Blue Valentine, 127 Hours and Black Swan

BLUE VALENTINE (2010)

The film centers on a contemporary married couple, charting their evolution over a span of years by cross-cutting between time periods. 

If honesty is the best policy when it comes to movies, then this one definitely deserves the good moral award. Blue Valentine showcases the story of a young couple from the time they fell in love to the brink of its destruction. The scenes cut between the gloomy present and their happier times giving off a painfully truthful view of the irony of love and everything that comes with it.

Even though a concrete plot is a bit hard to find, the acting in the film shines through the monotony of the script. Michelle Williams's breathtaking performance made the movie transcend into a whole other level but what makes it more unforgettable is its raw honesty and unfiltered scenes and how close its all too familiar setting hits home.

Orchestr-o-Meter: A-

127 HOURS (2010)

A mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive.

"There is no force on Earth more powerful than the will to live."

So much more than the story of someone cutting off his own arm with a blunt knife, 127 Hours is a dazzling tale of passion, courage, perseverance and one man's ultimate will to survive. Based on the true story of mountaineer Aaron Ralston, 127 Hours is a mesmerizing 94 minutes of amazing cinematography, adventure and heart. It splendidly presented a man's journey to self discovery through the unlikeliest circumstances.

 

Given that 3/4 of the movie is set in the exact same spot with just a man, a boulder and a video camera, both director (Danny Boyle) and actor (James Franco) delivered stunning skills in their respective professions that the constant backdrop and the solitary character is not even noticeable.

Definitely one of the best movies I've seen to date.

Orchestr-o-Meter: A+

BLACK SWAN (2010)

A ballet dancer wins the lead in "Swan Lake" and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan - Princess Odette - but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odile the Black Swan.

A psychological thriller for the culturally inclined, the film is an intoxicating tale of a ballerina in search for perfection that her obsession finally turns into insanity and beyond. The disturbing delusions and hallucinations perfectly done in an unnerving yet subtle manner reminiscent of Stephen King's "Carrie" plus the blatant sexually driven scenes will definitely give the audience something to talk about after leaving the theaters.

Orchestr-o-Meter: B+