Black Swan

It feels redundant going into a full review of a movie that has over the past year been a part of each and every bloggers blog (except mine). Nevertheless, I felt that since the movie, which I finally saw yesterday, is so exceptional that I should at least mention it in my blog.

Black Swan is probably one of the strongest psychological thrillers I have ever seen and it is pretty much borderline horror. The reality mixes so seamlessly with the fantasy that let alone the characters of the movie, the audience is left mesmerized as they try to figure out what is going on.

Natalie Portman is simply outstanding and gives one of the most amazing performances I've ever seen. Her portrayal of the Black and White Swan sees a transformation that could give any seasoned actor goose bumps. The direction brings together this complex film together beautifully. The music during the entire film works so well that it takes a character of its own. I felt that after a long time I could appreciate the presence and importance of background music in a film.

Black Swan might not appeal to everyone. It is a strong piece of drama that can prove to be quite heavy at times, but it is a masterpiece when it comes to filmmaking and story telling. Needless to say it deserves and rightly gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me.  

The Perfect Host

There are movies that have everything going for them and yet sometimes the smallest of details stops them from attaining legendary status. Okay, so maybe The Perfect Host would not have reached legendary status, but it sure could have done much better with slight polishing of the script.

The Perfect Host, without giving up much, is about a one man home invasion gone wrong. David Hyde Pierce's character Warwick Wilson is about to host a dinner for friends when he has an unexpected guest in the form of a bank robber on the run, John Taylor played by Clayne Crawford. What follows is complete madness. The movie is a psychologist dream come true, but relies heavily on the script and more importantly on the performances by the two leads.




The script initially has shades of Six Degrees of Separation and slowly moves into the Swimming with Sharks territory. But, it doesn't come anywhere close to the brilliance of either of the two films. David Hyde Pierce gives a powerful performance as The Perfect Host and is probably the only saving grace for the entire film.

My problem with the movie is that it starts off well promising an intense psychological drama, but the last act turns it into a sort of con caper. Had the movie ended a good 15 minutes early it would have left the audience astounded and talking, but it unfortunately chooses a much safer and simpler end instead. There are twists mind you, but of the type that seem desperate and are not really required. For me the twists towards the end show that the makers did not have full faith in the movie, whereas they should have.




Nevertheless, David Hyde Pierce's fiendishly delicious performance makes this a must see film. If you want a small hint, think of him as Niles times 10 and then some.

2.5/5 Star Rating

Location:Gurgaon, India

The Haunting (1963)

THE HAUNTING

DIRECTED BY: ROBERT WISE

WRITTEN BY: NELSON GIDDING

NOVEL BY: SHIRLEY JACKSON

OVERALL SCORE: 8.50/10

Desperate to escape her family issues, Nell (Julie Harris) agrees to join Dr. Markaway's (Richard Johnson) paranormal research project at Hill House. There Nell is joined by Luke (Russ Tamblyn), the house's likely heir with high hopes of selling it, and Theo (Claire Bloom), a clairvoyant with proven ESP abilities.

"It was an evil house from the beginning - a house that was born bad."

The Haunting kicks off a LiE's reviews covering some of the very best in classic horror leading all the way up to Halloween.

Robert Wise's psychological, paranormal, thriller, The Haunting, is an absolute experience to be held. Wise centers on the unseen, wonderfully using the natural dark ambiance black and white photography presents to create a constant sense of fear and tension.

As is not the case with many directors, Wise never feels the temptation to resort of violence, or gore, to sell his fear. Instead Wise centers on noise. Loud, haunting, constant, with no discernible cause... except the unknown. These scenes create a real sense of claustrophobia, combined with fear. Wise delves into what your brain is willing to accept, and what your senses detect. The psychological affect close encounters with the paranormal can have on an individual, and how mental status plays a part in that.

Nell, having just experienced her mother's death, and a childhood poltergeist experience, is the most susceptible, and the house's main target. Harris capture's Nell's psychological and paranormal woes with great attention to the wearing affect it has on the character, while still paying attention to Nell's many personal troubles. As much as Nell fears the house, she also has an odd love for it. Wise and Gidding to a perfect job of letting us in to Nell's inner thoughts, wants, and fears. Harris handles the double standard constantly gnawing at Nell, always looking for attention and acceptance, so perfectly I cannot begin to sing praise high enough.

Claire Bloom stands out among the strong supporting cast for not only playing a lesbian character in the 1960's (implied only), but a strong minded, very aware, one at that. Theo is sexy, smart, and presents a strong front. Though when the paranormal awaken, and the fear begins, Theo, much like Markaway and Luke, must put that strong front to the test.

Johnson and Tamblyn handle their characters with expert fashion. Johnson presents Markaway with just enough sentiment to make him seem equally smart and compassionate. Tumblyn, who is in many respects the comic relief, carries the whimsical nature of Luke perfectly. Luke's sarcastic musings on the paranormal give a sense of relaxation to The Haunting's constant tension. When Luke is ultimately forced to confront the possibility of the paranormal, Tumblyn is there to hit the scene out of the park, bringing the film out of the realm of purely psychological to in your face.

Wise's direction relies heavily on your fear of what's to come more so than what is happening. Wise builds tension through foreshadowing and misdirection. At times the movie veers towards exaggeration, and cheese, but Wise is always there to keep things in proper form.

The Haunting earns its label as a classic horror film several times over. It's wonderful tact with its approach to psychological thrills keeps the movie constantly tense. A few cheep jumps for those who want it, but always a sense of foreboding. The kind of foreboding the gets the sweat in your hands going as you grip that much tighter to the armrests on your chair. Wonderfully designed and executed. If ever there was a film that could be labeled a perfect introduction to paranormal cinema, The Haunting would be it.