BLACK SWAN

WTF?

Ballerina Nina (Natalie Portman) scores the lead role her company’s production of Swan Lake; but only after impressing her sleazy dance teacher Thomas (an underused Vincent Cassel) and following the ousting of aging prima ballerina Beth (Winona Ryder). But what starts out as a dream come true soon becomes a nightmare as Nina must contend with rival ballerina Lily (Mila Kunis) getting all single white female on her; or not. Is Nina really in danger or is it all in her head?

Natalie Portman does deserve all the kudos and awards she has been getting for her portal of Nina, she lends a manic unhinged air to her performance while at the same time managing to make Nina scared and vulnerable – of both herself and those around her. Her transformation as it were is brilliantly played, her drive and passion oozes from the screen. She is matched by Kunis as Lily who revels in the ambiguous stalker-ness of the role. Portman and Kunis also share a very hot onscreen chemistry with their love scene rating high on the raunchy scale. Both are supported by a fantastic Barbara Hershey as Nina’s over protective Mommie Dearest mother, and with what little she is given, Ryder’s Beth is creepily effective – even if I had to turn away during her final scene.

Indeed I found myself looking away a lot during Black Swan. There are some very unsettling images and moments – Nina picking at her fingernails is almost too much to bear! Director Darren Aronofsky is know for his trippy visual films, including Pi and Requiem for a Dream, and Black Swan is certainly one trippy film. It is a mind f**k; a brilliantly filmed mind f**k. Aronofsky employs shaky cam which gives proceedings an unbalanced edge as Nina finds herself increasingly more tormented from forces outside and within.

Also notable is Aronofsky use of mirrors to effectively highlight the film’s theme of dual identities and dark reflections. Nina’s role in Swan Lake means she must play the good white swan and the bad black swan. Black Swan is all about identity as good swan Nina struggles to keep black swan Lily at bay while also seeking to subdue her own ‘black swan’ buried deep within her psyche. Confusing? Well Black Swan can be very confusing, and even with its breathtaking climax, that does provide answers, I was still left me scratching my head thinking WTF?

But then that is half the fun of movies like Black Swan, they leave you theorising and speculating long after the credits have rolled; and likes last year’s Inception its great to have a movie that keeps your mind active. Black Swan is certainly a trip, and one well worth taking…

3 ½ of 5 Stars