In her Academy Award winning role, Natalie Portman shines as ballet dancer Nina Sayers. The way Portman handles Nina's unstable personalty as she flirts with stardom is flawless, culminating in the film's final moments where we witness her stark transformation from childlike innocence to a hellish nightmare.
Hands down one of the best films of 2010, Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan is as artistic as a film could possibly be. Dealing with the rivalry of a performer, the pressures of a star as she aims for perfection, the film is able to excel as it dances through the emotional changes with unprecedented ease.
Supporting performances from Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder give the film an ensemble feel, but in reality, this film is all about Portman. The music is enriching as you find yourself lost within each dance, longing to witness the perfect performance, the performance Nina so desperately wants to give.
My only regret with this DVD is that it ended. At the conclusion the film has you gripping the arm rests with anticipation, you can't help but feel somewhat empty inside when the credits begin to roll. Credit Darren Aronofsky for his directional cues, the film is magnificently put together, and with a few worthy bonus features detailing the development of this decade long project, this DVD is hands down a must own. There is really no other way to describe it.
