self-indulgent, excruciating; maybe 15 beautiful seconds

Rating: 1/10 (4 February 2011)

My family almost walked out. My grown daughter said, "I'm going to remember this director's name and avoid his flicks. And as for Natalie ... it's going to take me awhile to forgive her."
There was one exquisite scene -- when Natalie turned into the Black Swan.
Too many excruciating scenes to list. The fingernail business was inexcusable.
The emblematic black/white swan idea was missing and/or completely muffed. I assume the director just didn't get it. There are so many movies that get the metaphor right. There simply was no white swan here.
We know and are friends with dancers, serious ones -- maybe not New York types, and maybe that's the problem. There's no reason the portrayal has to be so raw and wretched.
This movie has done a serious disservice to the Dance. If you love ballet, skip it.