Who knows what you are going to get when you watch a Darren Aronofsky film? In, Requiem for a Dream, there were drugs, infected arms and editing techniques that film professors inevitably use in their intro to film classes. So, when the Black Swan previews started showing up on the internet I knew I had to see the movie.I mean seriously, who can say no to a preview that shows a ballerina picking black feathers out of her shoulder?

Black Swan was nominated in five categories in this years Academy Awards, but only won ‘Best Leading Actress’ for Natalie Portman’s role as Nina. Of course this film was up against: The King’s Speech, The Social Network, True Grit, The Fighter and 127 Hours.

The movie follows a young ballerina, Nina (Natalie Portman), who has been training her entire life to become the Prima ballerina for the New York City Company. The ballet that is chosen is Swan Lake, but with a twist, she has to play both the white swan and the black swan. As the film progresses we see how easily Portman’s character fulfills the role of the perfect, white swan, but has the inability to portray the evil, black swan.

This film is interesting because of the dual personality that we, the audience, sees as we watch Nina slowly go crazy. With vivid imagery Aronofsky shows us how Nina’s health mentally and physically decline as she tries to please those around her, but at the same time trying to please herself, literally and figuratively.

I watched this in a theater with my friend and maybe ten other people and I have to say that like Requiem for a Dream, Aronofsky used editing, cinematography and sound in a way that made me slightly uncomfortable, but always left me wanting to see more. I want to say it was like a car accident that looks absolutely gruesome and you want to look away, but can’t. In this case instead of being a horrible event, it was a work of art and beautiful. There are times when I disagree with content in films, but even the girl on girl and Nina’s masturbatory scenes in this film were necessary to furthering the character development, because that is what drives this film.

In the end I have to give this film an A+, but I will say that I don’t think this film is for everyone and if you don’t appreciate gruesome and somewhat explicit images, then stay away from this film.

Grade: A+

John’s Take…

Kristi and I get along so well because we are both damaged people who enjoy movies normal folks should avoid.  I don’t know why I enjoy movies like Black Swan, Oldboy, or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Maybe it’s because of the intense, raw emotion most movies don’t approach.  Maybe it’s because of my pain.  Or maybe it’s because I’m just drawn to well-told, unique stories that don’t fit the Hollywood mold.

Black Swan is a movie you’ll only need to see once.  Then you’ll see it again when you make friends watch it just to enjoy those pained, “WTF are you making me watch?!” expressions on their face.  For this one, a good drinking game could be invented for every time a friend yells out, “Stop cutting your nails!!”  Good times ahead.

Now what makes this movie so good is how it portrays our hero’s decent into darkness.  I gotta believe that’s a monumental task since there’s only two hours to make it believable.  Few movies get it right.  Hell, George Lucas had three whole films and failed miserably.  Aronofsky and Natalie Portman pull it off brilliantly and that Oscar was well deserved.

Like Kristi said, Black Swan is not for normal, well-balanced people.  I know you’re going to see it anyway, but for all that is good and holy, don’t see it with your parents.

Grade: A+