Big Directors and their big movies
Darren Aronofsky
Date: March 10, 2011 Updated : March 10, 2011
Author: Srivathsa
New York – born, Darren Aronofksy, who did his film
studies in the Harvard University, with his handful number of critically celebrated
films, is one of the far-sighted directors, currently in the Hollywood film industry.
His films, often are meticulously crafted, visually salient psychologically overt.
There has also been a leisure and eventual growth of Aronofksy over the years, from
films that are aberrantly dark and visceral, to films that carry more of his craftsmanship.
“Pi (1998)” was Aronofksy's first theatrical venture. Shot stylishly in bleached
Black and White (with a very low budget), "Pi" was relentlessly challenging the
audience with its mathematical, religious and psychological perceptions. "Pi" could
have been a disaster. It totally relied on the new age audience. Fortunately, with
its all techno directional brilliance, "Pi" saw a near-bleak view of the ornate
world. "Pi" had resemblances to David Lynch's thrillers, especially, "Eraserhead".
It was smart, dark and at times frightening. Darren Aronofksy's debut was ambitious
and successful.
“Requiem for a dream (2000)” released in 2000, was bleak and stomach churning.
Aronofksy movies are intense and in "Requiem for a dream", he was at his peak. This
junkie movie with its chaotic imagery and explosive screenplay portrays nightmarish
visuals. With career best performance from the crew, especially Ellen Burstyn, the
movie is very disturbing, more on the lines of Danny Boyle's startling "Trainspotting".
It is packed with audacious sequences of nightmares and hallucinations, a perfect
visual symphony for a chilling drug drama. The audience tend to get high, with an
unsettling feeling of movie watching experience.
The year 2006 saw from Aronofksy, what critics feel is his weakest film to date,
"The Fountain (2006)". Although not as bad as it sounds, "The Fountain",
was silently flawed, but brilliantly visualized. It is a movie, that is magnificent
to look at and with whimsical romantic moments, just that it doesn’t make your heart
ache. The movie spans across the universe's timeline (or rather the earth's timeline).
Strains of the psychology, touches of philosophy, metaphysical rides add up to the
movie's directional credits. But of all Aronofsky's movies, "The Fountain" is very
much pretentious although admirable.
“The Wrestler(2008)”,quite literally shut every critic's mouth up, with its
sheer perfection. The alchemist was at the peak of his art. Leaving apart, all his
psychological and metaphysical tones, Aronofksy, aptly directed "The Wrestler",
an enormously gripping realistic drama, with a phenomenal performance from Mickey
Rourke. It is one of the very best films of 2008 and arguably the best yet from
Aronofksy. It is a deeply affecting portrait of a man's life, whose melancholy makes
his life difficult. "The Wrestler" pretty much keeps, Aronofksy, along with the
pioneering new generation directors. The movie is more of a character study and
conveys the heartbreakingly realistic truth of life.
“Black Swan (2010)” is the most rewarded of the Aronofksy's movies. Natalie
Portman's performance for the film won the "Best Actress" award. "Black Swan" is
immense, bold, surreal and slightly melodramatic. Aronofsky's delirious direction
and genius filmmaking techniques make "Black Swan", one of the very few movies,
that potentially drives a character, outside the circle it is bound to. With beautiful
ballerina choreography and a few beguiling horror moments, make this psychological
thriller, one of the best of the year. It is an unforgettable movie that is skilfully
intense, compelling and lyrically poignant.
Although nearly all his movies are restricted to psychological thrillers, Darren
Aronofksy has a fine sense of film acumen, with which he can paint his visual flair
in any of the genres. That could very well, be proved in his next outing,"The Wolverine
(2012)", starring Hugh Jackman, which is more of a super human action entertainer. (currently opted out of this)
But, what we cannot refute is that Aronofksy is the man with relentless potential
and his passion of the art, he is into.
Best: The Wrestler, Black Swan, Requiem for a dream
Must Watch: The Wrestler
Next Movie: The Wolverine (2012) (opted out)