By Darren Aronofsky film guide

Particularly creative style director

Darren Aronofsky, Christopher Nolan and Paul Anderson manages to preserve the independence of creative expression, while at the same time achieving high box office. And yet he is obsessed by human folly.

His films can not be confused with anything. Characters of Aronofsky's move to full self-destruction, In desperation own obsessions and delusions. The shooting director often resorts to the use of hand-held camera and even to mount it on the body of the actor. Another distinctive feature of his work - a dynamic shooting from behind the hero. Soundtracks Aronofsky - a string melodies under the hard electronic beat. A final films or logical act often accompanied by fading frame to the absolute brightness.

Aronofsky tries to remove as much of the material that in a few months painstakingly engaged in installation, bringing the project to perfection. He is not afraid to experiment, he did not mind low budget. The director believes that the main thing - to coerce the audience to think and trigger a response.

Carier start

Darren Aronofsky was born in Brooklyn, and from an early age was fascinated by theater and cinema. Parents often took him to Broadway shows. There the boy fell in love with art. After graduating from the prestigious Edward R. Murrow School, he spent several years in travel, visiting Kenya and several countries in Europe and the Middle East. Back home, Darren went to Harvard, where he graduated from film courses and social anthropology.

Aronofsky's first works in the movies were shorts. Among them was the film "Protozoa," where unknown lit while Lucy Liu. Two years later, he began work on his first feature film - "Pi".

Movies Aronofsky

pi

• Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller.
• USA 1997.
• Duration: 84 min.
• IMDb: 7,5.

The film tells the story of mathematics, tormented by an obsession to explain the world by means of the theory of numbers. The project was shot on a ridiculous budget of 60 thousand dollars. Most of the director of the amount borrowed from their relatives and friends. At the box office the film earned more than 3 million, and Aronofsky gladly back all the debts with high interest.

Characters of the film are looking for clues in the Kabala and the ancient biblical texts, developing the theory of the hidden in them the mathematical cipher. The protagonist is suffering from overwork and unbearable headaches, but obsessively continues scientific work.

"Pi" - a story about religion, science, searching for deeper meaning and obsession. Readers interested in the topic also recommend to get acquainted with the literary heritage of Umberto Eco and Jorge Luis Borges.

The success of "Pi" has forced many US producers believe that Aronofsky can be trusted and larger projects.

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Requiem for a Dream

• Drama.
• USA 2000.
• Duration: 102 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,4.

In this film, Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Connelly played three drug addicts, each of which is trying to achieve their own dream come true. Initially to strengthen the promise about the devastating impact of drugs and the emotional reactions of viewers Aronofsky was planning to shoot starring 15-year-olds. But the producers did not allow him to go to that extreme, noting that while the picture will not allow to be shown in cinemas.

The film was mounted in a manner rare for a film hip-hop-mounting. The painting consists of many extremely short fragments which allow to experience a complete loss of control over the characters themselves. Typically, the average hour and a half tape contains 600-700 Movie scene. "Requiem for a Dream" is divided by more than 2000.

Despite the problems with censorship and rolling the R rating, the film became another success Aronofsky. This is one of the most frightening pictures of addiction that is difficult to see, even today. A lot of "Requiem for a Dream," was remembered more and epic soundtrack, sounded in the trailer fantasy "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers."

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Fountain

• Fiction, drama.
• USA, Canada, 2006.
• Duration: 96 min.
• IMDb: 7,3.

In the wake of the unexpected success of "Requiem for a Dream," Aronofsky decided to try his hand at big-budget blockbusters. Thus began a fantastic drama "The Fountain", where one of the roles starred Rachel Weisz. To dive into the image and atmosphere of the picture she read books and diaries of terminally ill people and visited hopeless patients in hospitals.

The main role in the film played by Hugh Jackman. His hero, scientist, time Traveler and unintentional conquistador, obsessed with the idea of ​​finding a cure for cancer for his sick wife. His goal - the mythical Tree of Life, the blessed sap which is able to give eternal life. The main themes of the film again became Kabbalah and Mayan mythology, philosophy, space travel and research in the field of brain surgery.

