Black Swan (2010) R

Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream) has already proven himself as one of the top directors in Hollywood. Is Black Swan his best work? You're going to have to read on to find out. The critics love this film, as well as audiences, so I had extremely high expectations going in. Natalie Portman (V for Vendetta, Brothers) has already won best actress at the Golden Globes for her role as Nina Sayers. She's one of my favorite actresses, and it's safe to say that this is her best role yet.

Nina is a ballerina who works for a prestigious New York City ballet company. Nina's been there for a long while and feels like she deserves a leading role. She still lives with her controlling, yet loving mother, played by Barbara Hershey (Riding the Bullet, Hoosiers). Hershey has also never been better. She's awkward, creepy, manipulative and altogether magnificent.

The company Nina works for is putting on a performance of the famous Swan Lake. It's directed by big shot, smooth-talking Thomas Leroy, played by Vincent Cassel (Ocean's Twelve, Eastern Promises). This may be getting old but I will say it again, Cassel has never been better. He plays the cocky, conniving and good-looking director role to perfection. Thomas adores Nina, but doesn't think she has what it takes to be the Swan Queen (the lead role). She must not only play the role of the White Swan, but also the Black Swan. He has serious doubts that she can let loose and become the Black Swan.

Last years Swan Queen was Beth Macintyre (Winona Ryder), but she has been let go by Thomas as she is getting up there in age. She throws a temper tantrum and leaves the company without saying goodbye. Thomas now has to choose a new lead dancer, and has a tough decision on his hands. Beth gets drunk at her fairwell ball and walks in front of a car. She survives, but will never be the same.

The new girl on the stage is Lily, played by Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Extract). She's never been better (is that getting old?). She's sporting a back tattoo and doesn't seem to care a whole lot about the job, but is a natural. Kunis is fierce and seductive. During Nina's audition for the Swan Queen, Lily bursts through the doors (fashionably late) and screws Nina's routine up. Thomas has seen enough from Nina. Nina is torn, and her mother tries to comfort her as she cries herself to sleep over the whole thing.

By this time it's clear that something is changing inside Nina. She often daydreams grotesque things, finds scratches on her back and it's obvious shes going through some serious mood swings. She often sees herself in public places. She also sees a large black swan quite often. This swan haunts her daily.

She tries to speak to Thomas about the lead role, but he shuts her down. He then takes advantage of her, but she bites him. For some reason, this secret bite has changed his mind about Nina. He gives her the Swan Queen role to everyones surprise.

Nina struggles to lose herself in the Black Swan role, and Thomas is often extremely upset with her. She slowly, layer by layer, sinks deeper into psychosis and starts becoming a completely different person. One who disregards logic, one who parties before rehearsals, one who fantasizes about her new friend Lily, one who screams at anyone who tries to contradict her. The sweet, innocent and shy girl has now become something she once hated. In a late scene Nina's mother asks her "What happened to my sweet girl?" Where she replies with a scream, "SHE'S GONE!"

Nina has a hard time sorting reality from fantasy, and it begins to ruin her life. Can she put the pieces back together? or is the worst yet to come? Is everyone "after her" or is it all a facet of her imagination?

I'm definitely don't want to ruin anything for you, I couldn't live with myself. Having seen the majority of the films in 2010, I say this with confidence. The last 15 minutes of this film is the best 15 minutes of 2010. It gave me goosebumps, and almost had me on the verge of tears. I was simply flabbergasted and breathless. I couldn't move. The mesmerizing music crawled into my skin and grabbed a hold of me. The ending, much like The Wrestler (but much, much better) definitely will leave a sour taste in some people's mouth, but I left the theater with butterflies in my stomach and a big wide smile on my face. As Nina would say, it was "Perfect." Some critics claimed this movie was sad, depressive and hard to watch. But isn't that why we watch films? To feel something? I sure do.

Relationships aren't easy, even with people you love. Life is hard. Nina and Lily's relationship slowly grows, but betrayal comes between them. Nina begins to loathe her mother as she gets a little rough with her. It's still uncertain whether she's imagining some things, and that's part of the fun. This film is so multi-layered, frightening, hypnotic, frustrating, sexual and downright wonderful. I know for a fact most people aren't going to completely agree with me, but I say seeeeeeeeeeee it!
A-