I felt it. Perfect. I was perfect.

Black Swan   3/5

 

When the advertisement for Black Swan was first advertised on television I was immediately drawn to it. Part of this may have been because it looked quite scary (being a HUGE horror fan myself) and because Mila Kunis had a main role, an actress who has a place in my heart ever since That 70’s Show.

At the time of its release in the cinema I could not convince anyone to accompany me to the cinema to see it so instead I have obtained a copy from my sister’s fiancé. I had heard a lot of mixed reports about it, however I am a firm believer that you should make up your own mind about something. Here goes:

From the opening scenes of this film I was on the edge of my seat. We are first introduced to Nina, a ballerina who is part of a top New York City ballet company, vying for the role of the Swan Queen in its new production. When the artistic director Thomas Leroy replaces Beth McIntyre with Nina in the role of Swan Queen for their new production, Nina is torn as she can dance the white swan perfectly but has trouble playing the black swan. All the while competing dancer Lily embodies everything about the black swan’s character. The two dancers become friends who end up in a twisted rivalry together, before Nina’s dark side threatens to consume her.

I thought that Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Nina was definitely Oscar worthy and she was well suited for this complex role. Mila Kunis also played Lily perfectly, however I would have liked to have seen a little more of her during this film and it is a real shame that she is hardly recognised for this role as supporting actress. At times this story is scary and unpredictable. Do not take this lightly, as Black Swan is categorised under the horror genre and some moments throughout the film are rather disturbing. I think that this is needed though to convey how Nina’s dark side was destroying her.

Black Swan is a dark, twisted fantasy of a film which may not cater to my personal taste but one which I did enjoy.

Good points: The acting from both Portman and Kunis, her performance as the white swan at the beginning, the relationship between Lily and Nina and Winona Ryder’s small role as Beth McIntyre.

Bad points: I would have liked to have seen more of Kunis in this film and the scene where she picks the skin from her fingers.