Flick Flak: Black Swan
Black Swan
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel
15, 108mins
Since Christmas, in the run up to Oscar season, some of the best films all year have been released - The King's Speech, 127 Hours, and soon True Grit is set to match them as well.
However, I think I might have seen my favourite. Black Swan won't win the Oscar, but it's my Best Film. It is a crazed assault on the senses, a film which really revels in being dark, seedy and in getting into your head, and I love it for it.
Tonally, Black Swan really put me in mind of two things: David Lynch films and Carrie. Lynch, because like his films this one uses sound and visuals to almost unbearable lengths, to try and make you look away, close your ears, and disorientate you. And Carrie for the main character, Nina (Natalie Portman), who is under such mental strain but has nobody to turn to for help, especially not her mother. The best review in a sentence that I've seen was by Simon Pegg via Twitter: "Extraordinary. Like a string tuned to breaking point for 100 minutes." A brilliant summary, as the film is constantly taut, strained, and there is the growing fear that it will inevitably snap.
I had a wide smile on my face for much of the film, loving the unsubtle way that themes are screamed at the audience. Practically every scene has a mirror, reflections are toyed with, and the use of black and white is forceful - in clothing, the sets, even the opening titles. There is no way that you could claim that the film is too obscure: it is all about black versus white, reflections and perceptions. Some might not like the in-your-face style of this, but I did.
The plot follows Nina, a ballet dancer going for the part of the Swan Queen in Swan Lake. The problem is, she's perfect for the part of the White Swan, but cannot let go of her restrain and perfection to also play the Black Swan. On the other hand, new girl Lily (Mila Kunis) embodies the recklessness and passion needed to portray the seductive alter ego to the White Swan. Essentially the film is about Nina trying to embrace her own dark side, come out from the shadow of her incredibly over- protective mother, and impress the head of the ballet group (played brilliantly by Vincent Cassel), all while struggling under extreme pressure. Like Lynch films, you need to be prepared for insanity, things which will not necessarily make sense; it is as much an experience as it is a coherent story. I would suggest that if you don't know the plot of the ballet Swan Lake, have a quick look on Wikipedia. It won't ruin anything, but does give you a little insight into what Black Swan is playing on.
Natalie Portman deserves the buzz which she has received for her acting. I have never been a huge fan; I thought her best performance prior to this was in Leon, when she was thirteen. Or perhaps in V for Vendetta. Anyway, she deserves the Oscar for Best Actress. She is playing three roles almost; the fragile and frightened White Swan, the aggressive and seductive Black Swan, and the fracturing ballerina caught between them. Add to this that she did almost all of her own ballet (as did Mila Kunis), and dislocated a rib in the process. Apparently when this occurred she was told that the film's budget was so tight that they didn't have a medic, to which she replied that they needed a medic, and if they had to make cuts they should cut her trailer. They did.
Mila Kunis is a good bit of casting, effectively playing the role that she always does - sexy, likeable, easy-going. Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder, as Nina's mother and ex-lead ballerina Beth respectively, are both amazing as women who seem to be on the edge of sanity, and both of them can induce a sense of dread at any moment. Vincent Cassel is brilliantly sleazy, the villain in the most sordid pantomime ever, who directs his dancers with sexuality. Every character is deep, far from being the two dimensional clichs that a lesser film would have been happy to use for their purposes.
I could go on. I laughed at bizarre comedic bits, squirmed at icky, itchy horror, was shocked at twists which then straighten back out again, and was moved by Natalie Portman's performance. Black Swan unashamedly uses sex, confusion, style, lights and colour, music and fear; everything it can to seduce, unsettle and terrify. And now I'm off to see it again.
2 Comments – Post a comment
Sprout Editor
Commented 64 months ago - 8th February 2011 - 10:35am
Great review. I've re-read this again today as I watched the Black Swan last night. It is as exactly as you've described; it's so dark and intense and I actually did have to look away at one point. It was hard to tell what was real and what wasn't and there were some fantastic characters! I loved it, my eyes were completely transfixed on the screen although I was left feeling quite uncomfortable afterwards!
neilramsden
Commented 64 months ago - 8th February 2011 - 13:12pm
Thanks very much! I'm gonna go see it again tomorrow, really love it! Still think it should win Best Film too, for sheer originality.