Cast & Crew:
9.6
Directed and written by Darren Aronofsky
Cinematography by Matthew Libatique
Composing by Clint Mansell
Production Design by Thérèse DePrez
Editing by Andrew Weisblum
Nina Sayers - Natalie Portman
Lily - Mila Kunis
Thomas Leroy - Vincent Cassel
Review:
Synopsis:
Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina whose passion for the dance rules every facet of her life. When the company's artistic director decides to replace his prima ballerina for their opening production of "Swan Lake," Nina is his first choice. She has competition in newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis), however. While Nina is perfect for the role of the White Swan, Lily personifies the Black Swan. As rivalry between the two dancers transforms into a twisted friendship, Nina's dark side begins to emerge.
The Black Swan is a movie that has been on my list for a long while. But when I got the opportunity to see it for the first time in IMAX, I had no choice but to check it out. After giving it a day to collect my thoughts, I can say that I got a lot out of it. This film is a perfect example of how any topic/genre can mix well with a Horror/Thriller element. The movie cleverly uses the ballet Swan Lake to parallel the narrative throughout most of the movie. Every actor in this movie is clearly giving it their all, but it cannot be understated how much of a powerhouse Natalie Portman was. There were countless frames I could reference when discussing the visuals, but the standout for me was the shot where Natalie finishes her performance and we see her shadow as if she had really turned into a bird.