The Mustang

Ballet Dancers, Lesbians, Oh My!

.

Last 5 stories in Arts & Entertainment

• "Avengers" was Marvel-ous - May 16, 2012
• The Scottsboro Boys - May 15, 2012
• Urinetown: Spring Musical Preview - May 11, 2012
• Rejects No More - May 3, 2012
• Record Store Day 2012 - April 19, 2012

Other stories that might interest you...

• SPOILER ALERT: No Strings Attached
• “Black Swan” Review
• Unstoppable
• A Start to STAR Tests
• 53rd Annual Grammy Awards Performances

March 1, 2011

Ari Brin, CAF Editor

Well, Natalie Portman won. Big ole’ honkin’ slice o’ surprise, right?

Of course, predictability reigned again supreme at the 83^rd Academy Awards. Once Hollywood has decided a star must win, a star usually wins. We saw this tireless trend last year, when comedy queen Sandra Bullock won for portraying a go-get-em soccer mom. When you consider who she was pitted against—Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren to name a few—this is a tremendous and perhaps questionable feat.

This is not to draw parallels between Sandra and Natalie. But each year, it seems such an unsurprising race for best leading actress that I am suspicious every time the big announcement brings tears of surprise to the winner’s eyes.

Natalie Portman trained intensively for a year to play Nina, a troubled, delusional, sexually frustrated, self-mutilating ballet dancer with mom issues, to capture this year’s prize. Taking a look at that laundry list, it comes off as an understandable and deserved win. And it was! Her performance was brilliant, and I was blown away by every powerful minute of her disturbed portrayal.

However, it causes one to wonder whether it was a part ready-made for Oscar fame. Were the more subtly nuanced performances ignored this year, such as veteran Annette Bening’s brilliant turn as a slightly troubled lesbian?

Oh, no doubt. But at least we can rest assured that the prize was given to someone as deserving and hard-working as Portman.

Tags:

 Email This Post        Print This Post