicole Kidman – ‘Rabbit Hole’
- Jennifer Lawrence – ‘Winter’s Bone’
- Michelle Williams – ‘Blue Valentine’
Click here for a list of all Golden Globe nominees.
Portman was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2005 for her performance as Alice Ayres in ‘Closer’. If she wins tonight it will be her first Golden Globe Award. And, if she does get an Oscar nomination on January 25th, it will be her first. Several Flint area fans that have seen Portman’s 'Black Swan' performance, consider her a shoe in.
‘Black Swan’ is playing in the Flint area at NCG Trillium Cinemas, Grand Blanc. Click here for show times.
The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards air tonight in Flint on WEYI NBC25 at 8 PM EST.
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