Black Swan Quick Review

So, last night I decided to start cracking into the remaining Best Picture nominees that I hadn't seen yet. As the title of this review says, I started with Black Swan, the latest film from Darren Aronofsky. If you're unfamiliar with the film's story, it follows a young ballerina, played by Natalie Portman, who is chosen to play the Swan Queen in her dance company's production of Swan Lake. But, as Portman's character begins to feel the pressure from an overbearing mother, a new member of the dance company who she believes to be after her role, and a director who is determined to make her as perfect a Black Swan as she is a White Swan, she starts to seemingly lose her mind.

The story of the film itself isn't really that groundbreaking, but the setting helps to give it a different twist. I mean, has their ever been a psychological thriller about ballerinas? The film also does a great job of melding actual reality, and what Portman's character, Nina, experiences. This is done so well that you don't realize some of the film's events are hallucinations until it actually tells you. This adds to the film's tension, as you're never quite sure what's real, and what isn't. If I had to compare this film to anything, I would say that its much like The Shining, in that it also explores how a person can slowly lose their mind. Unlike Jack, however, Nina is much more of a sympathetic character, and you never feel that she is the film's antagonist, even when things start getting really crazy.

In case you hadn't heard yet, Natalie Portman knocks it way out of the park here, and should be the main reason you see this film. With a character like Nina, you have to believe every single ounce of the actor's performance, or the whole thing is pointless. Portman nails it on every level, from the sympathetic, fragile character she begins as, to ...well, I'll let you see for yourself what exactly Nina becomes near the end. It's a performance that deserves all the credit it's getting, and when all's said and done, Portman should walk away from this year's Academy Awards with an Oscar in-hand. The supporting cast, which includes Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder, and Vincent Cassel, all put in some good performances as well, but it's really Portman's show, here.

While the film may not stand much of a chance in the Best Picture race, Black Swan does deserve the Best Actress trophy it will get Natalie Portman. Aronofsky assembled a fine film here, with a nice twist on a familiar story, a good cast and outstanding lead, cinematography that can be disorienting and crystal clear at any given moment, and a score that takes the music of Swan Lake and uses it as the perfect soundtrack to a dancer's downfall. I highly suggest you check this one out, even if I don't believe it would of cracked my personal Top 5 of 2010. But, it's time for me to move on to the next Best Picture candidate that I'll be seeing, The Fighter. Be sure to come back here tomorrow to see my review of that film. Until next time, I'll see you next time.

(You can check out BenBen on Twitter @CmdrBenBen)