Black Swan

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An incessantly dark psychological thriller that plays with the audience, this often disturbing film shows audiences Darren Aronofsky's ability to deliver smart, visceral thrills after tackling a more ponderous affair with The Wrestler. Natalie Portman gives a 'career best' turn as the sweet, but troubled, young ballerina who after years of dedication may finally have her first big break as the lead in a lavish production of Swan Lake. Mila Kunis offers up provocative and edgy support, while Aronofsky shoots everything with a firm sense of the foreboding.

Portman is professional ballerina Nina Sayers; a beautiful and talented dancer, she nonetheless struggles with some of the more menacing aspects of her performances. When Vincent Cassel's charismatic, but manipulative head of the company announces that they will be taking on the classic Swan Lake, Nina is challenged to let herself go and tap into her dark side. As Nina digs deeper, she begins to slowly lose her mind, with her controlling and creepy mother only pushing her further to the brink of insanity. But is she really going mental, or should she be right to be paranoid?

At times simultaneously elegant and terrifying, this film was always going to live or die on Portman's performance. Thankfully the actress is superb, and alongside Winter's Bone star Jennifer Lawrence, gives one of the most astonishing performances of the past 12 months. Not only does she have innumerable technical aspects of Nina to contend with, Aronofsky regularly closes in on her face so there is no cheating - she has to embody the character throughout the dance routines and can't just concentrate on one or the other. Her increasingly disturbing relationship with her mother is also played perfectly, with nothing ever really spelt out, but subtly hinted at - somehow making it creepier.

You never really know what's going on with Nina; Aronofsky has always been a fan of ambiguity, so there is no real reveal until the very last shot. That on-stage sequence is what the film is building towards its entire running time, and it is choreographed beautifully, but always with that ominous tone lingering. Black Swan never stops moving, but it's going somewhere with purpose and doesn't attempt to skate by on scares and atmosphere.

For those who know their Swan Lake, the smart plays on the ballet's plot will delight you, while others that don't still have a rather brilliant psychological thriller to enjoy.