Not Bad but Clichéd

Rating: 7/10 (7 August 2011)

A fragile dancer lands the lead role in "Swan Lake," but struggles to meet the expectations of the ballet director. Portman received a well-deserved Oscar for her portrayal of the unstable young woman who not only has to deal with a demanding and lecherous boss but also an oppressive mother. Unfortunately the film is full of clichés: the boss demanding sexual favors (Cassel), the has-been star (Ryder), the manipulative understudy (Kunis), the stage mother (Hershey). The depiction of Portman's psychological descent from White Swan to Black Swan is simplistic and some of the scenes are gratuitously graphic. The dance scenes are well done, helped by Tchaikovky's great score.