A dark psychological thriller

Rating: 7/10 (27 November 2011)

Black Swan was a highly anticipated film in 2010, and it definitely does not disappoint. After my initial viewing, in conclusion it was everything that i didn't expect but in a good way. For those of you who think this is a film all about dance, then you are particularly wrong.
Nina Sayers is ballet dancer in New York whose life is consumed by dance and is always pushing herself. Director Thomas Leroy forces the company lead into retirement, and makes the decision to put on a new rendition of the classic Swan Lake, and Nina is soon selected to lead in the new ballet. With severe competition from new dancer Lily and the demanding desire for perfection from both Thomas and her overbearing mother Erica, Nina soon begins a journey into a deep, dark, dangerous territory.
The film examines a physically demanding and unappreciated art. Although dance is an element within the film, it is not by far the main one. Obsession appears to be one of the main themes throughout and you witness the main protagonist become more and more obsessed with not only her performance, but also being perfect physically.
The main drive behind this film is in fact the visuals and the editing techniques used. The contrasting colours between black and white, give the obvious indication between good and evil, innocence and darkness. There are changes to colour in every scene depending upon what the main protagonist may or may not be doing. The scenery and set design used in black and white,makes the audience think twice about the true motivations and intentions of both character and creator.
The director uses an element of reflection, mainly represented through that of mirrors. Nina portrays feelings of both ambiguity and confusion through the use of mirrors. This consistently makes an audience question what is going on.
The musical score throughout is astoundingly brilliant and not only adds to the overall narrative, but heightens the most intense moments in the film.
Natalie Portman gives an outstanding performance as Nina, both intense and beautiful in their own right. At the start you see her as an innocent, sexually repressed girl who just wants to please her mother. Clearly she is unwell at the beginning of the film and as it progresses Portman does a wonderful portrayal of a character whose personality completely reverses. It is apparent at the beginning that Nina is perfect for the role as the delicate White Swan, but incoherently loses her mind as she becomes more like the Black Swan. You can almost feel how the character is living a dream and a nightmare at the same time. At some points in the film her performance is terrifying, and she certainly has proved her worth as an actress in this film.
Black Swan is captivating from beginning to end and a movie not to be missed.