Storyline: Nina (Portman) is 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 obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (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 – a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Release Date: December 3rd, 2010 (limited)
Runtime: 108 min
Rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use.
Distributors: Fox Searchlight Pictures
U.S. Box Office: $106,952,327
Black Swan is a story about a girl whose life is all about ballet. She is so overprotected by her mother who like her, was a ballerina. It was like her mother wanted to continue the life she didn’t have as a ballerina through her daughter.
I had a very high expectation of the film but then the outcome for the moral of the story was rather vague and confusing. Yes people would find out in the end that it is the star herself who made all the wrong things leading to her doom but it was never really shown in the movie as it progressed. There might have been to or three scenes that implied or revealed what event really transpired in the film but until the viewer gets to the end, he may never find out just what happened.
The Black Swan is a great story about the battles a person has to go through especially when he/she has nothing much else to live for. It shows what happens when one only puts all eggs in one basket. It shows that just sticking to one road and goal in life or just having one purpose in life isn’t good especially when outside factors contribute to its achievement which is beyond the power of an individual.
I’m not really a big fan of ballet, I’ve never been one to like it but for this kind of career or way of living to be taken a look into is good because it takes the movie to a near reality like it can really happen in real life
The pursuit of perfection and the wanting to achieve one that one really wishes to attain and have is a good way to make people see that something even just as simple as ballet can lead to something wrong and something that is negatively significant. If a person obsesses too much on one field that he would be willing to go through anything even when it is something that is way beyond the morals that one has set for one’s self is very reminiscent of what is going on in our society. People are forced to so something they don’t want to do, hate to do and have no plan of doing all for the sake of the achievement of dreams and goals.
The portrayal of man being very opportunistic but still sticking to his criteria and obsession of what his vision/output should be is also a realistic portrayal of what people really are and what they are also capable of doing. People on top wouldn’t hesitate to squeeze out the last drop out of someone so as just to get that which he wants to get.
I give this movie 8 stars out of 10 (8/10). The casts’ acting was great and they were perfect for their roles. The way the movie was shot has been praised by people especially those familiar to the visionary of the director. The story was great as well for it makes a person think and it is not the usual spoon feeding thing that people usually gets in movies. Overall it was good. It could have been a bit boring knowing that some people don’t like ballet and it was just a lot of talking but to have a different way of showing a masterpiece is always welcome in our unique world.
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