Black Swan

ABOVE: Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) dances the role of Swan Lake's 'Swan Queen' in Black Swan.

BLACK SWAN
Dir. by Darren Aronofsky
Starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Vincent Cassel

There is a moment in Black Swan where Nina Sayers (played masterfully by Natalie Portman) laments "I just want to be perfect." Perhaps this was Aronofsky's catchphrase while making this film. Or perhaps he just wanted to make the best film he could. Either way, he succeeds with Black Swan.

Young ballerina Nina Sayers (Portman) has long been a member of a ballet company presided over by the intimidating Tomas Leroy (Cassel). After he promises to feature her more in the upcoming season, Nina practices relentlessly in an attempt to win the coveted dual role of the Swan Queen in Swan Lake. Tomas admires Nina's technique, which makes for a perfect White Swan. However, he feels that she does not have what it takes to dance the passionate and free spirited Black Swan. He decides to give her the role, but later comes to prefer newcomer Lily's (Kunis) Black Swan over hers. What follows is a descent into madness, as Nina brings out her dark side in an attempt to prove herself as the ultimate Swan Queen.

Aronofsky has proven with his previous films (The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream) that he is not only unafraid of taking chances, but also that he is capable of bringing out the best in his actors. He helped to resurrect the career of Mickey Rourke, and now he has found a muse in the form of Natalie Portman. Portman plays Nina perfectly, proving that not only can she portray both innocence and insanity (often within the same shot), but also makes it appear as though she has years of ballet training under her belt. It is an unforgettable performance.

What makes this film unforgettable is the fact that it is fearless. With the story arc that Portman and Aronofsky have worked together to meticulously create, it is clear that Nina can go down any road and the audience will follow her with intense desire, desperate to see what she does next.

Portman is also not the only actor to shine in this film. As Lily, Mila Kunis (of That 70s show fame) demonstrates some very impressive acting chops in scenes where she must match Portman in terms of intensity. The two actresses have an undeniable chemistry, and they are a pleasure to watch on screen. Also impressive is Barbara Hershey as Nina's overprotective mother, who will do anything to protect her 'sweet girl.' The film is not only a master class in acting, but in directing as well.

Aronofsky pulls out all the stops on this film. The film moves very swiftly as it follows Nina's descent into insanity. He chooses to alternate between wide shots, which brilliantly demonstrate the film's choreography and talent of its dancers, and sharp close-ups which often shake as though filmed on a hand-held camera. The locations used are also very fitting to the film, especially the dance studio where Aronofsky uses mirrors to his advantage in order to create some truly chilling scenes.

This is a perfect film, switching between horror and melodrama almost effortlessly. The music, both of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and Clint Mansell's haunting original score, serves as a brilliant backdrop to a truly exceptional film. This is a film that deserves all of the praise it receives, and is worthy of multiple viewings.

4/4

NOTE: Natalie Portman was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Nina Sayers, with the film receiving 4 other nominations including Best Picture and Director.