Natalie Portman in "Black Swan"

Ambiguous psychological drama is the name of the game for our kinda-mainstream, kinda-not contemporary directors. Do we know if Mila Kunis is actually plotting to usurp Portman's title as New York's premier prima ballerina? Is Kunis dangerous? Is she crazy? Or is it all in Portman's head? Is Portman becoming the eponymous "black swan"? Are those razor-sharp bird plumes coming out of her skin at 1:52? I hope she doesn't kill herself the way she says she will in the first ten seconds of the trailer.

It's Darren Aronofsky's latest film and it looks much more put-together than The Fountain (and much prettier than The Wrestler). Even if it's a sputtering dark and heady mess, there's a certain hook to it; competitive, attractive women who may or may not be in their right mind, I imagine, top many of our Things We Would Like To See Movies About lists. (Plus, Portman and Kunis do the kissing.)

Commentarium (2 Comments)

Aug 18 10 - 10:17am
scram

looks creepy and pretty good.

Aug 18 10 - 11:31am
Twolane

Yes, yes, but do we get to see her doing naked pliees in the change room mirror?