Swan Or Ugly Duckling?

Rating: Null/10 (13 July 2016)

What were they thinking, if thinking at all?. Once you get past all the promo type reviews and the thoughts of the schlock horror fanatics - you begin to find just how disappointed so many of those who rushed off to buy a ticket truly were. Yet another multi award work flickers out across the screen into oblivion. How long will it take the public to realize the academy may consist of many out-of-touch folk with one goal - to promote the industry and ticket purchases by any means.
This is the second film I've seen from director Darren Aronofsky, I won't be in any rush to see another. The first, 'NOAH' was equally as appalling as this mess. 'Swan' is based on a perverse script by Andres Heinz (and others) who succeed in revolting the viewer with all manner of uninspiring, low grade ideas. No-one comes out of this cesspool without being drenched in these film makers sordid sludge. Exquisite Natalie Portman is reduced to mere cheap porn - while the writers and director get off on all sorts of unnecessary gratuitous personal sex details (one reviewer aptly called it "Misery Porn"). Portman is one of those rare talents who truly deserves a class role to introduce her as a dramatic performer - sadly, she does't get that here.
This sleazy film is so off the mark in all departments that Huffington Post labeled it: "Simply Higher Priced Cheese" (they were being kind) while the Hollywood reporter rightly called it: "Rabit Hole Preposterousness". As cliché ridden art fraud Psychobabble it should have rightly been shunned by an industry wanting to preserve any worth it might still possess. Certain elements of the ticket buying public may have been reduced to mulch, but certainly not all - watch the popularity meter plummet...
Undiscerning viewers may not understand too many of the above comments but, if you care about what you let mess up your head - then stay away for your health's sake.
Note: And to think this director was once quoted as uttering..."Finally we can stop thinking about the culture of superficiality". Well then Mr Aronofsky, please tell us when this might begin to happen? or at least, what happened on the way!