The beauty of ballet and the psychology of horror are an inspired mix—think The Red Shoes meets Hitchcock—in the audacious thriller Black Swan. As the driven ballerina Nina, glorious Natalie Portman has the role of a lifetime: She pliés gracefully, shatters emotionally, and boasts the kind of swan-like neck that makes you momentarily wonder if she missed her true calling.
Still living with her overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey), the technically perfect but emotionally fragile Nina finally wins the lead in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. Sublime as the virginal Swan Queen, she has more trouble with the role's other half, the lustful Black Swan.
French actor Vincent Cassel is wonderfully seductive as the manipulative artistic director who dares Nina to tap into her sexuality. Uptight and plagued with doubts about her ability to tantalize the audience, she is tormented by her understudy, Lily (Mila Kunis), a sensual dancer who stalks and undermines Nina—or does she? Even as our sympathy grows for Nina, we wonder how much of it is her own paranoia. Where are those cuts on her back coming from? Why does her mother guard her so closely? Maybe Nina is possessed by something more demonic than ambition.
But the film's true virtuoso is director Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler), whose camerawork is as soaring as a dancer's grand jeté, gliding around Nina's troubled psyche, capturing gorgeous dance sequences, and lingering on bloody toes forced into pointe shoes. Soon, the movie's supernatural details grab hold: Did the eyes in that painting just move? Who or what is turning out the lights?
By the end, Nina's quest for perfection—and Portman's blazing performance—will leave you breathless.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
-
Princess Martha Louise of Norway Sets Wedding Date with Fiancé Shaman Durek Verrett After a Two Year Engagement
Already billed as “one of the most beautiful high society weddings of the year,” the celebration will last for four days.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Heidi Gardner Opens Up About Viral Moment She Broke Character During ‘Saturday Night Live’ Beavis and Butt-Head Sketch
“I just couldn’t prepare for what I saw.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Fashion, Family, Fitness: The 3 Guiding Principles of 'MC' Editor-in-Chief Nikki Ogunnaike and How They Intersect in Her Life
By Nikki Ogunnaike Published
-
How Timothée Chalamet's "Emotional Intelligence" Will Transform the Character of Willy Wonka
Literally perfect casting.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Adam Sandler Brought His Wife Jackie and Lookalike Daughter Sunny to 'The Out-Laws' Premiere
So cute!
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Nicholas Hoult Told Toni Collette He Still Thinks of Her as His Mom When He Watches One of Her Movies
I love this so much.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Alicia Silverstone Would Totally Do a Sequel to The '90s Rom-Com She Starred In Opposite Brendan Fraser
Did you guys know about this movie??
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Jennifer Grey Spotted Someone Watching 'Dirty Dancing' on a Plane on Valentine's Day
Fact: This is the best thing that's ever happened.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Jennifer Coolidge Would Definitely Be "On Board" to Film 'Legally Blonde 3'
YES!!!
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Salma Hayek Says Channing Tatum Almost "Killed" Her During a Lap Dance for 'Magic Mike's Last Dance'
LOL, Salma.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston Are Body-Swapping in an Upcoming Comedy, And It Might Be the Best News I've Ever Received
Clearly, I've lived an uneventful life.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published