Pretty Much Perfect

Rating: 9/10 (29 December 2010)

I was not expecting that a Ballet movie would be one of the most disturbing horror movies I've seen in a while. Its quite intentional that the film gives off this impression. Just look at all the shots of the mirrors in the film. How many times do scissors and knives appear? There are multiple broken finger and toe nails throughout the movie. And, seeing the ballerinas on their tippy toes has a always made me a little queasy. But I'm digressing to some extent, since the point of all the suspense and horror is completely essential to the movie.
Like many Aronofsky films, things start out nice and simple. Then disorder comes in as the second law of thermodynamics predicts and things all go to hell. The movie takes place in only a few places (probably 4 or 5 locations). There are few characters in the movie of consequence. It feels a lot like a play adapted to film. Or perhaps even a ballet? I was not very taken with the Ballet shots earlier in the movie, as I'm not a fan. But, I quickly was drawn in to how the dances Natalie Portman performs reflects on the psychological and professional state of her character. Soon, I was at the edge of my seat hoping she would not fall or something bad would happen. The dancing scenes become extremely intense. A lot of this has to do with Natalie Portman's acting. I was never a big fan of hers. After seeing this, I think she is a really gifted actress. She plays the part of the white swan so well. She is always at the teetering edge completely scared and hopelessly trying to forestall any type of failure. After reading a little bit of her biography, she may not be acting at all in the movie.
The film is extremely consistent and the ending has the payoff you would expect. Before the end happens you are wondering what will actually happen. The film does a very good job at keeping what possible scary outcomes always under some sense of skepticism.