A new take on Tchaikowsky's classic.

Rating: 10/10 (27 December 2010)

The themes of Tchaikowsky's Swan lake, goodness and innocence versus evil and seduction, may ring cliché to some. However, Aronofsky's latest offers a fresh and highly disturbing take on the classic. Nina (played by the always immaculate Portman) is the rising star of the New York Ballet, and despite being a perfect fit to play the White Swan she also faces the challenge of portraying its dark and evil twin. Adding to the pressure is the company's newcomer, Lily (Kunis), who represents all the qualities Nina lacks - mystery, sensuality and danger. As the opening night draws closer, our prima ballerina starts to break down, sinking deeper and deeper into the twisted persona of the Black Swan. As with most Aronofsky films, the interpretation of the story lies in the mind of the beholder. Perhaps it is the age old tale of being devoured by the dark side of human nature, or maybe it is a metaphor for the incredible pressure professionals in the performing arts are faced with. Whatever the case, Black Swan grabs you tightly from the opening scene and doesn't let go until the end credits start to roll.
Unsurprisingly, Portman, Cassel and the other name actors all deliver. The big shocker of the lot is Mila Kunis, mostly known for her role as Jackie in The 70's Show. With a very rough and edgy acting style, she is the perfect fit for Lily, the counter force to Porman's character that carries a lot of the film. Still being a very inexperienced actress, Aronofosky doesn't force Kunis out of her comfort zone, but it will be interesting to see if she fulfills her potential as a quality actress in years to come. Speaking of which, the nowadays very underused Winona Ryder proves she's still got it as the self-destructive former soloist of the company. The scenes in which she reveals her desperation after being abandoned by the only thing she ever knew, ballet, are some of the most intense throughout the film.
It is a testament to Aronofsky's talent that after successfully portraying the soft and sensitive side of the wrestling world, he now unveils the brutality of professional ballet. It is an unforgiving world with no room for error, devouring its servants as they struggle to reach perfection. This reality appears even more absurd when juxtaposed against the softness and beauty of the dance itself, another strong point of Aronofsky's directing. He creates scenes which such incredible beauty it completely mesmerizes the viewer and reminds us of why Swan Lake is one of the greatest works of art ever created. Maybe he wants to highlight that all that suffering and sacrifice is worth it, even necessary, to achieve the final product. This ideology can be parallelled with the film itself, too. With incredible attention to detail, meticulous camera work and actresses thin to the point of starvation, Black Swan is definitely not a movie made overnight. Aronofsky's finest work to date gets a well deserved 5/5.