Black Swan
Synopsis: A ballet dancer wins the lead in “Swan Lake” and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan, but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like the evil twin sister of the White Swan, the Black Swan. (IMDB.com) Nina, an isolated single daughter of failed dancer, Erica is about to hit her break. She has worked her ass off (literally and figuratively) to move up in the competitive world of a single ballet company. Their director, womanizing Thomas, decides he wants some fresh blood in his spot light and fresh tail in his bedroom. As the movie progresses, we become witness to Nina’s depreciating mental stability through visions, self-mutilation, and compulsive behaviors. By the end of the movie it’s difficult to discern how much of what we witnessed was real and how much of the mental stability is a result of her mother’s strange relationship (bunnies in the bedroom?).
Considerations: This is Director Darren Aronofsky’s fifth feature film, and as of yet, all of them have been strikingly rich, dark and intense. This movie is no exception. His use of cinematography portrays both the internal and external perceptions of the characters. The script, well written, expresses the enduring struggle. Though there is some profanity, it’s well written, and well acted to the point that it flows into the dialogue. The most striking aspect of this movie for deciding whether it’s appropriate for you or children is the intense mental anguish of Nina’s character. There are points when the acting out on her part is vivid, intense and violent. The movie is very genuine and authentic regarding the struggles of someone who is going through a psychotic episode.
Review: I would have to say that this movie is Amazing!
Acting: The three main actresses and the main actor took their roles very seriously. Natalie Portman portrayed Nina very well displaying her ongoing mental deterioration, portraying the eating habits, obsessions and compulsions and finally the psychosis. She expressed the confusion and frustration of someone who questions her reality, and finally demonstrates a surrender to her state when she realizes freedom from her suffering. Vincent Cassel, who plays Thomas, was convincing in his role of the director who is trying to create an amazing show while developing beautiful ballet artists. He also suffers from the unfortunate disease of being a lonely male surrounded by “beautiful” women (I put beautiful to denote that this is one portrayal of beauty that I don’t necessarily concede), beautiful women who view him as a god. Barbara Hershey plays the role of Nina’s mother, Ericka. Another powerfully portrayed character. Mila and Winona played the alternate roles of Nina: the threatening understudy and the washed out predecessor. Both actresses did a great job performing their roles and supporting the illusion of Nina’s spiral and the competitive nature of performing arts.
Story: As mentioned above, the story was well written. The pieces flowed together showing the history of her mental issues, as well as the historical portrayal of her mother (why her mother isolated her and pushed her into ballet). It starts as the season is about to begin. Beth (Winona Ryder), the primadonna of the dance company is falling out of Thomas’ graces and he’s looking for something new and exciting. He wants to change the way that the ballet is performed by combining the two main roles into one dualistic role. The dancer who takes on this role will not only have to dance the perfect aspects of the White Swan, delicate and demure, but also take on the freedom and seductive qualities of the Black Swan. Nina, who has been dancing all of her life, hopes to be chosen for this role. She doesn’t appear to have the confidence to take on the challenges that the Black Swan will require. As the story progresses, they show the demeaning and often drastic measures that ballet dancers put upon themselves: eating disorders to maintain weight, modification of the shoes to increase performance, at greater risk to themselves, among other constraints that Nina and Ericka put upon her. Lily, played by Mila Kunis, is probably the most underwritten role of the movie. This character is left vague and shadowed to support Nina’s delusions.
