Black Swan

Black Swan

I had no idea what the film was about and thought I was going to see a lovely film about ballet. This is a dark thriller. At times I could not look at the picture. It is even brutal at times. It is also magnificent. Nathalie Portman is guaranteed a bid for an Oscar. She is absolutely fantastic

Natalie Portman plays the role of Nona. Nina is a rising star in the ballet company. She is trying out for the lead in the new production of Swan Lake. She seems to have mastered the role of the white swan. The director battles with her to show the emotion and passion needed to portray the black swan.

She is battling many omens at the same time. Her mother is a dark character that has a mean hold over her daughter. It seems as if she gave up her ballet career in order to have Nina. She can’t let go of Nina and ‘smothers’ her. She needs to know where Nina is at all times and is demanding about attention.

The director also has a strange hold on Nina. He fluctuates with a tough teacher stand. He also has a twisted sense of sexuality. It is obvious that he has bedded several of the ballerinas. He encourages Nina to discover her body so that she can show passion in her dance. He touches her and pushes her to her limits

Mila Kunis plays the part of Lilly, the understudy. She is a very sexual dark character. She leads Nina to drinking, sex and drugs. Is she trying to get the lead part in the ballet? Are all the action scenes between Nina and Lilly real? Some are in the mind of Nina.

I couldn’t believe that Winona Ryder was the actor playing the part of the retiring ballerina. She has a small role but it is very powerful. Was she forced out of the ballet by the tough director?

There is much tension in the film. It builds to a dramatic crescendo as Nina falls into a mental state. This is also a thriller. You don’t know what is going to happen next.

At one moment you are watching superb ballet dancing and listening to the exquisite music. The next minute can be a startling action. Sometimes it is real and other times it can be a fantasy in Nina’s mind.

Some scenes are brutal to watch. Others are sexually charged. You are in for quite a ride on this film. I predict many Oscar nominations for this awesome film.