Black Swan [HD]

Nothing short of brilliant
Darren Aronofsky has been circling movie news sites pretty frequently as of late. He recently signed on to direct the stand-alone sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine (appropriately titled The Wolverine). He also developed a rather large and devoted fanbase over the course of directing fantastically surreal films such as Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and The Wrestler, but his psychological thriller Black Swan has also been gaining quite a bit of steam leading up to its December 3rd release. Despite Aronofsky's already well-established reputation and the rather high anticipation for the film, Black Swan still delivers a product that is even better than expected.

Like most ballerinas, Nina (Portman) lives, breathes, and is completely devoted to dance. Artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) is preparing a new spring production of his interpretation of Swan Lake. Nina is next in line to become prima ballerina after the former dancer to hold that spot, Beth Macintyre (Ryder),...

The Dark And Dangerous Delirium Of The Dance
With this dark and audacious look at artistry and dance, bad boy auteur Darren Aronofsky once again pushes a film's intensity past all point of reason. "Black Swan" will be alternately hailed a masterpiece and an over-indulgent piece of excess. Or, more appropriately, perhaps it is a masterpiece of excess. More akin to the fantastical setting of "The Fountain" than to the confrontational realism of "The Wrestler," Aronofsky has created a remarkably vivid bit of lunacy with "Black Swan." And to be fair, I think he absolutely succeeds in what he has set out to do--creating a hyper dramatic nightmare that blurs the lines between reality and madness. Thematically, many films have covered the same ground--but few so visually, stylishly, or in so unapologetic a way. No matter how many films Aronofsky unleashes on the world, I will always hold the feverish "Requiem For a Dream" closest to my heart--but for visceral thrills, "Black Swan" rates a very high second.

Equal parts...

A very good, though perhaps not great film ~
Natalie Portman gave a riveting performance in this film and won a very deserving Oscar in a tough and competitive Oscar year. Though this film would not get my nod for Best Picture contention, I think it was among the better films nominated for awards in 2010/2011.

Several reviews and the synopsis give an overview of the plot and events. I just found the acting to be stellar, especially Portman (as mentioned), Winona Ryder (sadly not a lot of screen time but what a performance) and Vincent Cassel. I thought Mila Kunis did well for breaking out of her traditional role style, but her performance was uneven.

The film builds nicely to a resounding finale that is firmly etched into my mind for the rest of my life. Love it or hate it, this is an emotional, complex, and striking psychological thriller that is worth watching at least once. Even for someone like me who knows little to nothing about ballet.

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