January 9, 2011

Black Swan (2010)



Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, & Winona Ryder

MPAA Rating: R

My Rating: 10 / 10





Perfection, is it really obtainable? And, if it is, how far must one go to achieve it? That is, I believe, the message behind Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky's latest psychological drama...or is it a mind-bending thriller...what about an artsy horror film? Black Swan manages to defy easy categorization, in both genre and moral. In many ways, the film is open to complete interpretation and is likely to affect each audience member in a profoundly different way. Some will find it to be far more scary than it is emotionally-moving. Others will find it to be more subtley dramatic than thrilling. The key to Black Swan's overwhelming and sure-fire success is that, no matter who you are or how it affects you, it will have an effect on you as you leave the theater. As I left a sold-out showing just a few hours ago, my fellow movie-goers were abuzz as they left, talking about the film and analyzing it out loud. There was none of the awkwardly silent shuffling of feet, which has sadly become an all-too-common sight in theaters.

Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is a technically-perfect ballet dancer who, after years of living with her overbearing and demanding mother (Barbara Hershey), is finally up for a lead role in the company's latest production, Swan Lake. The director, Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel), feels that she is perfect for the White Swan, but isn't sure if she can handle the more seductive, reckless Black Swan, as well. A new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), is the perfect choice for that half of the role, he says. Her technique is flawed, but she dances freely and with passion. After Nina wins the role because of a moment of passion, she forms an unlikely friendship with Lily, who becomes her greatest defender in the company...but for what reason? As Nina begins to work to fill the role of the Black Swan, she explores the dark side of her mind, including her own sexuality and her desperate need for perfection. But, once Nina opens up her mind and lets the darkness in, it becomes impossible to decipher reality from fantasy.


Black Swan is filmed most often by cinematographer Matthew Libatique following closely behind Natalie Portman with a handheld camera. It's shaky, imprecise, and yet beautifully effective. We feel as though we have assumed the character's role, and are making this journey alongside her. At times, this enhances the film's disturbing subject matter; as when, in one scene, Nina peels a strip of skin from her finger, we are so invested in her as a character, we can practically feel our own skin being pulled back. At other times, it enhances the film's emotion. Our heart breaks for Nina, such a pleasant and beautiful young girl who falls victim to her her own quest for perfection. Ballet, often considered one of the highest forms of art, is defined by its beauty, precision, and elegance; it is thought to be entertainment for the refined and glamorous. Blending ballet with a grittier, grimier, and rawer filming style mirrors the film's overarching message, and provides for a powerfully haunting contrast of themes.

And it is simply impossible to describe how wonderful Black Swan is without mentioning its cast, particularly Natalie Portman. Portman has, without a doubt, never been better than she is here. Her performance is unflinching, mesmerizing, and even disturbing. She looks and feels like a ballet dancer throughout the film (not an easy task, mind you), and then unleashes her full dramatic potential in the pivotal scenes that depict Nina's descent into madness. Her supporting cast is great as well, forming one of the most well-rounded casts of the year. Mila Kunis shines as Lily, and Winona Ryder proves here why she should be working more often. Barbara Hershey tackles her difficult role well, gleefully embracing the melodramatic tendencies of the script in her transition from loving mother to macabre villainess. They all form such a powerful cast, and watching them all work together, especially in a film like this, is almost incomparable to anything else you will see from 2010's lot of films. The same could be said for Black Swan as a whole. It is a bit of enigma really, but in the best way possible. What is real? What is fantasy? What is the meaning of it all? These questions are never outright answered. They are merely posed for our own reflection, and are guaranteed to leave you talking. Black Swan is a beautiful, disturbing, and fascinating film...a cinematic homerun for Darren Aronofsky and Natalie Portman.

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