Clothed Erotica is Damn Unsexy

Rating: 7/10 (23 January 2011)

Black Swan is the story of Nina Sayars (Natalie Portman) a professional ballerina struggling to come of age when she fulfils her lifelong dream of landing the lead part of her company's latest production, Swan Lake. The thrill of this accomplishment is tarnished by the fact that she is unable to deal with her overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey), questionably ethical director (Vincent Cassel), taking over the throne of the former star lead (Winona Ryder) and competing with free spirited newcomer (Mila Kunis).
Director Darren Aronofsky displays the story on the back of Portman's character that is originally plain and innocent, allowing the viewer to observe firsthand the pain and effort she endures to obtain the role, and the impressive skill of the performances that result. On top of this, the viewer experiences Nina's psychological breakdown, her bulimia, gross obsessions, paranoid hallucinations and out of body experiences. Kudos for Portman for learning the ballet moves, but I have seen her act better than this, the innocence and naivety was overplayed for a character who has survived a cutthroat dance company.
The movie has a pretty basic premise and therefore the build up doesn't take very long. The first two acts rely on the gratuity of Nina's obsessions and her quite unerotic exploration of her sexuality (Wild Things this ain't!). Apart from a few "Am I crazy or not" moments, the actual substance of the first two thirds of the movie is quite dry and ridiculous which is a bit disappointing.
However when all seems gone with this movie, it packs a real punch for the final act. Blending the breakdown of Nina's psychosis with her first on stage performance is brilliant and well worth the wait.
I left this film feeling that it was made for the ending and the blank first two acts were filled in on the way. It tries to shock you for entertainment with gross obsessions, but results in being gratuitous. And clothed-erotica is damn unsexy and ridiculous and insults the viewer. Unsure if it is worth the Oscar buzz, but who knows with the best quality movies coming out these days being CG cartoons.