A Tribute to The Best Director Ever

And that means you,
Mr Darren Aronofsky!

A few years ago, his name didn't even ring a bell. My favorite then would be David Fincher or maybe Nolan (talk about all that twists! and suspense! and incredibly sharp mind!).
...And then I stumbled upon Aronofsky on IMDB and found out that two of his films are actually very high on my movie rank (Black Swan, The Wrestler), I can't believe they're from the same director! So I decided to give some of his films a few try and I was hooked. This man is insane. I can't imagine what it's like to be inside of his mind, must've been ten nightmares going on at once. His films are not those blockbuster crowd-magnet box office, it's far from it. His directing style is bizarre, claustrophobic at times, and full of symbolism and metaphors. Rarely he played with CGI and visual effects (except for Noah). Rather, all of his films centered on human minds and the quest of seeking the truth about this universe. They dwelt deep into mental illness, obsession, human nature, delusions, coping with life, searching for the ultimate truth of life and death. His strong point is characterization. Most of his films are told in first-person narrator, so we, for 2 hours, are inside the minds of the characters. There is a lot of ambiguity and subjectivity, because what we see on screen is not a very reliable source itself (we see what the characters see, and mind you some of these characters are in very, very unhealthy state of mind). His films are usually open to interpretation (unlike Hollywood style which spoonfed you and leaves nothing to imagination). If your favorite movies include fast-paced action like Fast and Furious or tearjerking rom-com like Nicholas Spark's, stay clear. Aronofsky might not be your cup of tea. But if like to challenge your mind, if you're interested in seeing through the lenses of unstable characters, if you crave intensity and depth, you're in for a treat!

He had his high and low. Even though I think Noah and The Fountain are mediocre, the rest of his work has scored him levels far above other directors. He's the only director whose movies really get under my skin, my mind, my heart. They scarred me for a long time and the aftertastes are not wearing off after all this time. These films are brutal, powerful, disturbing, and deeply heartbreaking. These are beautiful tragedies made possible by a very talented and observant artist, Darren Aronofsky himself, without sugercoating, without emotional manipulations.

This is my personal favorite order of his work:

Also check these out:

(please play them in full screen for maximum effect)