Black Swan Movie Review

There was constant chatter in the media about Natalie Portman's performance in the new movie, Black Swan almost before the movie was released. They were calling her performance the one to beat for the Oscar but I had not paid much attention to the movie until the reviewer in my local newspaper triggered my interest when he said that Black Swan is "the most harrowing, suspense-filled psychological thriller of the season" and he gave the movie 4.5 stars.

Since then, I have learned a lot more about the movie and, of course, Natalie Portman has won the 2011 Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. On this page, learn a bit more about the movie and add your thoughts to the debate on whether or not this movie is a thriller or an art movie.

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• DIRECTOR: Darren Aronofsky,
• STARRING: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassel
• OPENING DATE: September 1, 2010, Venice Film Festival; limited release December 3, 2010; nationwide release on December 22, 2010
• RATED: R for sexual content, violent images, language and drug use.
• RUNTIME: 108 minutes.

Black Swan is rated R.

In Black Swan, Nina (Natalie Portman) wins the lead role in the ballet Swan Lake. She has ambition but she is very driven by her mother, played by Barbara Hershey, who stopped dancing when she became pregnant with Nina. Nina pushes herself, working extremely hard, to be successful but her choreographer pushes her still farther and leads her to the edge...

A fast paced look at the world of the artist, the process and the price that they sometimes pay to be successful. HOWEVER, this is a disturbing, dark psychological movie, rated R. Make no mistake, it is not a simple 'ballet' movie. As a matter of fact, I am trying to decide if it is a horror movie or an art movie...if you've seen it, please join in the debate and tell us what YOU think.

This movie has been called it all: psychological thriller, horror, art, porn, big, crazy, weird, dark, twisted, interesting, amazing, intense as well as a combination of the above. What do YOU think? Is Black Swan more of a thriller or a horror movie or is it an art film?

anonymous: Black Swan is a horror movie according to Aronofsky. It was inspired by Suspiria and Perfect Blue. Actually it's both horror and an art movie, just like Suspiria, by Argento.

GoldenChile: I thought Black Swan was eye candy more than anything. Beautifully shot, beautifully cut and generally well acted. The human story fell flat for me on the other hand. The film ends right as Portman's character is beginning her sexual transformation into the Black Swan. I never got the feeling that she had lost herself to her whims and desperately needed release from her waking nightmare.But I want to see it again.

anonymous: Watched it last night, and I was surprised to find that about halfway through the movie that it really does go from being a drama/art film into more of a thriller of sorts. It was just overall captivating to watch, great acting, music, dancing, costumes

ctavias0ffering1: Sounds like the best kind of horror movie to me. I really enjoyed Requiem for a Dream so I think I will enjoy this one.

anonymous: All of the above. Horror style music, obsessive compulsive disorders with hallucinations. Yes, very artsy and very black and white, it's all or nothing, darl and light, white and black, good and bad, twisted and sweet, lost and found, good and bad.

anonymous: its PERFECT!!!!!!!!1111

anonymous: "Black Swan" is a psychological thriller that you can appreciate on many levels. At its deepest, most psychologically insightful level, it's about the debilitating effect of disowning your own darkness, and how regaining your "shadow self" can empower you. I've discussed the movie in depth on my blog, "Movies and Mental Health", and I'd be proud if you'd include me in your reviews or elsewhere on your lens. Many thanks.http://blogs.psychcentral.com/movies/black-swan

anonymous: Neither!! This is great film making, great acting, great movie. I loved it. Am haunted by it. This is a gold medal winning performance. I'll see it again.

justholidays: I couldn't judge a movie that I haven't seen but all in all, and from what I've read here, I'd consider it an art movie...

Yes, Natalie Portman did most of the ballet dancing in Black Swan. She studied the dance for a year and her double was only used occasionally. Director Darren Aronofsky said, "Except for the wide shots when she has to be en pointe for a real long time, it's Natalie on screen. I haven't used her double a lot."

• Requiem for a Dream
• The Fountain
• The Wrestler