"Why No Irish Woman Will Ever Truly Trust A Ballet-Loving Man" Jacinta O'Brien

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A bold statement from The Daily Mail's Jacinta O'Brien, but she fails miserably to back it up. She offers nothing but opinion and anecdotes from her own immediate family. While I appreciate her mentioning the case of Malcolm McArthur was to highlight the homosexual sensationalism at the time in the media, he is still one of Ireland's most notorious murderers, having been incarcerated since 1982 for the violent murder of a female nurse as she sun bathed in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. To mention this man in an article titled "Why no Irish woman will ever truly trust a ballet-loving man" does seem to (by accident or not) suggest something far more sinister.

Her piece meanders all over the place (including a bizarre insinuation that women only follow sport to look at the outlines of mens genitals), but there is of course truth to some of  what she has written, though not once does Ms. O'Brien say the stereotypes are wrong; not once does she suggest an effort to change public opinion. Instead she seems happy to perpetuate the idea that men are men and there is something not quite right about a man who enjoys ballet.

Christmas Presents

What I bought myself for Christmas:

• The Royal Ballet Yearbook 2010/11
• La Danse - The Paris Ballet Opera (2009)
• Macmillan Triple Bill: Royal Ballet 2010

Full reviews should follow at some point.

Black Swan (2010)

I just checked out the trailer for an up coming (21 January 2011 release in Ireland) ballet themed film "Black Swan". I must say I'm glad I didn't dismiss it as another "Step Up" crap fest. This one actually looks like it has some potential, not only in storyline but in presentation of the dance elements. The trailer makes it look like an out and out horror fest but I imagine it is probably more pyschological thriller. Although it may be tapping into some elements of Suspiria(1977). There's no news of the much bespoke remake of Suspira either. Black Swan was hardly what the project turned into was it? Hardly. I must say I'm looking forward to this, hopefully it won't be another disappointment. Films often do that you know, disappoint :)

Storyline

Nina (Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side - a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.


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