Review of Black Swan (2010) by Geissel P — 01 Mar 2016

Rebellion, jealousy, perfection, paranoia, obsession, masochism; embodying the French surrealist elements of which it was created, the intoxicating Black Swan speaks straight to the psyche.

Embracing Tchaikovsky's hauntingly powerful music, Director Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream) digs deep under the skin to consume viewers. His simplistic use of special effects, extreme close ups and tight camera angles, plummets us into the deliriously dark reaches of the fragile mind.

Dedicated New York corps-de-ballet dancer Nina (Natalie Portman) lives a sheltered life. Fuelled by her retired overbearing stage-mother's (Barbara Hershey) obsessions, Nina's life is completely consumed by her profession and her ambitious dreams to be elevated to the companies lead prima-ballerina.

When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) announces that the new seasons opening production will not only be his own new visceral version of Swan Lake, but also the launch of a fresh face, naïve Nina's dreams finally seem within reach.

His immediate first choice, Nina is a shoe in to replacing Leroy's 'little princes' previous protégé Beth (Winona Ryder). However, his reservations for Nina in the character as Swan Queen lie within her ability to transform in the duel role as required.

A perfect fit as the fragile, innocent and graceful White Swan Odette, Nina is too reserved to embrace the guile and sensuality of its darker nemesis and convert into the mistress of deception Odile, the Black Swan.

Taunting her as frigid, afraid to let herself go and confined by boundaries, Leroy attempts to bring out the inner Odile with an exercise in seduction. However her continuing internal conflict is amplified when Lily (Mila Kunis) joins the corps.

Direct opposites; Lily is the personification of fun-loving, dramatic passion. Her naturally relaxed raunchiness and noticeable attraction to Leroy compounds Nina's obsession with the perfect performance. Their need-to-impress rivalry blossoms into a twisted friendship with Lily temping Nina to loosen up with sex, drugs and booze.

A savage triumph, Nina is finally able to tap into her dark-side. Her hallucinatory behaviour leads to a recklessness abandonment that threatens to destroy not only her career but her life.

Perfectly cast this production is well deserving of its five Oscar nominations. The delicate, beautiful and vulnerable features of Natalie Portman are finally put to good use in the role of her career. Stunningly believable as a tortured soul, Natalie is a shock to the system to watch.

Barbara Hershey is terrifyingly malevolent, Winona Ryder is chillingly anguished, Mila Kunis is full of every freedom-loving expression and Vincent Cassel oozes the required smarminess whilst still being able to deliver the depth of a nurturing mentor.

The verdict: Dark and disturbing, this striking film delves into the terrifying depths of the human mind. As life imitates art the lines between reality and fantasy often become blurred.

Published: The Queanbeyan Age.

Date of Publication: 04/02/2011.