The Black Swan

After watching Darren Aronofsky's The Black Swan, I feel stressed out. If you leave this film and don't feel stressed out, you may want to check your pulse because you're probably comatose. The Black Swan packs a visceral punch unlike any other. While not a horror film, it follows suit with the rest of Aronofsky's work and relies heavily on the abject. In non-film theory terms, The Black Swan distorts Natalie Portman's body and warps our image of the beautiful ballerina into images of bodily disgust. As unappealing as this sounds, it is truly a testimony to Aronofsky's talent as a director. His filmmaking precision mirrors the precision of the on screen ballerinas. As the film goes on, the audience begins to feel as disoriented as Portman's character, Nina. There is a sense of claustrophobia as we follow her through hallways, streets, and the ballet studio. She is trapped by her mother, her dance mates, and most importantly, herself. In true expressionistic style, the film's exterior reflects Nina's interior.

In a mother-child relationship that only Norman Bates himself would be jealous of, Barbara Hershey and Natalie Portman are perfect as mother/daughter. Hershey delivers her lines through gritted teeth and pursed lips in a way that takes haunting to a new level. I'm talking beyond Piper Laurie in Carrie kind of haunting. The tension and chemistry between Portman and Hershey is so believable and unbelievable. They make the Beales look reasonable. Film references aside, Hershey is a force to be reckoned with. And even though I hate her for not signing my Beaches DVD at TIFF this year, I will forgive her and say she has one heck of a chance at Best Supporting Actress come the Oscars. For the record, I'm not usually one to jump on the hype bandwagon, but Portman was perfection. She plays obsessed and deranged in an all too real way, yet I wholeheartedly rooted for her. The magic of her performance is that she makes us understand her passion, drive, and insanity. 

The Black Swan is steeped high in symbolism and Freudian psychology that would make one bad-ass argument for a film paper. This, however, does not detract from the pure entertainment of the film. From the first scene to the very last, Aronofsky keeps you on your tippy toes. His love of cinema shines through every breathtaking scene and proves why he is one of the most challenging directors working today.