Masterful acting, yet a bland and predictable plot

Rating: 6/10 (26 December 2010)

Change the drug addiction in "A requiem for a dream" with a dancer's obsession for perfection and the wreaked mentality of a young person, being put under tremendous pressure, and you've got the plot for "Black Swan".
Don't get me wrong - the acting is indeed a masterpiece, Natalie Portman is incredibly convincing, so are the rest of the cast, who portray the older teacher trying to seduce his pupil, the obsessive has-been mother and the rival, determined to get the part. The ballet scenes are masterfully directed and depicted with true passion.
However that didn't keep me from asking myself (after having watched the first hour of the movie) -"When is this going to end"?. The first time I saw the tearful Nina crumbling under the stress of her or her moms obsession, I could already sense where the movie was leading the viewer and what it was trying to say - an innocent and very inexperienced young girl is thrust into a world of competition, absurd physical requirements (read anorexia), unclear personal motivation, talks behind one's back and of course the obligatory overexposed sexuality.
Not even once did I feel so enthralled by the plot in order to believe the portrayed images and delusions. The "Fight club"-style plot twist was obvious from the start of the movie and could only manage an underwhelming climax.
In my opinion the movie as a whole is not worthy of an Oscar Nomination. But if it is pretentiousness and fairly obvious conclusions of the "Crime doesn't pay", "Drugs destroy life" and "Obsessions will swallow you whole" type Hollywood is looking for - than by all means, two thumbs up for art for the sake of art.