Black Swan (2010)

Different than Ever, a "Must Watch" Movie

Stars   :  Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder
Score  :  8.0 / 10

 

Everyone must have a dream to be achieved. Some of them even sacrified their life to pursue that dream. One of them is Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a ballet dancer (ballerina) in New York City Ballet Company. Nina lives with her mother, Erica (Barbara Hershey) who loves her excessively. Erica wants Nina to be a successful ballerina. Nina is a talented ballerina though she was very young. Beth Macintyre (Winona Ryder) was 40 years old, is a lead ballerina. Nina was very admired her. On one occasion, Nina stole her lipstick. Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel), a director, held an audition looking for new Beth to Swan Lake Show.

Swan Lake tells about the story of a princess who was cursed into a swan (White Swan). The curse can be destroyed by a prince. But, the evil sister, Black Swan, has trapped the prince. White Swan got desperate and ended her life by suicide.

Nina Sayers

Ballet Training Session

This time, Leroy was looking for a dancer who can play the role as White Swan and Black Swan at once, a Swan Queen. Nina attended the audition and really wanted that role. But Leroy assessed that Nina only good for White Swan role. The coming of another talented ballerina in audition, Lily (Mila Kunis), has made Nina failed to get a second chance from Leroy. On the next day, Nina went to Leroy and tried to convince that she was able to Black Swan role. Leroy misinterpreted about her and tried to take an advantage from her, but Nina can defend herself. Leroy impressed with her courage and gave the role to Nina.

Leroy and Nina

Nina received a serious consequences for the role as Swan Queen. Leroy is a perfectionist and required Nina to perform perfectly in every training session. Nina felt depressed. From the beginning, Leroy felt that Nina was not able to take the role Black Swan. Finally, the great pressure gave a negative effect to Nina. Nina becomes sensitive, less confident and gets illusion. The situation was aggravated by Lily. Nina always considers Lily as a big rival in Swan Lake. Beth has accused Nina get the role unfairly. The wrong affection given by Erica to Nina made Nina more depressed. Nina started against her mother. Unrealized, Nina has two different sides in her personality, a good side (White Swan) and evil side (Black Swan).

Nina and Lily, an illusion

Nina gets illusion

Surprised, that is what I felt after watching this movie. I can not imagine what if a ballet drama, elegant, classic and feminine, wrapped together with a mystery and thriller story. The result is surprising, very nice. From the beginning, the mystery could be felt. From minute to minute until movie end, the series of thriller shown with elegant and not destroy the beauty of ballet. No word bored in mind when watching this movie. Getting closer to the end, the audience was made more curious about what actually happened to Nina. And when it's over, everything is done properly and very elegant. Some classic piano songs in the movie are very nice song, especially the main song which is very suitable to describe the mystery and thriller elements in a ballet drama.

Black Swan made me realize that something scary was not always come from outside or with a scary face. But it could be from our self, something that is not visible. That is to be conveyed by Black Swan. The most dangerous enemy is our self. So, it is not surprising if we look at Nina with her talent and beauty, have to fight the evil inside of her. Unconfident, envy, ambitious and feeling confined. Generally, the teenagers like Nina vent their depression into sexuality. So, in this movie, some scenes and dialogue are also expose to it, but not tacky and not excessive, it is still reasonable. Another message from this movie is no word failed if we still want to try. The more often we failed, we are getting closer to success.

Swan Queen (White Swan and Black Swan)

This is my first time watched Natalie Portman in a movie. I really like her in this movie. She was very sexy, beautiful and played very well. Just look at the expression on her face when playing White Swan, very sad and made me chills. But she also can instantly turn into a sly when playing Black Swan. Natalie played totally in this movie. She should throw some pound of her weight to look like a ballerina. She also had taken ballet classes for a few times. It is not easy to take the role with a special abilities, such as ballerina. But her sacrifice was not vain, she won an Oscar in 2011 for Best Perfomance by an Actress in a Leading Role. Portman also met her soul mate in this movie, which also eventually become her husband, Benjamin Millepied, a choreographer, who played as The Prince in Swan Lake Show. They have been blessed a child. A final note from me is Black Swan is a "Must Watch" movie.

Swan Lake Show