Good and not so good

Rating: 6/10 (24 December 2010)

I liked this film's straightforward treatment of the demanding and treacherous world of the ballet and for many of its technical elements, such as the use of color, light and shadow. However, some of the camera work seemed amateurish; e.g., panning across the semi-circle of ballerina faces felt like a weak attempt at Hitchcock. Also, I found the script to lack cohesiveness ... too many bizarre events didn't seem connected, even for a woman who was losing her mind. In my opinion, Portman - even when "released" - did not show the brilliance with which many are crediting her. The repeated close shots of her face with the same anxious and tormented expression served to show a limited range. Like many young actresses, she is still learning and maturing her technique. This role was a stretch for her and we say "bravo" for attempting it.