Review: 'Black Swan'
Director: 'Darren Aronofsky'
Writen By: 'Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, John McLaughlin'
- Starring: 'Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder, Barbara Hershey, Mila Kunis'
- Genre: 'Drama'
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Ok it was time for me to have another go at getting Ballet. I have tried a few times over the years including going to the Kirov Theatre in Leningrad as it was at the time and going out with a fire breathing Ballerina, but I never previously got much beyond thinking it looks good but that's about it.
So as we appear to be having a Vincent Cassel season here at the moment and as it was showing at The Lexi we went and gave Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan a go. Now I like his films even if they have certain traits in common and this film is no exception as we watch the behind the scenes production of a new version of Swan Lake wherein the director claims (as all directors do) that it will be revolutionary and unlike any previous version. Even though it's actually a whole lot like previous versions as the story is always the same.
Natalie Portman as Nina who eventually gets chosen to replace Winona Ryder as the prima ballerina is great as the neurotic self and work-obsessed-to-the-point-of-not-having-a-life-outside of dancing lead. She will also put down her pushy mother who herself used to be a dancer. She also has an intriguing conflicted relationship with Vincent Cassell's Ballet Director Thomas Leroy, who uses every trick in the book to get the best performance out of her.
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A lot of the film is shot in super close-ups that add a sense of the claustrophobia of being part of a tight and yet incredibly competitive troupe. Inevitably, as it is an Aronofsky movie, this will lead to hallucinations and drugs and some odd sex including a steamy scene or two for Mila Kunis (from That 70's Show) playing the uber cool tattooed ballerina who arrives to join the company midway through the production.
The film looks sumptuous throughout and really kept my attention which is no mean feat for a Ballet movie. It's well worth seeing as it basically tells the story of Swan Lake from a different perspective. Oh, and the eye candy is startling throughout.
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