Let me say upfront that I'm a fan of Aronofsky's prior work. A huge fan of Pi and The Wrestler, but I will confess that I've never seen Requiem for a Dream. I've tried to watch it once or twice and I just can't get through how bleak it is. It's a critical shortcoming on my behalf, and I plan on fixing that soon...I promise.
I don't think Black Swan is his best film, but it's a hell of a film none the less, and worth seeing for Aronofsky's visual trickery, and a stellar performance by Natalie Portman. You'd do well to check out the trailer, and consider if the film might be for you after watching it. I don't think it's a movie for everyone, but it will certainly find an audience, and I think most of the praise it's getting is pretty well deserved. Though I think it's a bit over-hyped...just a little bit.
Here is the Apple trailers synopsis:
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BLACK SWAN follows the story of Nina (Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter’s professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.
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Just a quick note to say, "Where the hell did Mila Kunis come from?!" She's really good in the film, and I hope we see more of her on the big screen. (Never would have guessed she was on That 70's Show as I never cared for it...)
Without talking too much about specifics, and spoilers I will say that Aronofsky's ability to unsettle the viewer with disturbing yet often subtle visuals is really, really good. The twists and turns the plot takes, at points making you wonder what's real versus imagination, continue to grab at every corner and keep your attention. Some of the visuals go over the top a bit, and even border on comedic at a point or two. However, they are so brief that the viewer is more often left wondering what they just saw, than really having seen, and understood, it at all.
I appreciate his attention to detail, you get a real feel for what these performers go through on a daily basis. You come to understand that it's a cutthroat business driven by passion, perfection, excellence, and...fear. Knowing that your time as a ballerina is finite, that the lights will go out on you eventually, whether you break out of the corps and into the prima ballerina spot or not, is a harsh and unforgiving reality. The pressures can damage and break anyone.
The film works on a lot of different levels, and Portman's performance shines through in each and every scene.
I do take a bit of issue with the score for the film, more appropriately Aronofsky's insistence on pounding you over the head with it at points of key tension. Yes, we know, she's stressing out and under pressure, she is losing her grip, we don't need the volume keyed up to 11 to understand that. I almost wonder if muting things, or muffling them would be more effective.
On the whole I really enjoyed the film. It'll certainly be the material for some great conversations between friends.
I think it begs the question, how far would you be willing to go to taste perfection and would it be worth the cost? If you lose yourself on the way to the top, if being the best means finding yourself alone, what have you gained? What have you won?
