Black Swan (2010)
108 mins.
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey.
“I just want to be perfect”. This line defines Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman). Ballet is her work, her escape, but ultimately her obsession and undoing. She is part of the New York City ballet company who is preparing for the production of Swan Lake. This production is looking to cast a ballerina to play both the innocent White Swan and the sensual Black Swan. Nina is a perfect fit to play the innocent White Swan but does not have the dark edge to pull off the role of the Black Swan. However newcomer ballerina Lily (Mila Kunis) is perfect for the role of the Black Swan. This slow build of intense competition between the two ignites a fire within Nina to explore her darker side ultimately providing her the coveted roles of both the Black and White Swan.
Once cast Nina begins to display several hallucinations, delusions and at times seeing visions of herself. All the while she is having intense pressure onstage from ballet director Thomas Leroy (a very dominating Vincent Cassel) who does not think Nina can lose herself in the Black Swan role because she is too busy being “perfect”. Offstage her relationship with Lily takes some interesting turns that eventually leads to a very intriguing and intense climax.
This is very much Natalie Portman’s film. She owns the Sayers role and it is by far her best film to date. I would be shocked if she didn’t take home an Oscar for it as well. On the other side the supporting cast here is top notch. Kunis and Cassel were perfectly cast opposite Portman. Kunis embodies her role as the mysterious newcomer with a dark intensity that plays well against Portman’s innocent outer layers. Cassel is perfect as the domineering ballet director always pushing Portman past her limits.
Behind the camera this is a passion project for Director Darren Aronofsky. He calls this his “companion piece” to his previous film ‘The Wrestler’ as it was originally one film about a love affair between a wrestler and a ballerina but that idea was abandoned as it was too much for one film. Which is good because he delivered drama with a very captivating portrait of life in the ballet while also interweaving this story with a psychological thriller.
Aronofsky’s Black Swan is one of the best films of the year that will leave you speechless and wanting more. This film is a slow building train of intensity that culminates in one of the best “third acts” I’ve seen all year. Recommended? Can’t be missed.
Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan is a movie so dark and twisted, yet so real and unnerving. While some may say that it used to many cliches like the eating disorders and the ‘bitchiness’, it is a cliche that is also a very true one. Equally, some may say that it should have been played by a ‘real’ ballerina, the dancing is used more like a metaphor about human’s need to be ‘perfect’. Black Swan is easily the best movie I’ve seen in the last 12 months, even compared to The King’s Speech, which in itself is an excellent movie. This movie leaves you thinking about it hours if not days after you’ve left the theatre, which, I believe, is sign of true masterpiece.
I realize this movie has been nominated for a few Academy Awards, Best Actress, Best Picture and Best Director – However, I struggled to fully enjoy this movie. It seemed to be a re-hash of a ballerina’s struggle with perfection, a eating disorder and an over-barring parent and/or coach. The notable difference with this version, is it played out in a more hallucinogenic world.
Following a storyline is crucial in engaging the audience while allowing them to be entertained. I feel most audience members will find it somewhat difficult to tell when the characters are hallucinating and when they are not; making it difficult to enjoy.
Another interesting tidbit; They aren’t jumping for joy over the (undeserving) Oscar nominations, instead they seem to think they are actually deserving of even more, apparently the fashion world threw a fit, because the Mulleavy sisters were not part of the Costume Designers Guild, they were not even eligible for an Oscar for best costume. But as someone pointed out, for this to have been a psychosexual, modern-day version of Swan Lake, Black Swan’s tutus were remarkably unimaginative — the kinds you would find in the most conventional ballet production.
Black Swan may or may not warrant one’s attention, either way, it was not spectacular nor a masterpiece.
I agree that Balck Swan is a psychological thriller that shouldn’t be missed. I watched the movie last year together with another Aronofsky’s masterpiece, but its captivating story and dark ending are still etched to my memory. Portman really stood out in this film as well as Kunis. The movie is one hell of a thrill ride that will bring great impact to anyone. Both the Wrestler and Black Swan deserve a spot for the most unforgettable stories ever told in cinema.
It is a psychological thriller that should definitely be missed. After 108 minutes watching this film, I was disgusted that I had wasted 108 minutes of my life. Portman’s character showed the development from sub-psychotic to completely psychotic. The fast-paced direction made it seem as though Aronofsky was thinking: if it’s really quick, people might not notice how insane it is. Portman’s turn as the Black Swan was undoubtedly her best performance to date(not difficult after years of crappy rom-coms) but I can’t understand why she beat Annete Benning to the oscar. Youtube’s my sassy gay friend:Black Swan perfectly sums up how I feel about this film. The soundtrack was the only possible merit I could give it; breathtaking.