The issues I took with the film had more to do with the script and storyline than the actual direction. Aronofsky has managed to jump from genre to genre reasonably well – bringing his own specific style along with him. Like Danny Boyle used to do… back when he had an imagination. The whole film was spooky and, like you said, “maddening.” Well done, there.

But the overall idea of it? The tired, vaguely sexist subdivision of a woman’s sexuality down to whore or virgin? The film as a parable of a woman’s desperate attempt to attain a sense of perfection, whether in the eyes of men or family or their profession? I don’t mean to sound insensitive here… but do we really need another movie that does this? And in such unimaginative terms (see: the overuse of black and white imagery to the point of near-parody)?

I’m being a bit harsh here. I don’t mean to be. I thought the movie was alright. Spooky and entertaining. And, to be frank, I’d watch Mila Kunis do pretty much anything (pay her taxes, eat soup, clip her toenails). But is this movie an improvement upon his previous work? No, I don’t think so. In fact, I think it’s disappointing when you consider how good some of his earlier films were.

Totally not a best picture. In my opinion, anyway.

But, then again, I don’t support almost all of the nominations for Best Picture this year. Or any year, for that matter.

<3

http://reviewingwhatever.blogspot.com/2008/07/award-meme.html