What gave Black Swan its most enduring legacy (aside from the seemingly endless font of memes it inspired that year) was its unique twist on the psychological thriller. A nod to the Michael Powell-Emeric Pressburger classic, The Red Shoes, Darren Aronofsky’s film tells the story of Nina Sayres, a corps dancer who dreams of becomingContinue reading “Best of the Decade: Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Black Swan’ (2010)”
Tag Archives: Film Strips
Best of the Decade: David Fincher’s ‘The Social Network’ (2010)
“Creation myths need a devil.” At the risk of subsequently praising nearly every film released that year (and sounding like a cheap imitation of a sommelier), it must be said that, yes, 2010 was a very good year for film. Kicking off the decade in a major way was none other than David Fincher’s TheContinue reading “Best of the Decade: David Fincher’s ‘The Social Network’ (2010)”
Music to Move the Stars: Damien Chazelle’s ‘La La Land’ is a Dizzying Confection of Dreamy Nostalgia
For nearly the past twenty years or so, movie-musicals have seen a resurgence in the public consciousness. One such film that has done so, and with as much fanfare (or perhaps even more so), is none other than Damien Chazelle’s own ambitious take, La La Land (2016). Chazelle’s second attempt at a musical (after hisContinue reading “Music to Move the Stars: Damien Chazelle’s ‘La La Land’ is a Dizzying Confection of Dreamy Nostalgia”
Brief Encounter: Richard Linklater’s ‘Before’ Films Stand the Test of Time
Those who know me personally (or have read my literary blog, starts & stops.) might also know of my particularly soft spot for Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy. (And when I say soft, I mean like…ooey-gooey-caramel-filled-Stroopwafel-melting-atop-your-espresso soft.) (Yeah…that soft.) (Can you tell what I’ve just been snacking on before typing this?) (This is a lot ofContinue reading “Brief Encounter: Richard Linklater’s ‘Before’ Films Stand the Test of Time”
For Art’s Sake: ‘Black Swan’ and ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ Explore the Line Between Art and Self-Destruction
How must one transform oneself in order to be fulfilled as an artist, especially if one is a woman? And what sacrifices must be made in order for that to happen? Welcome to the first installment of FILM STRIPS, where I share with you some of my favorites and hopefully have some fun deconstructing themContinue reading “For Art’s Sake: ‘Black Swan’ and ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ Explore the Line Between Art and Self-Destruction”
Jessica Taghap 