Comments on: Black Swan | Natalie Portman vs Sarah Lane | Who Did What? | A Scene by Scene Review

By: Jerri Lynn Reeves

Jerri Lynn Reeves — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 17:01:54 +0000

I appreciate your post. Though, the point of this blog entry wasn't to imply Portman didn't deserve an Oscar. I did, however, write about the impact I thought this controversy had. Even in this blog entry I did not say that Portman had no right to an Oscar.

By: CecilofRil

CecilofRil — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 22:35:40 +0000

Although I appreciate you putting to rest who was dancing when (and it shouldn’t matter anyway), the Oscar wasn’t “Best Actress in a Dance Movie.” The Oscar was for “Best Actress.” She won because of her performance as the lead actress in a movie about a dancer that descends slowly into paranoia and madness while she is trying to dance “perfectly.” That is why she won. Hell, look at Audrey Hepburn. She got nominated for “My Fair Lady” and she didn’t even have her VOICE in the songs! (the producers used a voice double at the last minute because they felt that Audrey’s voice was weak on film) But, Actors and Actresses get Oscar nods for OVERALL performances, not just “who’s legs/feet/body is this?” I agree that she should have given a shout out to ALL members of the crew, but you have to remember, ever since *(i can’t think of who did it offhand)’s* speech that ran for like 10 minutes, they limited the speeches to 2 minutes. Not a lot of time to thank EVERYONE. I’m fairly certain (And no, I haven’t watch it so I don’t know unequivocally) that she thanked the ENTIRE crew of the movie (putting everyone under one umbrella). Just because she didn’t mention her TWO (yes, two, because Lane wasn’t there the whole time filming) dance doubles doesn’t mean she isn’t grateful for their help on the movie. All in all, I think that the blogger who posted up nasty comments about Natalie is to blame, because I think that many people would have watched this movie with total enjoyment (before the Oscars and in the theaters) knowing that it was just entertainment and not some “hooplah” designed to smear a fine actress. Besides, you watch the movie more for the story (or at least, you should watch it for that reason) and let the dancing be like the special effects: a tool to help tell the story.

By: ent0r

ent0r — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 07:16:40 +0000

Natalie Portman 73% (69% U, 12% F, 38% P) | Sarah Lane 30%
Your numbers are weird since they would add up to 103%

Just so you know it, NP didn’t keep the fact that a dance double was used secret.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Swan_dance_double_controversy
She even mentioned Sara lane on Letterman (not by name though but there weren’t many other ATB dancers on the set)

Keep up the good work. Always nice to see a more educated take (on ballet) on a situation.

By: Jerri Lynn Reeves

Jerri Lynn Reeves — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:40:59 +0000

ent0r: Thank you for the correction, I will make sure to update that. I agree with you, most people do focus on the face; it is our biological nature. I do remember seeing a post to another blog about the subject were the individual used the quote I included to suggest that Portman did the entire Prologue, not just the bourees at the end of what I am defining a “scene.”

I personally found the zoomed in pointe work memorable because as the dancer sits down out of that, you see Portman’s face for the first time, and she truly looks beautiful–not simply because I have studied ballet in the past.

Good point you have made to remember: not everyone is going to remember something “the most” all the same. It is entirely based on experience and what we find most appealing.

Thanks!

By: ent0r

ent0r — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:15:39 +0000

Concerning your 4th point:
It’s Aranofsky who says it, and If may suggest that you shouldn’t believe that “most people remember” “that beautiful footwork”.

It’s a movie. I would rather say that most of us pay attention to the face of the actor not the feet. Yes, even while dancing.

Most of us don’t dance. and only a few grasp ballet enough to be actually able to scrutinise Natalies performance.