We’ll soon know how Black Swan fared with Academy voters but most Oscar pundits predict a Best Picture nomination and in Natalie Portman – the film’s radiant, fragile core – the surest bet for a Best Actress win. Rightly so. Seen as a companion piece to 2008’s blood soaked Mickey Rourke vehicle The Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky’s wait for it…ballet psychological thriller mines similar themes in ambition, existential crisis and the pursuit of perfection but substitutes the gritty realism of Rourke’s bruised everyman with unnerving trick shots, other worldly dread and the slow unraveling of an imperfect mind.
It’s brilliant technically, too. The camera work, art direction, choreography and Rodarte-designed costuming is sumptuous as is Natalie Portman who musters the most thrilling performance of her career as Nina Sayers, a fragile workaholic who is cast as both black and white swan in a production of Swan Lake. Her ascension to lead dancer is not without pain though. Nina – who epitomizes the purity and naivety of the perfect white swan – must contend with the romantic advances of ballet director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel), an overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey) and the duality of her role (aka going to the dark side) while also competing with newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) who epitomizes the sensual black swan.
If you’ve seen the trailer you’ll know that Nina’s self doubt manifests in morbid hallucinations, doppelganger sightings, self harm and unexpected explorations of her own sexuality. She also may or may not literally turn into a swan at one point.
Black Swan, which we highly recommend watching, premieres across the country January 20th. To celebrate, Pedestrian are giving away 20 double passes to Pedestrian subscribers only. To win, email your name and address to ashley@pedestriangroup.com.au and tell us which swan, black or white, you most identify with and why.
Check out the trailer below…
