"The Turning Point" Meets "The Twilight Zone"

Rating: 10/10 (1 January 2011)

Best known for "Requiem for a Dream" and "The Wrestler," director Darren Aronofsky is no slouch when he sets out to fashion an edge of the seat thriller. Not only has he created an entertaining, first-rate film with tons of ambiguity, but he has also assembled a top-flight cast for his tense exercise in suspense about a young, ambitious, but repressed ballerina. Imagine "The Turning Point" meets "The Twilight Zone" and you'll have a good idea what is in store for you. Good performances, atmospheric cinematography, and spine-tingling editing bolster this quirky, offbeat film.
Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman of the second "Star Wars" trilogy) finds herself considerably conflicted when she discovers that she may replace legendary dancer Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder of "Heathers") who has starred in every ballet production. You don't have to know anything about ballet to appreciate this surprise-laden saga with the many twists and turns in a sophisticated screenplay by Mark Heyman, Andrew Heinz, and John McLaughlin. When Nina is facing competition with Beth, she finds herself attracted and seduced by a new dancer named Lily (Mila Kunis of "The Book of Eli") who introduces the shy Nina to drugs and nightclubs. The most villainous personage is neither Big Apple ballet company director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassell of "Ocean's Twelve") nor Nina's strange mom Erica (Barbara Hershey of Beaches) who keeps a tight leash on her daughter. Instead, Nina's worst enemy is herself and she often sees herself as the Black Swan.
Although some of the behavior in it might be offensive to prudish folks, this R-rated movie contains nothing in the way of nudity either upper frontal or lower bottom. Natalie Portman is terrific as Nina. Mila Kunis is her rival for the affections of the manager, (Vincent Cassel), who runs the ballet company. This nightmare thriller will keep you guessing right up to the last second and even then you won't be 100 percent sure what has happened. Winona Ryder co-stars along with Barbara Hershey. Believe me, it isn't just another dance film.
The ending isn't exactly a happy one, but Black Swan is a genuine chiller that will grip you for every minute of its 108 minutes.