A series about my favourite directors and their filmography.
Darren Aronofsky is an American director, producer and screenwriter. What is noticeable about his films are the themes of psychological surrealism, of which he explores the emotional, spiritual and mental lives of his characters.
That being said, let’s take a dive into his films.
Pi 1998
This is Aronofsky’s debut film, which he also wrote, is a conceptual, and psychological thriller. Shot in black and white, this film follows Maximillian “Max” Cohen (Sean Gullette), a reclusive, paranoid mathematician, as he looks for patterns in all existence, plays Go with his ex-teacher Sol Robeson (Mark Margolis), and tinkers with an advanced computer system that he has built in his apartment. A Hasidic sect and a Wall Street company both seem to be interested in his work, however, he is distracted by blinding headaches, blackouts and hallucinations.
Requiem for a Dream 2000
Based on the 1978 novel of the same name by Hubert Selby Jr, with whom Aronofsky wrote the screenplay.
The film follows four people affected by drug addiction and how it has altered their physical and emotional states. Their addictions have caused them to be imprisoned in their own world filled with delusion and depression. As we further along into the film, each character deteriorates as their realities have overtaken their delusions. The film stars Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans as the principal actors.
The Fountain 2006
An epic romantic drama that was written by Aronofsky and stars Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. Aronfsky blends the elements of fantasy, history, spirituality and science fiction. The film intersects and parallels three storylines that follow a man’s soul through three separate incarnations, each of which are desperate to save the life of his soul mate, harnessing the power of the tree of life.
Tomas “Tommy” Creo (Hugh Jackman) is a scientist in the present, who is desperately searching for a medical breakthrough that can save the life of his cancer-stricken wife Isabel “Izzy” (Rachel Weisz).
Tommy in the past is a Conquistador searching for the tree of life that will free his captive queen, and in the future, Tommy is a space traveller that is travelling in the tree of life, encapsulated in a bubble. Together they move towards a dying star that is wrapped in a nebula, as he seeks eternity with his true love of all the ages.
The Wrestler 2008
Starring Mickey Rourke as the titular character, Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson, who must retire due to poor health, but finds that his quest for a new life outside the ring a struggle. The viewer watches Randy on his journey of being a ‘nobody’. He tries to connect with his long abandoned daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood), experiences bullying in the workplace and forms a friendship with local stripper, Cassidy (Marisa Tomei). On the horizon is what might be his ticket back into the wrestling spotlight: a high-profile match with his 1980’s arch-nemesis ‘The Ayatollah’.
This film is an observation of loneliness, as we watch Randy clinging to the only thing he knows, wrestling. He believes that the only place he belongs is in the ring. So it was only fitting to see him perform his ‘Ram Jam’ finisher move before the fade to black.
Black Swan 2010
Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman)) is a talented, yet unstable ballerina who becomes obsessed with gaining the prima donna role as the black swan, since Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder no longer holds the post. When at home, she is suffocated by her overbearing mother, Erica (Barbara Hershey), who is living vicariously through her daughter. When at the dance studio, she is pushed to near breaking point by her artistic director, Thomas (Vincent Cassel), as well as the presence of Lily (Mila Kunis), her seductive rival who is perfect for the Black swan. Nina must push through in order to prove that she is capable of keeping the role, with devastating consequences.
Noah 2014
Noah (Russel Crowe) has been tasked by God to undertake a mammoth mission to build the ark in order to save mankind from the wrath of the floods. This film is an adaptation of the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible. Noah has a vision of a great flood, and seeks counsel from his grandfather Methuselah (Anthony Hopkins) who gives him some helpful advice, as well as a seed from the Garden of Eden. Noah sets about building the ark to protect the animals from the flood and endures testing situations as it progresses. The son of Cain, Tubal-Cain (Ray Winstone) is trying to infiltrate the ark, one of his sons, Ham (Logan Lerman) goes missing as he tries to find a wife before the ark is sealed, his other son Shem (Douglas Booth) and wife Ila (Emma Watson) live in fear that Noah will kill their baby if born a girl. Testing times indeed!
Mother! 2017
The film is a meditation of the creation story, the fall of man , and his treatment of Mother Earth. Jennifer Lawrence plays Mother in this fever dream, and as the film unfolds, it gets a little bit creepier.
A couple’s relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence. The film begins with a burnt out house that ‘heals’ itself, and a woman calling out to her loved one, which is Him (Javier Bardem), the poet who is mourning the death of his first wife. As Mother gets used to her surroundings, she starts to make the house into a home. Their first visitor is man (Ed Harris),who is in awe of Him. Man is quickly followed by woman (Michelle Pfieffer) and they appear to be overstaying their welcome. In quick succession, uninvited visitors appear in Mother’s home and take root. Him will not stop them because he is enjoying the attention. Much to Mother’s perplexed surprise, the more chaos that ensues, the more his ego is inflated. After a devastating turn of events, the house burns down, and then it becomes evident that it is a cycle.
The Whale 2022
Charlie (Brendon Fraser) is an online English writing tutor who is also a recluse due to his obesity. Throughout the film he tries to reconnect with his manipulative daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink) whom he left along with his wife, Mary (Samantha Morton) to pursue a homosexual relationship with Alan. He argues with his carer Liz (Hong Chau), who is Alan’s adopted sister, about his health and his blatant disregard for it. Charlie also welcomes into his home a strange young man, Thomas (Ty Simpkins) who appears to be without direction. Throughout the interactions it becomes evident that Charlie is the way he is because of his lover’s suicide. I wasn’t expecting the ending, maybe you were!
And here we are, waiting for the next instalment of Aronofsky’s filmography. is this director like Marmite to you? Do you love his films or hate them?
Leave a message in the comments, I’d like to know what you think!
Ronin Cinema 