Black Swan (2010)

I was prepared for this movie to amaze me but this movie managed to thoroughly mind eff me. It is a beautiful masterpiece.

Title: Black Swan

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassel

Rated: R

Released: 2010

Rating: 5/5

Basic Plot: Nina Sayers gets the role as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake and slowly loses her mind as she starts to fit the role of the Black Swan.

Symbolism
There is probably a ton of symbolism in this movie but I will keep this simple. The whole movie revolves around Nina slowly losing her mind and becoming the Black Swan. While her actions and hallucinations become darker there are a few parts where she imagines herself becoming a black swan. At one point her legs start to become the legs of a bird and at another point her feet become webbed.

Knowledge About Swan Lake
Some of you might be wondering if you need to know anything about Swan Lake when going to see Black Swan. The truth is that you don't. I went in knowing nothing about the ballet but came out knowing a little about it. All you need to know about the play to understand the movie is explained in the movie itself.

Nina Sayers
This is the person whose eyes you see the movie through. She goes crazy and what she sees is what you see. What does this mean? When she sees a hallucination you'll see it too like it's fact. Nina goes insane due to pressure of the part of the Swan Queen. However, it appears she was going slightly insane before she got the part. Her overbearing mother might be part of the problem.

Lily
Lily is Nina's dark half. It is through Lily that Nina learns how to be a Black Swan. My favorite line in the movie comes from her: You had a lesbian fantasy about me? Was I good?

Lesbian Sex Scene
Could I call myself a reviewer if I didn't talk about this? Yes, Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis do have a sex scene together. This is, however, not the only instance of sex used (though there are no other sex scenes). Portman plays with herself a time or two. But the sex scene with Portman and Kunis is the biggest sex thing that happens on screen.

Music
I assume that the music is from Swan Lake and has some significance. Since I don't know that much about Swan Lake I can't tell. What I can tell is that it's very pleasing to the ears.

Final Thoughts
This is just an amazing film. It left me spell bounded. There is so much to look at in this movie and it would seem to be a good idea to see this movie more than once. For those of you wanting a movie night with your parents with this...that might not be a good idea. While this isn't a porno, it does have strong sexual themes to it. Depending on who you are going with, it might get awkward at points. If you find people you can go with where you won't feel awkward, it is still a very dark film. This is not a happy go lucky film. It punches you, beats you up, and leaves you to die. But, if you enjoy that type of film, go and see it! I know I will probably see it again!