The Plot

Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a dedicated ballet dancer for a New York City dance company, is given the much sought-after lead role for artistic director Thomas Leroy’s (Vincent Cassel) version of Swan Lake, replacing former dancer Beth Macintyre (Winona Ryder). The role requires an ambitious portrayal of a dualistic character – the innocent, virginal “White Swan” contrasting with the cunning and seductive “Black Swan”. While Nina reflects the “White Swan” with ease, she struggles to connect with the counterpart of the role – her own liberation.

Nevertheless as the company welcomes Lily (Mila Kunis) – a sensual, free-spirited new dancer, Thomas notices her apt fitting for the role of the “Black Swan” thus she becomes an instant threat to Nina’s demanding position. As Lily attempts to befriend Nina, she succeeds in luring out the darkness which Nina was desperately trying to unveil – to the point where it consumes her whole.

The Thoughts

I compare Black Swan to a large chocolate sundae – the type you rush through the meal so you can surrender to the sweet cocoa guiltiness. The first layer: the thick, chewy brownie is the genre of the film being a psychological drama, which is usually sufficient in itself to generate an eyebrow-raise for most fans of film. The second layer – the luxurious, rich ice-cream that is the vertebrae of the sundae’s intensity, would be director Darren Aronofsky who requires little introduction and retains his reputation as the movie-maker for infamously passionate and raw productions. The third and final layer – the glorious chocolate sauce that gives the sundae that extra bit of delight – would be Natalie Portman’s compelling acting. Combine all three fundamental layers, and the result is a visually and mentally astounding portion of cinema.

What had intrigued me the most about Black Swan before I had watched it was that it focused on a female character who suffers from intense psychological torment – the word “female” in flashing neon. Many of the successful psychological dramas and/or thrillers have usually revolved around a lead character (s) that is male, therefore I questioned the perspective that Black Swan could potentially provide, or more specifically how Natalie Portman would deliver it. Nonetheless after sitting through the 108 minutes wide-eyed and jaw-dropped, I took my hat off to Portman after what I deemed as an authentic and absorbing performance particularly because I – like many other viewers – had underestimated her ability to fulfil such an ambitious role.

Nina Sayers is introduced as a shy, polite, and diligent ballet dancer whose physicality is just as painstaking as her mental determination. The audience is soon led to the source of Nina’s robotic lifestyle and frame of mind – her mother, Erica Sayers (played by Barbara Hershey). She firmly fits the stereotypical role of the suffocating maternal figure thrusting her own failed life goals on to her seemingly helpless daughter – a situation which inevitably results in disaster. Although we are allowed glimpses of Nina’s day-to-day pressure as a dancer and a daughter, I feel that the tension truly builds just after we are introduced to Beth, the retired and thus frustrated dancer whom Nina replaces. The moment Nina watches Beth cause a storm in her dressing room, and begins to steal items from her in a delirious hope of Beth’s anger rubbing off on herself, is what I consider as the initial trigger for the gradual transformation from her “White Swan” self to the potent, doppelganger “Black Swan”.

Portman was indisputably an on-screen success; her depiction of Nina penetrated through any latent superficiality and provided the audience with the perfect spectacles to witness from her perspective; whatever she sees and feels, so does the audience. I compared the character of Nina Sayers to a pincushion; her suffering from various jabs at her psychological security had left her ultimately as a wounded being, yet retaining her soft core. As the film sweeps to the dramatic climax, the sheer devotion that both Portman as an actress and her character Nina had put into their roles is none but tangible. Spoiler warning: The inescapably tragic ending became embedded into my mind; I was convinced that I had kept on hearing Nina’s last words with her hopeless smile whispering around me long after I had left the cinema hall. It was perfect.

The Film Buzz Rating: ********~~ (8/10)

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Writer: Mark Heyman (screenplay), Andres Heinz (screenplay)

Star Trek features Chris Pine (Smokin’ Aces) as the legendary Kirk, Heroes favourite Zachary Quinto as Spock, Zoe Saldana (Avatar) as Uhura, John Cho (FlashForward) as Sulu and Leonard Nimoy (Original Star Trek Series) reprises his role as the ‘other’ Spock. They are all joined with a host of other stars that make this film one of the best of 2009.

Star Trek Poster

You don’t need to be a fan of the original Star Trek series or any of the subsequent films or television series to watch this film, you don’t even need to be a science fiction fan or have even seen a Star Trek episode. This story is a new retelling for all the family of how the first crew got their start in the Star Trek universe. Entertaining, funny, clever, well written with plenty of action and drama to keep everyone satisfied. Definitely a must watch!

The Film Buzz Rating: 9.5/10

UK Release Date: May 8th 2009

UK DVD Release Date: 16th November 2009

Director: J.J Abrams

Writer’s: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Gene Roddenberry

Links: IMDB, Official Site