Black Swan Review

To understand Black Swan, one must know the story of Swan Lake, a Russian ballet masterpiece. Odette is a princess cursed into a swan by an evil sorcere. The "Swan Queen" (bestowed by her companions) falls in love with a prince, and so does he. Sadly the prince fell for the wrong girl, Odille, the sorcerer's daughter who is transformed to look exactly like Odette. Or so my sister comic books explain. Moving on.

Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is a budding ballerina, a typical virginal girl trying to exist in the competitive world of ballet. She still lives with her mother, Erica (Barbara Hershey) in a room full of stuffed dolls. Her mother was a dancer also and now dedicates her life to her daughter's career. When Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) retires his old prima ballerina Beth McIntyre (Winona Ryder), he is to pick a new Swan Queen for his upcoming, modernized rendition of Swan Lake. Nina nabs it. Herein the problem emerges, bit by bit.

Nina, the virgin that she is, could not portray Odille The Black Swan convincingly. Although Nina is a natural White Swan, she couldn't pace herself to play the darker, aggresive, seductive, sexual Black Swan. Throughout the movie, we see Leroy pushes and pushes Nina to "Let it go!", even giving her an unusual homework. The role of the Black Swan is more suited for the energetic and sexually-charging Lily (Mila Kunis), a new dancer, a competition. Nina and Lily makes a friend-or-foe dance (see what I did there?) in the entirity of the movie. As the premiere night goes closer the pressure intensifies for Nina. She must take control of herself before something unwanted happens: sacrifices must be made.The movie progresses as the rivalry continues and the line between reality and fantasy became blurred.

Natalie Portman plays Nina Sayers. And then she plays Odette. And also Odille. She is the Swan Queen. Portman gave away the best performance of her life so far (No, not even Queen Amidala, fanboys). And to think that she haven't dance in more than ten years. Director Darren Aronofsky is said to have used little of her body double, having such an awe of so many of Portman's beautiful moves captured. Portman plays the part(s) with such emotion that we'll believe that she is those characters. She perfected the role of a girl searching for perfection. The transformation of Nina Sayers is so brilliant, it's almost haunting. (You'll see it when the Black Swan emerges for the first time, I literally had goosebumps. Okay, no more spoiling.)

The supporting cast is also a pretty top notch ensemble. Vincent Cassel plays Thomas Leroy with such ego and bravado, he plays good cop, bad cop and also the only important male cast in the movie. Mila Kunis is almost too believable as the fun, sexy dancer from the West Coast. Barbara Hershey did a good job of playing the bearing stage-mother. And the beautiful Winona Ryder gave us a preview of her long forgotten talent although we just see her glimpsly in the movie.

But it must be said that the movie is all Aronofsky. He captured the essence of the story with his directing. His team of writers also helped with one of the best script this year has seen. And the overlapping use of still and motion cameras are brilliant, but then again it is his style. (For reference, see the critically acclaimed The Wrestler which led Mickey Rourke to an Oscar). Aronofsky used bits and pieces of the original Tchaikovsky orchestra to accompany the transformation of the Swan Queen, which is done amazingly. Like The Wrestler, Black Swan is a story about dedication to perfection, so much so that sacrifices must be made and sometimes life will ruin because of it.

Verdict: 4 stars



Note:
Black Swan is nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Motion Picture - Drama category
Natalie Portman is nominated in the Best Performance By An Actress - Drama categoy
Mila Kunis is nominated in the Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role
Darren Aronofsky is nominated for Best Director - Motion Picture

I daresay come Oscar nomination time, the movie wil also get recognition from the academy. And win some.