Disappointing

Rating: 5/10 (23 April 2011)

After reading several reviews, watching the trailers and watching the IMDb rate go up like a flash, I was ready for some Mystery / Thriller action! Even if it involved ballet (nothing against it, just not my cup of tea).
The thing is, this movie has nothing of mystery in it, and just a teeny bit of thriller. It was disappointing to say the least - especially since I'm a huge fan of "The Fountain", "Pi" and "Requiem for a Dream" from Darren Aronofsky. Instead of a psychological mystery thriller that gets under your skin until the very end, we get a drama disguised as a psychological mystery thriller until the hugely disappointing ending, which is capable of destroying almost the whole experience.
Yes, I know the movie is categorized as a drama as well, but it was heavily promoted as a Mystery Thriller. The movie starts like any Mystery Thriller would - slow build up, weird stuff happens, viewer is left wondering what is going on, but unfortunately it ends almost ignoring all these cryptic scenes that make you think through the first two acts of the movie. What's left in the end is... almost what you have in the beginning, just a bit prettier.
In the visual department it was stunning to look at. The visual effects are top notch and the photography as well. The music fitted like a glove, it almost felt like we were watching an actual ballet act instead of the movie (and yes, I don't enjoy ballet, but props must be given here).
The actors also did an excellent job, Natalie Portman (Nina) portrayed her character brilliantly, and we could always see what she was feeling inside without her having to speak. Mila Kunis (Lily) was also a wonder to watch act, she did the complete opposite of Nina (as supposed) excellently.
Overall, it's a well acted, edited and scored movie that falls incredibly short in a department I was not expecting to be disappointed at (this coming from Darren Aronofsky and all): the plot.
I guess I got too hyped? Either way, I feel it was a mediocre film because it failed in one of the most important aspects of cinema.
4 out of 10.