Very Good Watch, But Not Great. Overpraised, Somewhat.

Rating: 7/10 (21 December 2010)

Highly stylised, intriguing production nicely woven with the Swan Lake story. But also sometimes very predictable, clichéd, and no more incisive than TV-series-level thriller.
There are plenty of elements of psychological horror, all of which you'll be familiar with and offer no real suspense - we've been down this road many, many times before.
I was expecting something darker and deeper after reading many fanboy reviews on here. I'd hoped for a treasure akin to Jacob's Ladder in psychological mainstream horror/thriller terms but ultimately this was Diet Lyne/Demme for figure-conscious ballerina types.
But this does sound as if I have a downer on it. No. Black Swan deserves to hold its head above the monotonous waters of 2010's film fodder.
It does so mainly thanks to the performance of Natalie Portman. From Leon's jailbait sidekick to yawnsome Star Wars royalty to prima ballerina, she's grown into a sometimes stunningly beautiful woman and refined actress.
She carries her character's dramatic personality shifts effortlessly and is completely convincing. None of the supporting cast let anyone down and all-round they work well with an occasionally fragile script.
The story itself is conveyed skilfully enough to absorb anyone unfamiliar with the world of ballet (hello, fellow blokes) and the dramatic hooks snag effectively to hold your attention even if the subject matter is completely alien (hello again, fellas).
I suspect many gushing reviews are from those who willed this forte into the ballet world to be a success and may be slightly blinkered as to its merits on a strictly thriller level.
All in, however, is is a welcome alternative to the usual lame fare. Doesn't deserve nominations but does deserve a mention and a recommendation for all. A good 7.5 out of 10.
Liked it but won't be watching again until its on terrestrial TV.