Black Swan: An actual entertaining film about Ballerinas

Yesterday I got the chance to check out Darren Aronofsky’s new film Black Swan, which stars Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel. Aronofsky is best known for directing the 2008 film The Wrestler. I have to admit that going into the theater, I was as equally excited as I was cautious about this film, after all, it is a movie about ballerinas.

Black Swan (2010): is a psychological thriller set in New York City. Natalie Portman plays Nina, a dancer in a celebrated ballet company. After the lead ballerina (played by Wynona Ryder) is forced to retire, director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) begins searching for a new lead to star his upcoming production of Swan Lake. After some initial hesitation, Leroy decides to cast Nina as the Swan Queen. The strain and stress of this new role causes Nina to suffer from hallucinations which grow increasingly graphic. Adding to her stress, Nina also begins to suspect that her understudy Lily (Kunis) is trying to steal the lead role from her. Paranoid and unstable, Nina desperately tries to hang onto the role she’s fought so hard to get.

Black Swan is a fascinating and intense look into what a performer will do for greatness. Nerve racking and melodramatic, Black Swan is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Natalie Portman’s portrayal is chilling and impassioned. With a Golden Globe nomination already under her belt for this performance, I fully expect an Oscar nomination to follow as well. Innovatively original, Black Swan lives up to the hype, and is easily one of the best films of 2010. (*** ½ Stars)