Black Swan

You can stone me, but Aronofsky is repeating himself for the third time and it's getting old. Although he once again emphasizes the physicality and the decay of the soul and body, the film lacks any sort of more prominent moment that I haven't seen from him before. The lacerated fingers do hurt, but what I saw here was more so pseudo-art, where he gracefully tiptoes around but doesn't get to the core even once. The metamorphoses at the end amused me unintentionally rather than making me feel any kind of gradation or even catharsis. However, I can understand the standing ovation the film receives. (2010-12-26)

Although Black Swan appears to be made from the same dough as The Wrestler, it is only half true. Yes, it fits quite well superficially - the concept is actually similar, intimate body camera, ruthless details, long tracking shots, scenes of mutilation in the name of foolish desire (again, it is a desire expressed by roaring crowds). But it cannot be overlooked that in one important respect, Black Swan is antithetical to The Wrestler. While The Wrestler was a film where the inside of the hero remained hidden and it was a documentary record of gradual doom, in Black Swan everything is outward, the pain is written into horror expressive scenes, the heroine's psychoses are "Freudian" amplified and accentuated by various dreamlike chimeras. Everything inside happens on the outside at the same time, and the viewer is trapped in the snares of an unreliable storyteller. Where reality ends and Nina's fantastical projection begins is sometimes difficult to decipher. Some of the scenes are suspiciously conventional (you can see it well in all the horror jump scares and phantoms) and I couldn't shake the impression that for the mutating surface, Aronofsky missed what was not visible in The Wrestler, yet was physically felt - an intimate plane of pain "out of desire" leading to the final grand gesture of self-destruction. Black Swan is essentially ancient during the ending, but it didn't affect me nearly as much as Randy's last “ram-jam". Everything is in place here (a famous camera, a devastating Natalie and a magnificent musical accompaniment), yet ecstasy did not come. I think Aronofsky was able to go deeper in the past without theatrical props. (2011-01-17)

An unsettling journey through the ballet stage with an atmosphere that takes your breath away in every shot. Aronofsky came up with his version of mental darkness and I can't stop staring. Mainly thanks to the mesmerizing camera and brilliant Natalie, it is one of those experiences that must be removed from your head almost forcibly due to their suggestiveness. It is difficult to say in one sentence why Black Swan is so amazing. I just know and feel that it truly is. (2010-12-21)

Perfection, obsession, paranoia, beauty. The faltering mind of a young ballerina is a very unreliable guide through this non-traditional drama. Ballet in itself seems like something so entrancing, so perfect that violating the privacy of preparations for something so sacred, could well be called blasphemy. But that is just how Aronofsky shows the reality, the rivalry, the carefully prepared choreography and especially the devotion to the story depicted in the piece. Natalie Portman gives one of her best performances and her Nina is just as delicate as the spinning ballerina in her music box. Their devotion, their thirst for perfection and absolute commitment to their character go hand in hand. If this does not get that supreme award this year, it will be a disgrace for the whole Academy. On the other side of the spectrum, Mila Kunis is the exact opposite of the White Swan, playful, passionate, fallible, yet so much more beautiful with her dark self, showing through her every smile. Music-wise, it’s a masterpiece. The combination of classic variations on Tchaikovsky and Mansell’s dark electronic minimalism form a surprisingly compact unit. The close-ups, even during most of the ballet scenes, add to the intimacy of the piece, creating an emotional rollercoaster that’s hard for the viewer to recover from. Amazing and, especially, original. It was perfect. (2011-02-15)

This movie is a huge gem!!! Natalie Portman shows incredible talent and I believed her every second. The film is not demanding, and yet it is nerve wracking. I like ballet even less after this one. Because I feel a lot of pain and toil from ballet. So does this film. Mila Kunis absolutely amazed me with her courageous acting. A very good drama and experience... just the icky feeling bothers me. (2011-02-09)