All I have to say is Natalie Portman, meet Oscar. Oscar, you best be meeting Natalie P this year. I just loved Nat's raw and vulnerable performance along with Mila Kunis' supporting dark angel portrayal. Wow. This 'thriller' was fast paced, layered, intense and beautifully deranged. I mean that in the best of ways. I'll admit, some scenes had me pulling my peacoat over my head (gruesome) and some had me laughing at the uncomfort that was oozing out of everyone (aka coworkers) during some, ehem, shall we say 'explicit' scenes; even so I have to give this film the credit it's due.
Black Swan speaks to the 'inner daemon' that resides in us all and what happens when that daemon is allowed the permission to take over in one's life. Such a wonderful portrayal of the struggle which occurs within, as one ballerina journeys in finding her darker side for her onstage persona. This inevitably evokes weakness and unbalance of her mind, body and soul.
Having been a competitive dancer for some 13 odd years, I found Black Swan definitively convincing and unapologetically real. The fears, sadness, defeat and disappointment balanced with the excitement, joy, thrill and euphoric moments which result from performing on stage, were all showcased brilliantly. These feelings and emotions are not only familiar to the performers of the world, but can be related to by anyone under pressure or having to live up to overwhelming expectations.
That's all I wanted to say here as I really didn't want to give much away. If you appreciate creative films which hold deeper meaning and tell a tale of the human condition, then don't think twice about seeing Black Swan. Run out and see it now. Loved, loved, loved it. That is all.
5 out of 5 heels.
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