March 30, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 21 Academy-Award winning performance now on DVD by Dennis Seuling “Black Swan” (Fox Searchlight) is a film that combines the world of professional ballet with psychodrama in a riveting look at the pressures and intensity of becoming a ballet star. Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a member of a New York ballet company, strives for technical perfection. She has no friends, no boyfriend, and no interests other than striving to be the best. Nina desperately wants the dual role of Swan Queen/ Black Swan in her company’s new production of “Swan Lake.” Director Darren Aronofsky has fashioned an operatic tour de force with its emphasis on behind-the-scenes angst as Nina experiences paranoia and self-doubt while trying to overcome her repressed sexuality and summon the passion required to mesmerize audiences as the Black Swan. Aronofsky incorporates an element of horror. Many images are geared to have viewers squirm, but their purpose is to clarify what goes on in the distressed mind of Nina. Portman’s appearance is striking. Frighteningly thin, long-necked, and possessed of an airy gracefulness, she is instantly believable as a professional ballet dancer. With most of her emotion conveyed through facial expression, she projects psychological deterioration without histrionics. It’s easy to see why Portman was this year’s Best Actress Academy Award winner. Blu-ray bonus features include a threepart documentary on the filmmaking process, a featurette on the costumes and production design, a conversation with Portman and Aronofsky, and cast profiles. The film is also available on DVD. “Fair Game” (Summit Entertainment) is a thriller based on the experiences of real-life CIA officer Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts). Plame’s husband, retired ambassador Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), writes a newspaper article challenging the basis for the United States’ war on Iraq. In retaliation, the White House leaks Plame’s undercover status, leaving her international contacts vulnerable, her career in shambles, and her life in danger. The trick with a movie like this is maintaining suspense even though the story was all over the news not long ago. The movie unfolds like a conspiracy thriller and covers the period between the Sept. 11 terrorist Natalie Portman stars in her Academy Awardwinning performance as conflicted ballerina Nina Sayers in ‘Black Swan.’ attacks and the early days of the Iraq invasion. It paints the Bush administration as a collection of devious liars and villains who will stop at nothing to move ahead with a political agenda. Plame is first shown at work in Kuala Lampur posing as a Canadian businesswoman targeting an Asian arms dealer who is attempting to buy nuclear weapons. The scene then switches to Plame as a suburbanite. Director Doug Liman methodically shows how the leak dramatically alters Plame’s life and affects her family. Both Watts and Penn are excellent, with Penn undertaking the less prominent role. The bonus feature is commentary by Valerie Plame Wilson and Joe Wilson. The film is available in both Blu-ray and DVD. “Anything Goes” (E One Entertainment), available on DVD, is the gem of the week. This is a television adaptation of the Cole Porter musical starring Ethel Merman and Frank Sinatra that originally aired live in 1954 on “The Colgate Comedy Hour.” The source of this 57-year-old show is Merman’s own kinescope (a movie of the broadcast image). The setting is an ocean liner. The plot is light and bouncy. Even though Sinatra is at his peak vocally, it’s Merman’s megawatt talent that dazzles. Picture quality is not what viewers have come to expect from contemporary releases, but the historic value of the performances (continued on Crossword page) AN ht g f Talent and o i Ma gic Charge C � O � R � T� I � N � A � � � � � � � � � � Fine Dining For Lunch & Dinner Lunch Starts at $7.00 • Mon-Fri 11:30AM–2:30PM Dinner Starts at $12 • Mon-Thurs 5PM–9:30PM • Fri & Sat 5PM–10PM Dine & Dance • Live Entertainment Wednesdays: Saturdays: Ray La Rovere, Piano and Emil Rizzo, Mandolin Mike Constantino, Piano Private Party Room For Up To 60 People • Call for Reservations - 973-942-1750 118 Berkshire Ave., Paterson, NJ (Totowa Section) • www.cortinarestaurant.com Magicians Without Borders perform magic shows for children in refugee camps, orphanages and hospitals around the world -often in war torn places where love, laughter and magic are desperately needed.* Magicians Without Borders #1 German Restaurant in Bergen & Passaic Counties! 125 N. 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