Swanning Around

Black Swan

Cert 15

Starring Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder and Barbara Hershey.

Directed by Darren Aronfsky.

Yesterday evening I saw a film that’s been tipped to win Oscars this year. Black Swan is directed by Darren Aronofsky, he did the Wrestler (a favourite of mine) which was tipped for Oscars back then. Aronofsky’s sees Black Swan as a “companion piece” to his last film.

This is probably the first and probably the last film I’ll ever see about ballet. This film even had my mates talking about it on Facebook. It doesn’t mean to say it’s not interesting, when I first saw the trailer I expected it to be more like a horror film but it’s more psychological with a little bit of horror thrown in.

Former Queen of Naboo, Natalie Portman is the brilliant but fragile ballet dancer Nina Sayers who strives for perfectionism with her craft. Living with her pushy mom Erica (Hershey) who, herself is a former dancer. Nina gets the chance to shine in the spotlight when she’s offered the lead role in a new version of Swan Lake by her manipulative director Thomas Leroy (Cassel).

As Nina starts to prepare for the role of the White Swan, but also the sensual Black Swan, another dancer, Lily (Kunis) arrives on the scene. Feeling threatened by her presence Nina’s problems starts to manifest when wounds and cuts on her body start to appear with no explanation at all. Disturbing hallucinations which include a sinister double that may represent her Black Swan role or even her repressed side and Nina begins to buckle under the sheer pressure of the role.

What I liked about the film is how Aronfsky depicts Nina’s mental problems. Paintings come to life and begin to threaten Nina, which like her you’re wondering if the manifestations are real or not. In one scene she’s dancing through the use of clever CGI and sound effects, her arms slowly begin to change into black wings.

What got me about BS is how sensual and interesting the film is, I hate to sound like a Sunday Sport hack but this is Portman’s raunchiest role to date. It’s doubled when Kunis’s free spirited Lily comes in. Throw in a totally unexpected sex scene, and you’ll know what I’m on about. It’s Portman’s performance as the vulnerable Nina which drives the film.

Kudos also goes to Cassel as a slimy director who unwittingly wakens the darker side of Portman’s Nina. Just before I saw this film I was watching the news when they showed a report about ballet dancers, a number of them claimed the film’s nothing like them, I’m quite sure they are right in that estimation. Kunis and Portman trained for more than a year to get their roles right. So you’ve got to admire the skill and dedication these people put in.

As for Portman, she’s now dating and pregnant with one of the dancers she met whilst making this film. If she bags an Oscar for the role, she’ll get the chance to leave her Star Wars days behind. BS might not suit everyone’s tastes but if you like dark psychological thrillers directed by one of the best filmmakers out there then this is right up your alley, or in this case the stage....

Posted: 15/1/2011
Categories: Movies / Reviews

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