Nina - Natalie Portman - is a beautiful ballet dancer and rising star in her NY company. For years, another great artist Beth - Winona Ryder - has been the principal ballerina of the ensemble. But, as director Thomas states, their audience wants to see a change in direction. Someone new and different. Therefore, Beth is forced into retirement and Nina is competing for the prize role of the two-sided Swan of Swan Lake. The role requires a dancer to be the pure Odette but also transform into the evil Odile or Black Swan. Thomas loves Nina's audition as Odette but worries she can't do justice to the evil Odile. Nevertheless, Nina captures the starring role. Enter another new dancer, Lily - Mila Kunis. It's obvious from day one that Lily wants Nina's starring part and she begins a subtle torture of Nina's psyche. Can Nina withstand the enormous pressure Lily is inflicting ? This beautiful but harrowing film is a difficult view. Portman gives an Award winning performance as a dancer with enormous talent but a fragile mind. Likewise, Kunis is fine as the evil hearted rival. Other cast members compliment them nicely. The ballet sequences are fantastic, encouraging everyone to seek more knowledge of a very difficult art form. The twist of an ending will also cut to the bone. Black Swan is a very special film indeed.
Review of Black Swan
