Effing brilliant! (And I mean that in all sincerity)

Rating: 10/10 (23 December 2010)

Black Swan is, far and away, one of the most powerful films I have viewed in quite some time. Natalie Portman is hypnotizing in the role of Nina. She demonstrates amazing subtlety in attacking the complexities of her role. She is a 90-pound mousy waif of a thing packed with 1000 pounds of dynamite just waiting to be set off. Vincent Cassel is spot-on perfect in his role. As one of the catalysts that will help carry Nina to her ultimate destiny, Cassel brings just the right mix of measured patience and surging force to his character. He doles out the perfect quantity of psychological pleasure or pain as needed to push Nina. Barbara Hershey, playing Nina's mother, forever puts an end to the debate of the influence of nature versus nurture on an individual's ultimate behavior.
Director Darren Aronofsky's films always give you a nice meaty hunk of cinema to chew on and this film is no exception. He is at the top of his craft right now and Black Swan bears that out. The way he blends the narrative with continuous flashes of artistic beauty, nerve-racking tension and fever dream-type sequences is a wonder to behold. He has a firm grip on the material from beginning to end but offers it out with a very deft touch.
This movie should be at the front of the pack come Oscar time. IMO, Ms. Portman should win best actress hands down, case closed with no further discussion. She was that good. Hers is a role that will be remembered and studied for a very long time. It just blows you away from start to finish! Aronofsky's genius is evident throughout the film. He has been passed by at award time before but it will be very hard for him not to get serious consideration this time around. He flawlessly crafts a film that grabs you from the opening frames and brings you along on a journey that doesn't end with the closing credits. This film leaves you thinking for days.
I believe that Black Swan stands a very good chance of grabbing the Best Picture award. If there are Oscar voters who appreciate the finest of film making in all of its majesty, Black Swan should be hard to pass over when it comes time for them to mark their ballots.