The Chocolate Review: Black Swan

Black Swan





Darren Aronofksy’s Black Swan opened in only 2 theaters in the Los Angeles area last weekend. Luckily, TCR was able to snag tickets and view what we believe to be one of 2010’s best films. After great success on a smaller level Black Swan opens this weekend to the masses and we urge you to witness this captivating narrative that kept us hooked and thoroughly entertained from beginning to end.

Black Swan stars Natalie Portman, which should be reason enough to see it for anyone familiar with her stellar role choices. To date we haven’t seen a single Portman performance undeserving of our seldom earned admiration. She’s smart, talented and flexible- all necessary qualities for an actress strong enough to take on the role of Nina Sayers, a troubled dancer fighting for the role of Swan Queen in famed choreographer Thomas Leroy’s (Vincent Cassel) rendition of Swan Lake. Nina is soft spoken, beautiful and gifted. These qualities instantly qualify her for the role of the White Swan. Lily (Mila Kunis) is quite the opposite. She’s boisterous and deeply in touch with her sexuality, traits of an ideal Black Swan. But the role can only go to one dancer.

When Nina is awarded the coveted role of Swan Queen she is forced to find the darkness within to fully transform into the Black Swan. What unfolds is a twisted tale where reality and imagination become one in the same and nothing is what it seems. Or is it? Are you freaked out yet? Good. Go find some show times.

If you don’t like psychological thrillers, this film is not for you. Nothing blows up, catches fire or jumps from a moving car. The pace is slow and creepy. Suspenseful and daunting. Each scene builds on the one before it until you’re bursting to know what’s real and who’s crazy. The performances are believable and natural. Remember when Universal Pictures asked us to believe that Jessica Alba was a professional Hip Hop dancer? It’s not like that.

Portman’s portrayal of a professional ballet dancer was honest and well done, along with Kunis. Though the film focuses more on Nina’s mental dilemma, dance plays as catalyst for everything that happens. It’s the perfect backdrop for such an eerie tale and the graceful choreography didn’t hurt either. Vincent Cassel delivers in the “professional prick” department. You hate him yet you love how he manipulates his dancers, especially Nina, to get exactly what he wants from them: a brilliant performance. We even had a Winona Ryder sighting! She was only in a few scenes but whenever she shared the screen with someone she STOLE the spotlight. Ha! Get it? She stole it? Forget it.

Overall, Black Swan is a dark, twisted thrill ride that won’t let you down. We saw this film last week and its sinister yet moving essence is still etched in our minds. If you want to regret life, go see Yogi Bear. If you want to see a woman turn into a bird in the most interesting, disturbing and brilliant way possible, check out Black Swan. Tonight. What are you waiting for!!!?

The Chocolate Review gives Black Swan 4.5 star out of 5 stars for the following reasons:

• Excellent performances
• Fresh and original idea
• Captivating subject matter
• Keeps you guessing