Directed By: Darren Aronofsky
Story By: Andres Heinz
Cast: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey
Nina Sayers is a talented ballet dancer with a reputed company. She is trying for the role of the Swan Queen – a role vacated by the outgoing Beth. While auditioning for the role, she is disturbed by the newcomer Lily and almost loses the role. She goes to Thomas to convince him but he tells her that the role has already been offered to Veronica. He tries to take advantage of her but she bites him ultimately ending up getting the role.
The role demands a lot from Nina as she is to portray the White Swan as well as the Black Swan – where she is to seduce the prince who can free White Swan from her spell. Lily begins to come close to her and Nina starts considering her as her rival specially when Lily is chosen as Nina’s alternate. Nina even has an encounter where she spends really relaxing time with Lily (if you know what I mean). Nina’s mother, who is always paranoid, also starts worrying about Nina as she always has some blood marks on her skin.
What is most riveting about this movie is the way it is directed. All the close-ups were initially too much for me but I slowly realized how important they were in the bigger picture. This is the 2nd Natalie Portman movie I have watched in a couple of weeks and what a difference in performances. She just revels in her role as Nina trying to portray Black and White Swan. She appears fragile and strong in her role at the same time. Her obsession with being perfect makes her do strange things which even she herself is not aware of. She thinks she is doing something and she ends up doing something else. Her performance is ably backed by a strong storyline. Even though it’s a movie related to Ballerina, its one of those psychological thrillers which leaves you shocked at the end.
Overall I would rate it as a must watch and give it 4.5/5
