Black Swan

Black Swan
Starring: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Mila Kunis
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Rating: 5 (out of 5)


Summary: Ballerina Nina (Portman) seems destined to be part of the company rather than the lead. But when Prima Ballerina Beth Mcintyre (Winona Ryder) retires, Nina is identified as her natural replacement for the new production of Swan Lake. However, new dancer Lily (Kunis) is seen as the ideal Black Swan and a twisted rivalry and friendship begins...

Black Swan is a masterpiece. Pure and simple. Aronofsky, who has again and again shown himself to be a good director, has taken a step up to the level of genius auteur. As with his previous films such as The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream he deals with themes such as obsessive impulse and masochistic behaviour but this time fuses them into an Argento inspired, bombastic ballet body horror.

Fantastically whilst Aronofsky stamps his artistic authority all over the place, he is still able to allow the actors to develop and flourish in the atmosphere he has created. In particular former Star Wars Princess and paedo baiting assassin Natalie Portman gives an performance as Nina that quietly but intensely screams awards. As she explores her body and reaches the limits of psychological endurance, Portman's naive and fragile physicality is put on display for the camera in nearly every frame. It's a fearless and brave portrayal that deserves the plaudits.

However, the supporting performances from luminaries such as the long forgotten Barbara Hershey, Vincent Cassel as the sexed up director of Swan Lake, ex teen Queen Winona Ryder (with a slight nod to her own under fulfilled career) and even Family Guy's Meg Mila Kunis are up there competing with Portman in every frame they share. Hershey especially plays unhinged Mother with a scary glee and jealousy in her eyes.

As Nina's mind (and body) begins to unravel before our eyes, Black Swan enters a paranoid, half whispered nightmare of a world which has nods to Polanski's Rosemary's Baby in the way that it leaves the audience with an almost sickening feeling of dread and Nina with no sense of her own reality. As the pace quickens and each ballerina's twists and turns are held lovingly by Aronofsky's eye, the film culminates into a dizzying and thrilling final 20 minutes that is all at once outlandish, OTT and utterly captivating from beginning to end.

Everything about Black Swan works. The pacing is perfect, all the performances hit the right note and Aronofsky has created a film which will be regarded as a classic for a long time to come. This really is a director at the very top of his game in almost every respect. As with his previous films there are horrific elements that will leave your average Royal Opera House goer spitting out their expensive red, but as a film about the degradation of a human being in their pursuit of perfection it manages to achieve that with a staggering arrogance and swagger.

UK Release: 21st January 2011
US: Currently on a limited run in major cities before wide expansion