Young and Hungry: 127 Hours and Black Swan

There is a commonly held belief among Hollywood actors that a demanding role requires some sort of physical transformation. Perhaps he/she had to waste away to nothing (e.g. Adrian Brody in the Pianist, Tom Hanks in Castaway), disfigure themselves (Charlize Theron in Monster, Nicole Kidman in the Hours) or play wildly against type (Hillary Swank in Boys Don't Cry, Sean Penn in Milk). 127 Hours and Black Swan offer us the bodies of two of Hollywood's hottie Oscar hopefuls as they undergo the physical demands of dangerous or masochistic pursuits (127 -- cayoneering, BS -- ballet dancing). As James Franco and Natalie Portman's bodies are put through hell, they are utilized to reveal silently the deterioration of their character's minds.

Unfortunately, this wasn't enough of a character arch for me. Broken bodies or not, I wanted to see these characters go through a personal transformation as well. Instead of simply looking aghast at their respective frightening circumstances, I wanted to see a gradual change in perspective, new tactics, fighting resolve or desperate submission. To me, these movies already decided where they were going and the actors were along for the chaotic ride.

Sure, they both had some interesting filmic techniques. 127 Hours was directed by Danny Boyle of Slumdog and features some of his electric images and cuts, wild music by AR Rahman, saturated colors and gritty textures. Black Swan by Darren Aronsky shows ballet dancing from waste down on handheld cameras. Maybe this was an effort to hide Natalie Portman's chancey turnout, but regardless, it showed ballet in a new light, less big picture beauty and more tiny, yet brutal contortion. The filmmakers had an angle and a strategy. But when the conflict is all internal, it is hard to demonstrate through externalized images and dialogue without resorting to cliches. Cheesy flashbacks, bizarre dream sequences, hokey magical realism. These are the tools of lesser auteurs. Like their stars, Danny and Darren needed to throw their all into these movies and do some creative brainstorming. Instead we get films that are going to be passed off as award season fodder, when a more discerning eye will realize that we are being tricked by style without substance.

Don't be fooled. Get yourself a peppermint mocha.