Black Swan

Black Swan is a 2010 film directed by Darren Aronofsky, with a screenplay by Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, and John McLaughlin, story by Andres Heinz, and starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, and Barbara Hershey. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, and was shown at a variety of film festivals since, including TIFF, before receiving a limited release on December 3, and a nationwide release in the United States on December 17.

Black Swan was a film I was highly anticipating, since I heard great reviews from TIFF. Despite living near Toronto, I didn't see it then. However, it recently received a wide release in Canada, and that's when I saw it. So, what did I think of it? Superb. Simply superb. The plot concerns a young ballet dancer, Nina Sayers, played by Natalie Portman, as she is given the role of the Swan Queen in a production of Swan Lake, directed by Thomas Leroy, played by Vincent Cassel. All she wants is to be perfect. Nina is tremendous as the White Swan, but lacks when it comes to the Black Swan. Her understudy, Lily, played by Mila Kunis, fresh from the Griffin household, is a much more better dancer as the Black Swan, and Nina starts to believe that Lily is trying to take the role from her. Scratch that. Nina starts to hallucinate that Lily is trying take the role from her.

When watching this film, you can't help compare with Aronofsky's former film, the Wrestler. Both are about people dedicated to their art, they have tremendous performances from all actors. But that's where the similarities end. Whereas The Wrestler was about an old wrestler trying to survive in the modern world, Black Swan is about a new dancer trying to achieve perfection, and be the best she can be. Whereas The Wrestler was a straight-forward biography of sorts, Black Swan is more of a psychological thriller, with a bit of surreality reminiscent of David Lynch. Hell, there's even a lesbian sex scene in the film! (Despite what people say, Mulholland Drive is still a better sex scene, although this one was quite good.)

The performances in this film were spectacular, particularily from Vincent Cassel, and Barbara Hershey as Nina's overbearing mother. Barbara Hershey was so spectacular in the role, a true bitch who just wants their daughter to be everything they couldn't. I am almost 100% certain that she will win Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards this year. Vincent Cassel was also great as the director. He comes across as sexy, in a way, using sexuality to make his dancers become better dancers. Natalie Portman does a very good job, as a fragile young dancer, who only wants to be perfect. Mila Kunis also does a good job. I haven't seen her in anything else, except for Family Guy, of course, so it's good to see she can act too. Credit must also be due to Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis for their tremendous ballet dancing. You would swear that they are both professional ballet dancers.

The directing was brilliant. Aronofsky usually does a good job, and this time is no exception. I especially enjoyed one scene near the end, I don't want to give anything away, but there's a transformation of sorts, and it was just spectacular. He is easily a certain contender for Best Director this year, and if you ask me, it is very likely he may will win as well.

Overall, this film was excellent. It reminded me of David Lynch, which is always a good thing, and the worlds needs more David Lynch, so I recommend you go see this. This film gets a score of 9/10, a definite a-must.

Well, that's it for this review, and I'll see you in the next review.