An intoxicating film

Rating: 9/10 (16 May 2011)

Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan (2010) intoxicates its audience with compelling art-house thrills. This is the kind of film that reminds us why we love the cinema so much. 2010 was a year filled with box office flops—major disappointments in prequels, sequels, and remakes. Finally Aronofsky hits us up with something fresh and genuine, something that finally gets the wheels turning up there. When ballerina, Nina (Natalie Portman) is cast as the two part lead in Swan Lake, she easily proves herself as the graceful and innocent White Swan. It is the dual role as the cunning and seductive Black Swan that will be the challenge, especially with Lily (Mila Kunis) standing as a major threat to Nina's shining moment. This fantasy drama takes you on a surreal ride through the mind of an obsessive perfectionist—one who is certainly 'losing it', if you know what I mean. It is a glimpse at the underbelly of ballet, an act we so often understand to be glamorous and beautiful. Black Swan is wildly over the top and will have you thinking about its content and imagery for hours, even after leaving the theatre. The narrative's ambiguity is what makes it so fun to watch. It is a film you must see more than once, taking a different mindful approach every time. So many interpretations! Natalie Portman gives an outstanding performance and any recognition given to her because of it is well worth it. Definitely a smart career move. Though, I sadly would not make any bets on it winning best picture at the Oscars this year, I will say its nomination is certainly deserved.