Derivative and Stupid

Rating: 2/10 (23 January 2011)

It is evident that this movie is based on a very weak concept working in elements of many other good to outstanding movies. Interesting ideas do not make good movies. The "screenplay" is a mess and has no idea what story is being told. Part of this method is to fool the audience into thinking they are watching something when they are really watching close to nothing, and not the good Seinfeld "nothing."
The acting is good, especially Cassel who has been seriously unrecognized for his extreme versatility in bringing very different characters to fully developed performances. Natalie Portman is getting lots of nominations. I have always liked her performances, but this is far from her best work, mostly because the screenplay is probably the worst she have ever had to act. Even the silly Star Wars sequels are far superior and gave her much more to do. It doesn't take a whole lot of talent to play psycho with all the camera tricks going on.
The cinematography is mostly nauseating for no particular reason. Everything is confusing and blurry, so it doesn't really matter what is being shot.
The only explanation for this movie's success is that critics and audiences have never seen the films Aronovsky stole from to make this--Repulsion, Red Shoes, The Tenant, All About Eve, films of Cronenberg and DePalma.