I must commence this review by stating that I've never been
so emotionally involved with a film. Darren Aronofsky is, in my
opinion, one of the top five directors of the last twenty years
and has the potential of being in the top five of all time. He has
never had a problem dealing with issues of a visceral nature.
So, it comes as no surprise that his new film should be so
flawless and intense.
Black Swan stars Natalie Portman, in an Oscar worthy role as
Nina Sayers, a seasoned but not yet star of the New York
dance scene. She lives with her mother Erica ( a great turn
from Barbara Hershey ) who used to dance as well, until she
became pregnant and gave up her career to have Nina. This
doesn't stop her from trying to live out her life through her
daughter, sometimes to a creepy extent. Nina's father is never
mentioned, and it is clear he's not been around for most, if not
all of her life. This comes into play later on in the film.
Nina is very shy and very intent on perfection, a formula that
never works, so when she tries out for the titular role in the
new production of Black Swan she is startled out of her routine
by a new arrival Lily ( Mila Kunis ) and her dance instructor
Thomas ( Vincent Cassel ) informs her that, while she is
perfect for the White Swan, he doesn't see the Black Swan in her
at all. She is downtrodden and on the day the parts are to be
posted, she visits him to try and convince him otherwise. She is
all "dolled up" with lipstick that she "borrowed" from the current
star Beth Macintyre ( Winona Ryder ) and when he says he's
already given the part away she cries and turns to leave but he
stops her and kisses her to which she responds to by biting him
and running out. The parts get posted and to her surprise, she is
the new Swan Queen. This sets in motion a change in her, until
she fully embodies the Black Swan.
The music used in Black Swan sets the tone perfectly. The
score, adapted from Swan Lake itself keeps the spirit of the
original while taking a more forceful turn. Every leap, every
turn, every shift of the eyes is accented by the swift cutting
violin and the soft cushion of the piano. It moves the film
forward at a swift pace.
Black Swan takes you for a ride on an avalanche as Nina's
destruction slowly builds, destroying everything in her path
until, like the Swan Princess, it is too late for her to fly away.
