Black Swan

The Synopsis
This is a film about a ballet dancer, Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) who is cast in the role of the Swan Queen in Swan Lake. On her journey to the opening night she struggles to learn how to embrace not only the dignified white swan side of her role but also the much darker and intense black swan side. As she tries her hardest to let go and discover this side, the film explores the lengths she must go to to allow her mind to open up to the powerful and dangerous force that accompanies it.

The Review
Hands down, that was the hardest synopsis I've had to write so far. In truth there really are no words to describe this film. It is definitely one of those that can only be explained by going to see it yourself.

This is a movie I have been hyping up and wanting to see with my friend 'J' for quite some time. We waited patiently for this long to wait and see it together and so I have been subject to the many reviews and different 'words of mouth' about this film for weeks. I knew it would be dark, I knew it would be weird, I knew it would make me turn away from the screen and go "tell me when the bleeding stops." And let me tell you, I was not disappointed.

This film was weird. But in a totally amazing way. It delved so deeply into the human psyche that I feared we'd never be able to get out again. Definitely not one to see if your mind is anywhere other than in a healthy place because otherwise it will creep you out and leave you cowering in the corner of a dark room, swaying backwards and forwards and questioning your own existence and how much control you have over your mind.

But if you're able to handle that and see it purely objectively then... wow. There is no doubt in my mind that Natalie Portman will be accepting an Oscar for that role this year. She was so fragile all the way through and never dropped character making her own personal journey completely believable.

And as for Mila Kunis? Being a MASSIVE That 70's Show fan I have this fondness towards all of the cast and (in the sad, 'films and books are my life' way that I have) always hope that they do well in any further ventures. Mila has definitely landed on her feet in terms of her career. She has a very real take to her acting which almost seems like she's not acting at all... I know I didn't really explain that very well but I'm still trying to find the words I mean for her performances. It was the same thing she did in 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' There's a sense of 'reality show' feeling about her acting. Like a camera is trained on her talking and being a person rather than her being an actor with lines... Even reading that back, it sounds odd and I don't think I'm explaining myself very well. Maybe in her next movie I'll put my finger on what it is. Whatever it is, I like it.

Actually watching the film, I'm glad I went with a friend rather than chose that as a film to watch on my own. It sort of pushes the boundaries of British comfortableness and possibly the most entertaining part of the movie for me was listening to the packed cinema's embarrassed giggles as certain scenes progressed. I too let out a few embarrassed giggles and J and I were known to throw each other the 'oh my days, did that actually just happen?' look on more than one occasion.

Whilst I can fully understand that this is not a film for everyone, (a suspicion that was confirmed when we witnessed several people get up and leave the cinema on different stages in the film) there was no denying that it was very well made and with just the right tone that left you constantly confused on what was reality and what was insanity. It achieved it's goal in a style I cannot deny to be absolutely flawless and made me realise that I could never and would never be a ballet dancer because it seems like way too much hassle and pain...