It aims to make an impression, if it does - you'll like it, if it doesn't - you won't

Rating: 6/10 (31 January 2016)

This is not a film for entertainment, nor is it some kind of a philosophical film. It is a work of art, but, meant to make an impression, like a strange painting or some such thing.
Looked at from that perspective, it's OK. It's over-hyped, but, it did make an impression on me. I guess if it doesn't make an impression on you, you'll be left wondering: what the hell was that? That explains the reason why there are so many totally opposite reviews of this film.
I don't mind that it's not in a clearly defined genre - as it is neither a thriller, nor a horror, nor a drama, yet has elements from all. But, I do feel that, for example, the horror elements are kind of too much, and it was when those started to happen near the end of the movie that I kind of felt "OK, so, you're trying to make an impression, I get it, but is there anything else?". Unfortunately, I didn't find anything else.
Similar goes for "not knowing what's real and what's not". Sure, Natalie Portman is crazy, it's fine that she doesn't know. But, we don't either, to the extent that doesn't serve a purpose, other than to, you guessed it, make an impression. I mean it's nice to leave the viewer a little unsure as to what's real, but, that works best if there are some clues as to what is and what isn't - and the director let's you choose for yourself, to some effect. Here, there are almost no clues and you choosing what's real doesn't matter all that much.
Other than that, acting is fine, though I did find Natalie Portman's performance over-hyped (she's OK, but not great), directing is OK for what it wants to do, similar goes for the story (there are plot holes, but, hey, it's about a crazy person).
As a parting remark: this surely doesn't make you like ballet more! :)