Director - Darren Aronofsky
Cast - Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel
Genre – Dark Suspense
Hotly tipped to win an Oscar on February 27th ‘Black Swan’ is the tale of a promising ballet dancer, Nina (Natalie Portman), that has repeatedly failed to take the lead in any of her companies productions, despite being a long serving member and technically a perfect dancer. Nina, still living with her retired ballet dancer mother and very much still a child at heart seems resigned to being forever in the chorus. However, when the current company lead seems set to retire everyone is surprised when, Thomas (Vincent Cassel), the company owner, selects Nina to play the lead in the latest production of Swan Lake. This role seems to consume Nina and when a new dancer joins the company it induces changes in Nina both professionally and socially, leading to a spiral of dark paranoia and ever increasingly strange behavior.
Anyone familiar with Darren Aronofsky’s early works, such as Pi or Requiem for a Dream will not be surprised by this movies slow burning start and seemingly aimless meanderings. To be honest I was not overly impressed, but in a year where amazing female roles were in short supply I am not at all amazed to see Portman tipped for Oscar glory. I will be somewhat amused however if it brings home any other awards.
Having said that the actors make a bad script bearable, the cinematography is excellent and the performances of Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel and Barbara Hershey as the pushy, overbearing mother, do stand out. In point of fact, Vincent Cassel, is rapidly becoming my favorite French actor as he does make a convincing dark lead.
In short, if you routinely watch Oscar movies, you will have seen worse, but to be honest there have been many better films than this one in the last twelve months.
Those of you wishing to see Black Swan can pick it up at Century Rio 24 and XD, 4901 Pan American Fwy., Albuquerque or UA Four Hills Theatre 10 13120-A Central Avenue Southeast, Albuquerque over the weekend.
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