This is one twisted Swan

Natalie Portman is one talented woman. That's all I can say after seeing Black Swan. After signing on twelve years ago to the new Star Wars movie, probably the worst move (in my opinion) of her career, I lost pretty much all respect for her. And especially after Mr Magoriums Wonder Emporium it looked like she should have been looking for a new agent (and maybe even a new career). After showing such promise in such fantastic films, such as The Professional and Anywhere But Here, her career was on a role. And thanks to Darren Aronofsky and casting her in the lead in his new (head f*&k) of a movie "Black Swan", Natalie looks like she will once again bring the talent that she showed in her early roles back to her career. All I can say is girl really knows what she is doing when it comes to crazy characters. But I'm getting too far ahead of myself here, I need to tell you why I think this as Black Swan  is twisted, crazy and in my opinion a fantastic movie, that I still can't stop thinking about. Something that a truly amazing movie can only do. Let me begin.

Nina Sayers (Naatlie Portman) is a young woman who lives the ballet lifestyle. Her life revolves around it and consumes her every thought as she trains hard with the New York City Ballet. She is shy, innocent, and lacks much self-confidence. She lives with her overbearing mother Erica (Barbara Hersey) (who is a little loopy to say the least) who used to be a dancer herself, who feeds her the desire and lifestyle of the ballet world. When the director of the company Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides his next project will be his own interpretation of the ballet Black Swan, Nina is consumed by winning the part. After his leading star Beth announces her retirement (with a little push from the company) the role is up for grabs for a new star to be born. If you don't know the story, Black Swan is about the story of a princess who is turned into a white swan, who with the love of her prince will soon turn back into a princess. However, her twin the Black Swan tries all to lure the prince away from his rightful love thus making the princess stay the white swan for her life, that is until she kills herself to embrace her true freedom. Nina is first choice to play the white swan, but lacks the sensual, thrilling side the black swan embodies. Enter new dance recruit from San Francisco Lily (Mila Kunis) who is dangerous and seductive and is her greatest challenge and competition for the part. But how far will Nina go in order to win the role and prove that she is the perfect fit for the part, while keeping her mind and sanity in tact? Sorry, but if I say anymore I will completely ruin it.

Okay, I am going to just lay all this down for you. This movie is going to eat at you for days. It is crazy, gets in your mind, twists it around and makes you want to watch it all over again. It is fantastic, and I loved every minute of it. Darren Aronofsky is one director who never lets his audience know his genre of his pieces. This movie is in the thriller/drama/horror category and maybe even more. He gets inside your mind and doesn't let go. His pacing is perfect setting up the characters, not laying it down too fast, making the audience itch for more. He takes a basic premise and totally switches it up delving into some of human psychological behaviour we have not seen in a movie for ages. All I can say is he takes obsession to a new level which would make Alfred Hitchcock stand up and take note. Who knew ballet could be so crazy? The directing of the ballet scenes are brilliant and Darren, like always, gets the best out of his actors and brings his story to life with his thrilling directing.

Natalie Portman is brilliant in this role. Brilliant. She needs to go into some crazy parts of her mind to pull this off (and I want to know how you research a role like this). Her dancing is beautiful (she spent over a year with a ballet coach) Her acting is perfect as the story moves along so too does Natalie's character. She deserves her golden globe and seriously hand her the Oscar girl is brilliant. But I am not going to forget the supporting players. Mila Kunis is amazing. I think she has come a long way since That 70's Show and really I hope she gets nominated for an Oscar for this role. She is perfect as Lily the sexy new star of the ballet. She is fierce, forward and seductive. The chemistry between Natalie and Mila is fantastic and both bounce off each other perfectly. I can't say a thing wrong about these two. When they are on screen the audience can feel the friction and paranoia of Natalie's character. It is crazy. Let's not forget the rest of the supporting players Barbara Hersey (who I haven't seen in a movie since Beaches) and Vincent Cassell. As the mother and director of the company respectively they round out this amazing cast. Barbara brings a sense of mother love on the brink of obsession to her role and makes this mother quiet scary and eerie to say the least. Vincent Cassell brings the right amount of sleaze to his character. But is it sleaze, or is it a director pushing his student to get the best out of her? You be the judge.

Let me warn you though, this is not for the faint hearted. There are scenes in this movie that will have you cringing and diverting your eyes (you will know when you see them). So stay well clear of this movie if that is you.  But you would be a fool to do that. This movie is my kind of film. Thoughtful, provoking and above all a movie that is continually playing over in my head. And I know its a good film if it does that. All parties involved should be extremely proud of their work. It looks like another amazing feature from Darren. And Natalie, trust me, I think this is the movie many people are going to remember you for. Black Swan is one ballet I will never look at the same again, and this is one movie I want to see again in a hurry. 9.5/10