Not a bad film but overrated

Rating: 6/10 (16 May 2011)

I was excited to finally see this film, I had a mild desire to see it in theaters but never got around to it. I rented it at Redbox and am happy I finally got around to it and to see what the buzz was about.
In my years as a very big movie fan I have seen a lot of very good movies and a lot of movies while good aren't particularly moving for whatever reason. Either it is because of poor direction or a script or acting it just doesn't always come together for me. This is one of those times.
First off, let me say that this is not a bad movie, it is however not a great one either. It is however technically very sound, the cinematography is fine, the score is effective and the lighting is good. Editing is not an issue here but what is the issue for me is an overall lack of soul that I continue to find in the work of Darren Aronofsky's work. The parts are all there to be good and overall product just doesn't seem to come together for me. Maybe it's his use of the camera and it's bouncing around that is intended to make the viewer feel like they are with the characters and in my case did the exact opposite.
Natalie Portman does a fine job in this role. Her character is so stunted from her overbearing mother and her obsessive need to be a great dancer that she has no friends and no life outside of her self made shell of a life. Mila Kunis in a very interesting role plays Lilly the yang to Portman's Yin and representation of all of the repression that that overwhelmed her, a physical embodiment of all that Nina has chosen not to experience.
I found the most interesting character to be the role of the ballet director Thomas. He is self assured, cocky and a great manipulator, both professionally and personally. His role is well acted by Vincent Casell and is the most entertaining character in the film. Watching him try to pull the vigor and emotion from Portman's Nina and his attempts to seduce her are the most interesting thing in the movie.
The film ranges from melodrama to thriller and almost borders on horror in a few parts. It goes from straight forward storytelling and as the film progresses it attempts to show the loss of sanity of Nina becomes more and more surreal and the effect is uneven at best.
My thoughts have always been that Aronofsky is a sound director but never very moving. Good but not great, he doesn't elevate the material he touches but I don't feel he brings it down either. A fine movie but once the credits roll it is not haunting and not all that memorable.