In "The Fountain," Aronofsky almost completely abandoned the use of computer special effects. Instead, he used mikrosomku chemical reactions, explaining it by the fact that computer graphics will deprive the film feel the infinity of time.

Unfortunately, "The Fountain" is remembered only the magnificent theme music. From the financial failure it did not save any of the Maya war or space flights, not many surreal scenes.

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The Wrestler

• Drama.
• USA, 2008.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 7,9.

After the failure of "The Fountain," Aronofsky seriously deliberated on the work on the film "Fighter", but declined, knowing that they will be engaged in a decade. Later, he left the team to shoot a remake of "Robocop." His fourth film was "The Wrestler" in which Mickey Rourke actually starred as himself.

The picture looks like a reality show because of the abundance of improvised scenes. For example, at the beginning of the film the camera Rourke took orders from real buyers cooking department at the supermarket. improvisation were all the scenes behind the scenes of fights and in the locker room.

For Rourke and Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" was an excellent opportunity to triumphantly return to the big screen. The film won the Venice "Golden Lion" and Mickey Rourke for the main male role became the owner of "Golden Globe" and a prize BAFTA.

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Black Swan

• Thriller, Drama.
• USA, 2010.
• Duration: 103 minutes.
• IMDb: 8,0.

"Black Swan" - a psychological thriller with Natalie Portman as a young ballerina who is obsessed with the pursuit of creative excellence. She conducts training under the watchful eye of French villain Vincent Cassel in the hope to get a leading role in the upcoming production of "Swan Lake." The role of her partner's performed Mila Kunis, who was taken into the project without casting after a brief conversation via Skype. Aronofsky knows exactly what to waiting for the audience, so do not do without overt lesbian scene.

Like all works Aronofsky, "Black Swan" tells the story of the mad mania, in this case related to the exhausting work of dancers. Craving for perfection completely destroyed the psyche of the protagonist and has led to serious neurotic disorders, Reflects on her physical condition. So the director always thought "Black Swan," a psychological horror film, although the picture publicly advertised only as a drama.

"Black Swan" had a sensational success and brought Aronofsky the coveted nomination for "Oscar" for best film.

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Noah

• Drama, adventure, fantasy.
• USA 2014.
• Duration: 138 minutes.
• IMDb: 5,8.

The next step for Aronofsky was the most ambitious project of his career: a film about Noah. In it the director reinterprets one of the most bizarre and scary stories of the New Testament in which God sent to the world the great flood, saving only Noah's family life and his collection of animals.

"Noah" - one of the strongest Aronofsky film. The main character played by Russell Crowe does not differ much from the previous characters of the director, except that of his peace of mind This time depends on the fate of humanity, and his actions will serve as a lesson for future generations. Despite several colorful fighting battles and great graphics, the main thing in the film - a sense of claustrophobia and rising panic.

"Noah," Aronofsky continued immersion in biblical themes, previously raised in the "Pi" and "The Fountain." The film was met with criticism from the religious community. Christian activists have even filmed a movie back, a number of Muslim countries and has banned all "Noah," to hire because contrary to the teachings of Islam.

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Mama!

• Horror, Thriller, Drama.
• USA, 2017.
• Duration: 121 minutes.

"Mom!" - the real secret behind seven seals. A week before the premiere of the information about him was so small that we had to rely only on a few rumors.

The official description reads: "The appearance of the house uninvited guests will test the strength of relationships couples, interrupting her serene existence." It is known that Aronofsky wrote the screenplay in just five days.

Leading critics recently got acquainted with tape and agree that drew inspiration Aronofsky in "child Rosemary". Filming took place hand-held camera, the amplifying effect of the presence, with frequent close-ups on the main character played by Jennifer Lawrence.

The film mostly takes place in the home of heroes. However, fear of closed spaces are not inconvenienced. Much worse looks pumped occult otherworldly horror unfolding in full glory in the third act.

Not without references to the Old and New Testaments. In one form or another, "Mom!" Describes the ten plagues of Egypt, relationships Gleason Brothers characters reminiscent of the parable of Cain and Abel, and Lawrence heroine wants to get to the Garden of Eden.

"Mom!" - the most surreal and allegorical film Aronofsky. The show at the Venice Film Festival was accompanied by both applause and derisive catcalls. To wonder who will join you.