Bizarre and Painful Film

Rating: 3/10 (25 December 2010)

I cannot understand all the rave reviews for this tortured and tortuous dark and brooding film. It is painful to see a young vibrant dancer turn into a demonized pathetic wretch, with plenty of help from her cunning unscrupulous director, a rival dancer who plays mind games and sexual games with her at a drug and alcohol fueled nightclub. Not to mention a harridan of a mother who alternately smothers her into childish submission and praises her ability to win the title role in "Swan Lake". An ambitious film, it just goes off in too many directions. Nina has emotional, physical and mental problems that send her spinning out of control. She self-mutilates, indulges in sexual dalliances, fears she can't handle the role, but wills herself to play the menacing "Black Swan" by going deep into a place she cannot control. If it's a movie about lack of control of one's life, Darren Aronofsky got that right, but it's not up there on my list of must see films - in fact, I'd forgo it and see a film that didn't leave me feeling like I needed a hot shower to cleanse my spirit! The movie is soulless and surreal, utterly devoid of any humanity.