Black Swan

BLACK SWAN (15)
D: Darren Aronofsky
Fox Searchlight/Cross Creek/Prøtøzøa/Phoenix (Mike Medavoy, Arnold W. Messer, Brian Oliver & Scott Franklin)
USA 🇺🇸 2010
103 mins

Drama/Horror

W: Mark Heyman, Andrés Heinz & John McLaughlin
DP: Matthew Libatique
Ed: Andrew Weisblum
Mus: Clint Mansell
PD: Thérèse DePrez

Natalie Portman (Nina Sayers), Vincent Cassel (Thomas LeRoy), Mila Kunis (Lily), Barbara Hershey (Erica Sayers), Winona Ryder (Elizabeth McIntyre)

Those expecting a nice, sweet ballet movie may be disappointed, although ballet provides an integral part of the plot, the main driving force of the story is obsession. Obsession with beauty, fame and above all else, perfection.
Natalie Porman delivers a brilliant performance as Nina Sayers, a young ballet dancer who gets the role of her lifetime as the dual lead as the virginal white swan and its polar opposite in an upcoming production of Swan Lake.
Ostracised by the other dancers at her academy and pushed too far by her perfectionist director and overprotective mother, Nina begins a descent into madness, allowing the pressure of the part to corrupt her.
Director Darren Aronofsky brings the same twisted visuals and ethereal quality that he used on Requiem For A Dream, whilst still maintaining an arthouse feel to the film.
I can appreciate this film not being for everyone, but if you're a fan of the director's previous work, or just a spot of good acting, it's worth giving it a chance.
Natalie Portman went on to win a much deserved Best Actress Oscar for her performance, without a doubt her finest ever screen performance to date.
8/10

Natalie Portman in Black Swan
Natalie Portman in Black Swan
Did You Know:
Natalie Portman began ballet training before receiving an official script on pure faith that the film would be made. Darren Aronofsky has since attributed the film's production on her dedication to participate in it.