Black Swan

Here is another Golden Globe nominee for best picture in the drama category as well as nominations for actresses Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis and director Darren Aronofsky. This film is about a ballet dancer, Nina played by Natalie Portman, who lands the lead roll in her company’s production of Swan Lake. She begins to fear that another dancer, Lily played by Mila Kunis, will steal her roll. Lily represents everything that Nina is not. Nina has an obsession with perfection which means that she has an obsession with her own imperfections. When Lily effortlessly embodies all the things she cannot seem to be, Nina sees this as a personal threat while at the same time being fascinated by Lily. Nina lives with her mother who was once a dancer as well.

This is a very uncomfortable movie to watch. Almost immediately the disturbing nature of Nina’s relationship with her mother is apparent as we see the mother dressing her adult daughter and serving her breakfast, which she coos over. The tone continues as Nina’s relationship with the ballet director unfolds. What made me squirm the most was Nina’s physical condition which seems to be partly due to delusions and partly to self-mutilation. There are few things I enjoy more than a truly delusional main character and hat feeling of not knowing what really happened and what was made up as you left the theatre. This film provides both of these aspects but the glee I usually feel when I encounter a film like this was overshadowed by the sheer intensity of every scene. About 20 minutes into this film the tension grabs you and it never lets up for the rest of the film.

Natalie Portman does an amazing job and has a definite chance of taking home best actress. Even though you know her character is bat-shit-crazy, you can’t help but root for her. There wasn’t a part when I felt taken out of the movie because I sensed her acting, the whole thing felt very natural. I also really enjoyed how the film was shot with lots of shadows and mystery from the camera’s point of view. It really lends to the whole theme of the viewer not being sure of what they have seen or if it was real. Overall I’m really glad I saw it and the more I think about it the more I like it, but I have no plans for seeing it again anytime in the near future.
 Entertainment- 4- Most people are not going to like this film. It is just a little too scary and uncomfortable for those who like the comedies and “thinkie” films. At the same time, it is not exciting or fast enough for those who like horror and suspense films. The film is character driven and heavily focused on that character’s obsession.

Award-worthy- 7- I think this came together well as a film. The story, cinematography, set and costume design as well as the performances all enhance the themes of obsession and intensity. I didn’t see anything truly new, but Aronofsky's attention to detail and subtle manipulations bring all the aspects of this film into harmony working together like the dancers in a ballet.  I think this film is a tough competitor this year for best picture and Aronofsky is at the forefront of the director race.