Monday 7 February 2011

Black Swan - Phil's Five Words for Films -

Black Swan So, you think a film about ballet might not be your thing? Well, think again. You think you'll be seeing a pleasant story about dancing and twirling and beating the odds? Well, think again. Natalie Portman is absolutely brilliant as she plays Nina, a slightly unhinged young ballerina, slowly falling to pieces whilst searching for the perfect performance. After being asked to play the lead roll in Swan Lake, Nina becomes caught up in a sordid and tragic battle with the dark side of herself, her passions and her overbearing mother. Beautifully directed by Darren Aronofsky ( The Wrestler ) the film descends in to a fantastical, trippy world of hallucinations, self-harming, sexual intrigue and madness. The cinematography, score and script are all completely OTT but, coupled with the insanity at the film's heart, it works really well. Natalie Portman has surely bagged an Oscar here but Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey and Vincent Cassel are also superb. I'm sure there are holes to be picked at but this is a dark, twisted, sometimes repulsive, psychological drama that is thrilling and completely overwhelming. Could you ask for anything more? Great cinema.

9.5 out of 10.
Cert 15 (uk).2010