After resurrecting Mickey Rourke’s career with The Wrestler, director Darren Aronofsky delivers an equally dark tale of obsessive ambition with Black Swan. Black it certainly is as it charts the disturbing lengths a ballet dancer goes to in order to secure a dream stage role. Overseeing another powerful performance from his lead, his examination of a psychologically damaged person underscores the fearless vision which has made his previous works so compelling.
Nina (Natalie Portman) is a gifted ballet dancer whose life is dominated by her mother Erica (Barbara Hershey). Pushed into making ballet her life, Nina aims to be the greatest of her profession. When a fellow dancer drops out of a production of Swan Lake, Thomas (Vincent Cassel), her theatrical director, chooses her as the new lead. Excited at this opportunity her thoughts are tempered by her understudy Lily (Mila Kunis). Equally ambitious, Lily’s presence creates a rivalry with a Pandora’s Box of emotions potentially leading to Nina’s descent into personal destruction.
There is no doubt Black Swan is Natalie Portman’s film. She commands the screen with her bewitching presence as her character slowly succumbs to the dark abyss of her soul. Every move Nina makes towards becoming the supreme dancer she dreams of being, the further her grip on reality slips. Portman really is amazing and it’s been a great pleasure seeing her grow in her roles since she played an adolescent assassin in her first film The Professional. Supported by an exceptional cast, they all mirror the emotional maelstrom from which Nina vainly attempts to escape.
Aronofsky has clearly done his homework as Black Swan slyly resembles Swan Lake’s plot. His direction teases out the theatrical melodrama of the piece extremely well as Nina’s growing madness and sorrow merge. This is particularly noticeable with her interaction with Lily, who represents the carefree spirit Nina wishes to be. The ballet scenes also highlight these personal traumas and are effectively staged with the looming tragedy of the play leading to Black Swan’s shocking denouncement.
At times disturbing, surreal and uncomfortable viewing, Black Swan is an endlessly fascinating film. Aronofsky should be pleased his latest striking effort continues his agitation from mainstream film-making – something always deserving of applause.
Movie Review Rating 9 / 10
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
Black Swan released in Australia on Thursday 13 January 2011.
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