Review: Black Swan

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Sweet girl.

Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is a meek, New York City ballerina that still lives with her domineering mother, Erica. (Barbara Hershey) Thomas, (Vincent Cassel) her diva instructor casts her as the lead in his version of The Swan Queen. He knows she can nail the part of the White Swan, but it's the cunning, seductive Black Swan that she still needs to prove she can handle. When a west coast ballerina named Lily (Mila Kunis) gets thrown into the mix, Nina begins to obsess more and more over the role while also losing her grip on her sanity.

Nina's relationship with her mother is unhealthy to say the least. While Portman dominates this film, Hershey gives a creepy and extremely uncomfortable performance as her mother. I literally squirmed in my seat during some of their scenes together. Cassel gives a great performance as the director with an alternative way of teaching and Kunis fits nicely in her role as a rebel ballerina. I don't think it's very far from other things Kunis has done in the past, but she's getting lots of praise. So good for her. Many people said Black Swan reminded them of Aronofsky's The Wrestler, I thought it reminded me more of Requiem for a Dream. The drama pulls you in and has some scenes that gross you out. The ending was quick and powerful and I thought it worked really well. I'm guessing Natalie Portman will be walking away with that Oscar this year.

Recommended: Yes

Grade: A

Memorable Quote: "That was me seducing you, it should be the other way around." - Thomas (Vincent Cassel)

Comments

  1. Candice FrederickJanuary 7, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    definitely more requiem for a dream than the much tamer The Wrestler. great direction and great perfrmance bu Portman. i thought all the supporting cast were mere pawns in her experiment to drive herself crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LesyaJanuary 8, 2011 at 6:46 PM

    I'm guessing the same about the Oscar for Natalie. It just can't be Lawrence! Glad you gave it an A :)

    ReplyDelete

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