Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky 2010)
Wow I’ve seen two new films this year and they’ve both been great! Fabbo. So let’s talk about Black Swan, in which Natalie Portman’s character Nina wins the lead role in a production of Swan Lake. Before we get into the plot etc (no spoilers I hope) let me start off by saying, if you assume that you would automatically brand this kind of dance related film as boring, then think again. Darren Aronofsky uses intense close ups of both the dancing itself, as well as details such as the cracking of foot and toe joints to emphasise the skill and stamina required for ballet. The close ups of the dancers’ exertions also hint at the more lethal and disturbing effects that the pressures of the dance will take on Nina later on in the film, shown in very gory detail.
Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the innocence of the White Swan and the darker cunning of the Black Swan. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but fellow dancer Lily (Mile Kunis) is the personification of the Black Swan, the plot charting Nina’s psychological decline as the rivalry with Lily consumes her. She also battles to win the admiration of her manipulative director Thomas (Vincent Cassel), who makes his true intentions to Nina very clear.
The film aims to show to two sides to Nina’s personality, as the further she immerses herself into her role, the more she sees evil visions of her changing self. The idea of her slipping to the ‘dark side’ is used constantly throughout, from Nina’s choice of white and light pink clothes to her doppelganger’s shown in black, to the stark black and white decor of the interior of her flat. Indeed, the two principal locations in the film are Nina’s flat and the dance studio, both depicted as simple, sparsely decorated, and bleak. The limited number of sets adds to the claustrophobic sense of ballet taking over Nina’s existence, as she cannot escape it even at home, as her mother is herself a retired dancer. In both locations, the use of mirrors represent many things, for example: Nina’s inability to escape ballet in her own home, the idea of the contrasting ‘other’ side of her personality, and the sense of deception that the cramped rooms are bigger than they actually are.
Portman excells at portraying a woman close to breakdown, although it must be said she does this with an almost unchanging expression on her face throughout the film. But she has perfected the ‘on the verge of tears’ look.
Overall, Black Swan is a gripping thriller, which uses clever settings and cinematography to hint at the future clashes and traumas which take place towards the climax of the film. You may end up watching lots of it through your fingers, such as Nina’s mother cutting her daughter’s fingernails with scissors – your ears filled with the amplified sound of the slicing metal. But that’s OK, for it is not afraid to be a bit weird or daring, and downright intense.
Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the innocence of the White Swan and the darker cunning of the Black Swan. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but fellow dancer Lily (Mile Kunis) is the personification of the Black Swan, the plot charting Nina’s psychological decline as the rivalry with Lily consumes her. She also battles to win the admiration of her manipulative director Thomas (Vincent Cassel), who makes his true intentions to Nina very clear.
The film aims to show to two sides to Nina’s personality, as the further she immerses herself into her role, the more she sees evil visions of her changing self. The idea of her slipping to the ‘dark side’ is used constantly throughout, from Nina’s choice of white and light pink clothes to her doppelganger’s shown in black, to the stark black and white decor of the interior of her flat. Indeed, the two principal locations in the film are Nina’s flat and the dance studio, both depicted as simple, sparsely decorated, and bleak. The limited number of sets adds to the claustrophobic sense of ballet taking over Nina’s existence, as she cannot escape it even at home, as her mother is herself a retired dancer. In both locations, the use of mirrors represent many things, for example: Nina’s inability to escape ballet in her own home, the idea of the contrasting ‘other’ side of her personality, and the sense of deception that the cramped rooms are bigger than they actually are.
Portman excells at portraying a woman close to breakdown, although it must be said she does this with an almost unchanging expression on her face throughout the film. But she has perfected the ‘on the verge of tears’ look.
Overall, Black Swan is a gripping thriller, which uses clever settings and cinematography to hint at the future clashes and traumas which take place towards the climax of the film. You may end up watching lots of it through your fingers, such as Nina’s mother cutting her daughter’s fingernails with scissors – your ears filled with the amplified sound of the slicing metal. But that’s OK, for it is not afraid to be a bit weird or daring, and downright intense.
I totally agree with you that Natalie looked like she was about to cry and break down all the time, which is why Thomas thought she was perfect for the white swan (which is what we were supposed to think as well...) but i think when we finally see Nina as the Black swan, i.e. when she finally embraces the "dark side", the other side, to become perfect it's a stunning and i think powerful performance by Portman, it proves her incredible acting ability. She was so believable as the "wet blanket" nina as the "whit swan" that i was blown away when she became the Black Swan. Not only was it a refreshing change in the film but, again it just showed that Natalie Portman can act both sides and be perfect.
ReplyDeleteI'm still confused as to whether Lily was real or not...
The muscles were gross and I was wonderfully uncomfortable throughout the whole film, I like it when films do that, feels more like art, when it wants to be provocative.
The mum was freaky as.
I also hated her "relationship" *so many quotation marks i know* with Thomas. I wanted to shake her and tell she deserved better but i guess she was sheltered and .... unstable.
The Kings speech has my vote however :P
Annie H
Hehe yeah I think I preferred the King's Speech because I feel it was more different (if that makes sense) despite being based on fact. Kind of contradicting meself there.
ReplyDeleteBut mainly because (HERE BE SPOILERS) then ending of Black Swan has been overdone a lot recently, most obviously in Fight Club, but also things like Shutter Island etc, which was a shame.
I think Lily is real,doesnt Nina have conversations with Thomas directly about her? I cant remember...I think that maybe just the kinky side to it didnt happen, she had (probably) been drinking for hours, had her drink spiked etc, and also the psychological clash with her mother, after years of repression.
Yeah, good deep stuff.
Thanks for your comments!
Personally, I loved the film... at least I did after first watching it. I loved the way it was shot, and the double-sided feel to it. I'm suuure at the time there were various instances when the whole set completely reflected, the main point I thought I noticed it was when Nina was sat on some stairs talking to Thomas. The development of Nina's character was brilliant, and I thought Natalie played her well, although she was a little too wet-blanket-ish I think...
ReplyDeleteA few days later I spoke to my mum, she had just got back from seeing it, and she said she hated it. One of the most disappointing films she had seen in a while. She put it down to the unlikable nature of every single character, with no-one there to relate to (Nina being too soppy, the mother being too harsh, Thomas being too much of a prick etc). She also pointed out 'how the hell could she dance the last dance so well with a massive glass wound in her stomach' which is an excellent point that I have yet to be able to justify to her or myself...
However, I would happily watch it again, and that can surely only be a good thing...