Classis and riveting; engrossing storytelling

Rating: Null/10 (7 April 2011)

The Black Swan was one of those movies that was riveting from beginning to end. From the musical score, the directing, the camera work and to the characterizations brought forth from the excellent acting, the movie was engaging as it was insightful. I've enjoyed Aronofsky films before and have praised his work with the meaningful messages he puts through them, namely The Fountain. The message I took away from the Black Swan was mainly one of transformation. Nina's character was definitely under some psychosis with the situation she was in (mother trying to live vicariously through daughter, a rival's competition and simultaneous attraction, a demanding instructor, etc.) and the movie's graphical meat came through with the literal transforming of white swan into black swan. This works when the character Nina is also dealing with hallucinations which invokes symptoms of a mental illness which is convenient when a director is trying to portray literal transforming into the black swan. As an audience member you understand the whole cg effect during the last performance.
It seems the classic tale of Swan Lake was given a twist and modern version and I never would have known it since it seems ballet is an acquired type of performance for the masses. Kudos to all involved with film they brought the beauty of storytelling through ballet to life.