Black Swan

Whoa.  You may think you're ready for Black Swan, but you're not.

Here's what you probably already know going into the movie from the previews: Natalie Portman is a ballerina, chosen to play the Swan Queen in the upcoming production of Swan Lake.  Portman's character, Nina, is perfect for half of the role-- that of the White Swan.  Nina is innocent (read, naive), fresh, trusting and technically brilliant but cold.  Nina, however, must also dance the part of the Black Swan, a dark, seductive, emotional dance.  Everything she's not.  What follows is Nina's exploration of herself (quite literally at times) in an effort to unearth her own dark side.

Now, here's what you need to know about this movie: Black Swan is terrifying.  Nina seems to be losing touch with reality the more she embraces her darker side.  Her existence becomes shockingly unstable and violent.  People are hurt, although we're not sure exactly which people.

Here's my advice: Don't try too hard to figure out the ending-- you can't.  Take the film a bit more at face value and appreciate the physical, mental and emotional devotion that great performers must pour into their craft to excel.  The scenes of the dancers cracking toes, popping seemingly every joint in their body, splitting toenails because of over-exertion and undergoing tortuous physical therapy are every bit as unsettling as the psychological frights.  Nina pushes herself to perform at unimaginable levels.  There is a price for such perfection.

$$$$$
(Would be a fine rental, but everyone will be talking about this movie, particularly Portman's performance, during awards season.)

-  Stuart