Intense...uncomfortable at times, but foremost beautiful

Rating: 9/10 (20 December 2010)

After seeing the trailer for Aronofsky's latest release I expected nothing less than the usual fantastic uneasy viewing and a feeling of almost sickness, yet awe, at what I'd just seen, I've come to expect from his directorials. Disappointed, I wasn't.
The film encapsulates you instantly in the beautiful, albeit competitive, realm of ballet and the impressive aural accompaniment provided by the every present Clint Mansell keeps thing expectantly intense throughout.
Darren's usual chromatography style isn't lost in Black Swan although it isn't as prominent as in some previous releases such as Requiem For A Dream and The Fountain. Instead Aronofsky chooses to focus on attacking the sense with beautiful musical compositions and intense imagery.
The casting is superb all round but Portman is the stand out act in this screenplay, with a deftness to go from fragile to intense at a whim and the ability to make the audience care for her from the beginning, bring together an incredibly intense and consistent performance.
My only criticism of the film would be the over-use of far too obvious and blatant metaphors. It will become apparent upon viewing, but I believe Aronofsky may have chosen to take this route due to the under performance of some previous films i.e. The Fountain which are complex in nature, but understandable after repeat viewings, therefore making the film more accessible to the general public.
As a long time Aronofsky fan, it was always going to be difficult for this film to be a disappointment, yet at the same time I had very high expectations. But as with all of his films, the subject of the film can be irrelevant to most, you don't have to like ballet to enjoy this film, you just have to like beautiful, intense and incredible cinema.