I am desperate to see this. Looks so haunting :wub:

I've been told that this film was somewhat inspired by Satoshi Kon's anime thriller Perfect Blue, which of course wouldn't be the first time that Darren A. has been inspired by that film (c.f the bathtub scene in Requiem for a Dream). I'm looking forward to seeing this, it looks like it could be a potential Oscar winner.

Natalie Portman won Best Actress in a Drama at the Golden Globes :D

Well I am pleasantly surprised. I loved it. It is so easy to see where the praise is coming from. Natalie Portman is brilliant, and just so convincing in the role she plays. I was worried that it was 'not really my sort of film', but it is. I am not getting where the horror comparisons are coming though, this is definitely not a horror film. More of thriller. It is a total mind-f***. The beginning half of the film I found quite slow, and my only major criticism of the film is the 'friendship' just seemed a bit forced and rushed imo. BUT the last half of the film was brilliant. There were some scenes that I just couldn't watch (the hospital scene at the end...) but it was brilliantly written.

 

Definitely do not be put off by the ballet aspect (as I was initially) as it is not a film about ballet, it's a film about a girl losing herself in ballet.

There are some slight things about this movie that remind me of Girl interupted. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis Performances and characters are slight reminiscent of Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie's characters played.

There are some slight things about this movie that remind me of Girl interupted. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis Performances and characters are slight reminiscent of Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie's characters played.

 

Girl, Interrupted is a classic. I think my head would explode with excitement if Winona made a massive comeback. Her role was small in this but she stole every scene she was in, shame she doesn't get more recognition for it. WHY DOESN'T SHE HAVE AN OSCAR ALREADY?!

Edited January 19, 201114 yr by ▲▲▲

I am not getting where the horror comparisons are coming though, this is definitely not a horror film. .

 

Clearly not seen very many Dario Argento films then, as he has often switched from Horror to Thriller to Psycho-drama and back again, and often in the same film... There can be little doubt as to Argento's influence in "Black Swan", particularly in the psychological sub-texts (I'd recommend you watch "Opera" which is a similarly very dark film about a fragile young Opera singer who becomes victimised by a serial killer and haunted by the death of her mother, whose transgressive sexuality she's terrified of inheriting).... I think people have a limited idea of what Horror actually is mate, it's not all "slasher" and blood-letting, the very best Horror gets under your skin and stays there (and if it does a bit of blood-letting on the way, well, that's just a bonus :lol: ), it's about giving you the "chill" down your spine, and I seriously doubt anyone can say "Black Swan" doesn't have seriously chilling moments.. Obviously a film like "Opera" can be more easily identified as Horror, but just because Black Swan goes about things in a more subtle way, doesn't mean that it doesn't have some rather terrifying Horror elements, this film is intensely psychological and really gets under your skin......

 

Frankly, I thought the film was brilliant, a fantastically well-structured film, which is both artistic and beautiful to look at, the slowish build-up is necessary, but then when it all hits you, the impact is really pretty intense and visceral.... Portman is just amazing, seeming to go beyond even what the great "Method Actors" such as De Niro, Pacino, Brando and Hoffman achieved, Aronofsky's direction is pretty much just the best any film-maker can hope to achieve with their art (of course anyone who's ever seen "Pi - Faith In Chaos", "The Wrestler", "The Fountain" and "Requiem For A Dream" knows how brilliant a film-maker he is already and that he just has an incredible eye for visual detail) and if Aronofsky and Portman don't win at the Oscars, Hollywood can go fukk itself frankly.........

hmm, i'm thinking I should download this sooner than later.

Still haven't seen this, its only came out in UK today though hasn't it?

 

My friend downloaded it and said it was crap, but I'm thinking she is wrong..

Still haven't seen this, its only came out in UK today though hasn't it?

 

My friend downloaded it and said it was crap, but I'm thinking she is wrong..

 

In London it was last night.... :lol:

 

I am gonna re watch this at the cinema soon. I watched it online about a month ago and the quality was a bit meh, i had to wait in between parts to load and i just wanna full understand the story. I also want to examine Natalie portman's performance again and see if it really is as "outstanding" as many people claim.

Edited January 20, 201114 yr by David John

I am gonna re watch this at the cinema soon. I watched it online about a month ago and the quality was a bit meh, i had to wait in between parts to load and i just wanna full understand the story. I also want to examine Natalie portman's performance again and see if it really is as "outstanding" as many people claim.

 

The story is exactly what the synopsis states. There's nothing more to it than that, it is a very simpke story but it is pulled off so effectively. Like Grimly mentioned earlier, Natalie Portman put A LOT of effort into the role. She is so believable as the fragile virgin, and how much work she must have put in to be able to learn ballet is noting short of amazing.

Rubbish movie. I was really disappointed.

Rubbish movie. I was really disappointed.

 

Really? I loved it, not usually my kind of film but it's absolutely gripping and the visuals were stunning.

Finally saw it today and completely loved it, It was stunning, artistic and gripping. Natalie is a hell of an actress (I loved her in 'V For Vendetta') and she is brilliant in this too, as is the other lead lady who I've forget the name of (The girl who plays Meg in Family Guy haha) I liked that it was dark and strange and also made you cringe now and again. It also seemed fresh and not similar to everything else thats out there at the moment, Brilliant.

Loved this.

Natalie. :wub:

Found this dull :( Not my thing. Went in with my friend. She said it was a thriller but I nearly fell asleep :(

This film polarises people more than any I've ever seen I think. People are either electrified by it or think it's boring - there's no middle ground. I'm in the electric camp particularly the finale which sent shudders up me, but my mate last night was bored. Strange.

This film polarises people more than any I've ever seen I think. People are either electrified by it or think it's boring - there's no middle ground. I'm in the electric camp particularly the finale which sent shudders up me, but my mate last night was bored. Strange.

 

The reaction has been quite strange. There are certainly countless ways to describe Black Swan but boring? Baffling. I can understand why people don't like it though.

This film polarises people more than any I've ever seen I think. People are either electrified by it or think it's boring - there's no middle ground. I'm in the electric camp particularly the finale which sent shudders up me, but my mate last night was bored. Strange.

 

Yeah I agree with that. I was in the Love category