Natalie Portman plays Nina, an innocent and disturbed ballet dancer, obsessed about getting—and keeping—the coveted lead role in the dark version of Swan Lake. Pressured to perform the role of the Swan Queen perfectly, a role that alternates between a naive and pure White Swan that fits her personality, and a dark and seductive Black Swan that she is having a hard time projecting, her internal demons and mental instability intensifies. The internal pain and turmoil she experiences are further complicated by another ballet dancer (Mila Kunis), with whom she is deeply threatened with.
During the process of perfecting the role, Nina unwittingly discovers her sexuality and struggles to keep her sanity intact to be able to perform the role of her lifetime.
Natalie Portman did an okay job in her disturbed and complex character, but she still lacked the kind of alarming depth and intensity needed for the role. I could still see her as Natalie Portman and not entirely as Nina.
Nevertheless, Black Swan (nominated for this year's Golden Globes for Best Picture) still titillates the senses; it's a little bit creepy, a little bit disturbing, and it's relatively artful. But it's still incredibly overrated.
2.5 out of 5 stars
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