Film: Black Swan
Year: 2010
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Cunis, Vincent Cassel
Certificate: 15 / R
Trailer:
Review:
What can I say about this film? Creepy. Captivating. Weird. Beautiful. Dark.
Natalie Portman takes on the role of Nina Sayers, a ballerina in an eminent ballet company in New York. The director, Thomas Leroy, played by Vincent Cassel, wants to put on a production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, and needs a ballerina to perform both the innocent White Swan, and the seductive Black Swan. When newcomer Lily, played by Mila Cunis, threaten’s Nina’s chances of playing the part, the strange, dark events of the film begin to unfold.
Nina, incredibly dedicated to her art, becomes obsessed with the role, to the point that it becomes difficult to tell what is in her head and what is really happening. Stiff and controlled, Thomas advises her to “lose herself” in order to perform the part with the passion she lacks. The film follows her development from the virginal, precise White Swan, the part of the role that comes most easily to her, to the passionate Black Swan. She is an artist in search of perfection, and will do anything to reach it.
The film starts of rather slow, but soon picks up its pace. By the final scene, the tension has mounted to its highest, and the climax, helped by the timeless music of Tchaikovsky, is intense and unexpected. The music still runs through my head a day later, and it now carries with it a new, creepy feeling.
The camera-work is impressive, making one feel that something shocking is always going to be seen around the corner, or suddenly appear on screen. It is a somewhat gruesome film, showing a gritty side to the dedication and pain that ballerinas go through for their art.
Portman’s performance is convincing, and she plays both the innocent side of Nina and her evolution through the film well. The amount of training she has done for the role is impressive, and shows through well. Cunis and Cassel are excellent supporting actors, and it is clear that the three have great chemistry vital to the film.
Whilst not someone with a particular interest in ballet, I found the dancing scenes very impressive, helped by the camera-work that constantly weaves and spins around the room. The film does an excellent job of showing the energy and precision needed for the demanding art.
I would recommend this film to anybody interested in seeing an effective psychological thriller. It is scary, emotional, beautiful, and I for one would really enjoy seeing it again and again.
Performance: 9/10
Plot: 8/10
Filmwork: 9/10
Soundtrack: 9/10
Overall: 9/10
Tags: aronofsky, ballet, black swan, film review, mila cunis, natalie portman, psychological thriller, Review, vincent cassel
