Black Swan

As I watched Black Swan, one thing became increasingly evident to me. Director Darren Aronofsky seems obsessed with, well, obsession and the insanity that seems inherent in any obsession. Every film he has made has had its main character or character obsessed with their goal. Be it s number that may be the name of God or the secret to life or re-attainment of former glory, his characters are pursuing their goals sometimes to the point of insanity. So I'm not surprised that his latest effort returns to that reoccurring theme.

At times this theme is darker than others and for my money it probably won't ever get darker or better than Requiem for a Dream. A film which I saw once and only once not because I didn't think it was good or because I thought I didn't need to see it again but rather because I'm not sure I could see it again. It's overwhelming. Black Swan aims at that sort of discord but comes up short. But that isn't to say it isn't an amazing movie. It's mind bogglingly good.

First it is obsessed with detail. From the aches and scars of standing on your toes to the rigor of breaking in the ballet shoes. The slight creepiness of Nina's bedroom and overbearing mother. The cattiness of the ballet dancers. It may not be reality of dance but it feels like a reality. One lived in and agonized over. And when perfection obsessed Nina is confronted with not being perfect, she starts to crack. So meticulous is the attention to obsession that whether the antagonist Lily is actually doing anything of malice is beside the point. The very entrance of an oddity into the presumed perfect world may be the catalyst for Nina.

If its been a while since you've seen a good actor masterfully play a complete break with reality, then look no further. Natalie Portman who can be hit or miss, hits as Nina. If not for Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit, I'd be tempted to consider Portman the best of the year. And as the obsession and insanity crescendo, Aronofksy keeps moving forward and really stunned me with some quite visually breathtaking scenes.

Maybe the obsession as subject is personal for Aronofsky or maybe I'm over reading him but frankly if it means that every several years we get a movie like this or Requiem for a Dream, then I hope he keeps up the obsession. And I'll be in line to give him another chance to disturb me and thrill my movie going sensibility at the same time.