Film: Black Swan
Starring: Natalie Portman (Brothers and V for Vendetta) and Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall and The Book of Eli)
U.S. Release: 2010 (rated R)
Director: Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream)
Genre: Thriller
Runtime: 103 minutes
Black Swan is easily one of the most talked about releases just prior to this year's awards season. After director Darren Aronofsky's award-winning picture The Wrestler, he has quickly found himself atop the mountain. And it's never easy being on top. With great praise comes huge expectations. Prior to my screening of Black Swan, I joined the ranks of many other critics and set the bar high for Aronofsky and his pair of female leads (Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis).
Black Swan is set in present day New York City. Nina Sayers (played by Portman) is a member of NYC's ballet company. Very dedicated and precise, when the company's director Thomas Leroy (played by Vincent Cassel) informs everyone he is looking for a new lead in next season's Swan Lake, Nina begins to feel the pressure to perform. Then, Thomas explains to Nina that in the production, the lead must play two roles. The sweet and innocent White Swan, which Nina would be perfect for, and the dark and deceptive Black Swan, which the director believes is way out of her comfort zone. Ultimately, Nina is picked for the lead and everything seems to go according to plan. However, Lily (played by Kunis), the newcomer to the company has all the makings of an unforgettable Black Swan. Nina begins to suspect Lily's intentions of dethroning her for the lead part, and she must do whatever is necessary to find her inner Black Swan.
Very dark and disturbing, Black Swan has all the elements of a great film. However, something about it left me leaving the theatre feeling unfulfilled. The first hour of Black Swan has a noticeable drag, yet inevitably, the final 30 minutes of the film are filled with intense, suspenseful scenes. Aronofsky's intention is to show Nina's gradual transformation from the prototypical White Swan, to the unimaginable Black Swan. Unfortunately, in doing so, the acclaimed director slightly loses the audience. On the other hand, Aronofsky's Black Swan concludes with an absolutely unforgettable ending. Similar to The Wrestler, a slow build up leads to a climax that is filmed beautifully and delivered to perfection. The latter half of the film is definitely worth the price of admission.
Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Barbara Hershey all gave stunning performances, and there's a good chance they'll be recognized for their excellent work. And despite its evident flaws, when all is said and done, Black Swan is a must see film. This dark thriller is slightly over-hyped, but it's still a very good movie. Not great, but very good. If you can withstand a few stomach-turning scenes, you're sure to be satisfied as the closing credits roll. So do yourself a favor, and don't spend this year's award season saying, "I wish I saw that movie." Definitely spend 2 hours over the holidays checking out an Oscar-worthy film like Black Swan.
Stars: 3 stars out of 4.
Grade: B+
Starring: Natalie Portman (Brothers and V for Vendetta) and Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall and The Book of Eli)
U.S. Release: 2010 (rated R)
Director: Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream)
Genre: Thriller
Runtime: 103 minutes
Black Swan is easily one of the most talked about releases just prior to this year's awards season. After director Darren Aronofsky's award-winning picture The Wrestler, he has quickly found himself atop the mountain. And it's never easy being on top. With great praise comes huge expectations. Prior to my screening of Black Swan, I joined the ranks of many other critics and set the bar high for Aronofsky and his pair of female leads (Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis).
Black Swan is set in present day New York City. Nina Sayers (played by Portman) is a member of NYC's ballet company. Very dedicated and precise, when the company's director Thomas Leroy (played by Vincent Cassel) informs everyone he is looking for a new lead in next season's Swan Lake, Nina begins to feel the pressure to perform. Then, Thomas explains to Nina that in the production, the lead must play two roles. The sweet and innocent White Swan, which Nina would be perfect for, and the dark and deceptive Black Swan, which the director believes is way out of her comfort zone. Ultimately, Nina is picked for the lead and everything seems to go according to plan. However, Lily (played by Kunis), the newcomer to the company has all the makings of an unforgettable Black Swan. Nina begins to suspect Lily's intentions of dethroning her for the lead part, and she must do whatever is necessary to find her inner Black Swan.
Very dark and disturbing, Black Swan has all the elements of a great film. However, something about it left me leaving the theatre feeling unfulfilled. The first hour of Black Swan has a noticeable drag, yet inevitably, the final 30 minutes of the film are filled with intense, suspenseful scenes. Aronofsky's intention is to show Nina's gradual transformation from the prototypical White Swan, to the unimaginable Black Swan. Unfortunately, in doing so, the acclaimed director slightly loses the audience. On the other hand, Aronofsky's Black Swan concludes with an absolutely unforgettable ending. Similar to The Wrestler, a slow build up leads to a climax that is filmed beautifully and delivered to perfection. The latter half of the film is definitely worth the price of admission.
Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Barbara Hershey all gave stunning performances, and there's a good chance they'll be recognized for their excellent work. And despite its evident flaws, when all is said and done, Black Swan is a must see film. This dark thriller is slightly over-hyped, but it's still a very good movie. Not great, but very good. If you can withstand a few stomach-turning scenes, you're sure to be satisfied as the closing credits roll. So do yourself a favor, and don't spend this year's award season saying, "I wish I saw that movie." Definitely spend 2 hours over the holidays checking out an Oscar-worthy film like Black Swan.
Stars: 3 stars out of 4.
Grade: B+
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