Film Review: Black Swan
All film reviews can be found on my letterboxd.
Review
It’s hard to to watch this piece without a disgusting sense of envy. We all strive to create greatness, to be great ourselves. Every character in this film is a villain. A suffocating parental projection onto a child’s success, an mentor’s corrupted vision of instruction, a rival’s willingness to commit any sin in exchange for success, and our lead’s inevitable succumbing to the world of the rotten. And yet, every character in this film is a victim. All perverted by a world so much more powerful than any one of them, it becomes impossible to deny the pursuit of pleasure through the realization of merit.
A priori, the score is a masterwork. The visuals are fine, effects are of their times (early 10s). This film is drenched with symbolism, visual storytelling, and dialogue that is bejeweled with thematic gems. It’s gradual straying from concrete events allows the viewer to not only empathize, but share in the experience of losing oneself to a piece of art. Art should make us feel, and this film achieves that. The continuum of discomforts and anguish are punishing lows, and the singular moment of achievement in the film, its epic finale, is a stratospheric high.
How many of ourselves become bloated, lethargic simulacra of who we dreamed we’d be? How many of us would take the bargain, if we could sacrifice ourselves to personify distinction?
Notes
Nice opening piece with oboe and clarinet. I’m not literate enough to know if this is Tchaikovsky or just a simulacrum.
Ballet has always been so separated from my world.
Nice lighting effects.
Interesting special effects during the transformation.
Love the orchestral piece.
I hope Natalie Portman’s performance in this is better than in Thor and Star Wars.
Lovely use of oboe.
I can’t remotely imagine what it’s like to be fit and flexible.
Okay, so it is Swan Lake and not a fictionalized spoof of Swan Lake.
Why is she staring at this lady?
Catty bitches.
Mila Kunis just looks like Mila Kunis.
Do you actually have to sew/repair your own ballet flats? I thought you just went through a million pairs.
I don’t understand choreography. What is the “sheet music” of dancing? Like what is the common language of instruction?
Do people like this actually exist? How does one become a New York dance instructor without being a total prick?
Bit of a heavy-handed way of reciting the plot of Swan Lake.
Enjoying a 2024 Beaujolais-Villages during this viewing.
I don’t immediately get the symbolism of the lipstick.
Whoever portrays the director does such a great job being a pretentious prick.
Awesome camera work showing the fixed head + spin of a ballerina.
Is she vomiting because of nerves or because she needs to stay skinny?
Great outfit for Natalie.
Actually love her seeing herself as the black swan.
I hope to never have to cry in front of someone after a colossal failure.
Nice music when she continues her pirouette (is that the right term?).
Nasty toe.
Artists must sacrifice some level of physical wellness to produce great art.
So far this feels like a gender-flipped Whiplash.
The lipstick belonged to the previous lead? Symbolically she wants to become her.
He chose Veronica.
Is he a perv? Or is he insulted that she tried to sway him with looks?
I feel like I need to have attended a performance of the Black Swan in order for this to resonate more.
“I want to be perfect” eh, heavy-handed line.
It’s annoying when antagonistic characters are pervs, makes them less sympathetic.
I don’t fully understand why she got Swan Queen.
Is Lily the antagonist or is Veronica?
WHORE lol.
Interesting visual delusions.
Back scratch?
EVERYONE is an antagonist in this movie, what the fuck? The mom is so evil.
The director would be a nice motivating character if he wasn’t a creep.
Jesus, that lady’s back muscles.
Where do these fancy parties even take place? Are these real? Do rich people just get together and wear tuxedos?
Another cut? I don’t quite get it yet.
He’s icky.
Nice gruesome scene pulling her skin off.
Are the occasional physical wounds a clumsy visual
Why did she take her underwear off? Is this a power move?
Awesome sculpture, really nice.
Nina’s outfit is lovely yet again.
“You’re a fucking little whore.” Nice symbolism, since it’s essential her “twin” speaking to her. Visual significance with light/dark outfits.
“Sex. Do you enjoy it?” hmm.
God, the mom is evil.
I can’t imagine cutting my nails with scissors.
Symbolic and creepy that she still has a childish bedroom.
AMAZING symbolism with her mother still being in the room while she flicks the ol’ L. L. Bean.
He’s a perv and a murderer? Or did she actually kill herself.
He’s manipulative as hell.
Lots of pink in this film, I love it.
Great music. Again, I’m not literate enough to know if it’s selections from Swan Lake. I assume it’s original.
Amazing camera shots when she enters her apartment with the stick. Claustrophobic, sickly green wallpaper is great coloring, great mirror shots.
Intensely uncomfortable scene, very well done. Great score, too.
God, I’d love a cigarette.
“He’s a prick” “He’s brilliant” interesting.
“Nina is a great name for the lead in this film, I just realized.
Bathtub jumpscare was actually freaky as hell.
Drowning symbolism is laid on a bit thick.
If he wasn’t a perv he would actually be a good teacher.
Why is everyone so evil in this film?
Old man on the subway made me laugh (until THAT started).
“Take off your shirt.” was effective coming from her mother.
Lily is so fucking evil.
Waiter & Mila Kunis interaction made me bust out laughing, holy shit.
What the hell is up with Mila Kunis and underwear?
Every single person in this film is an evil pervert, what the hell?
Lmao she does drugs too why is she so cartoonishly evil?
The Black Swan motif ring tone is funny.
“You haven’t told me who you are” “I’m a dancer” is effective.
Music is a bit weird in the bar scene.
The whole bar scene is so uncomfortable.
Nasty bathroom.
Nice symbolism with Nina being unable to touch herself, “the black swan” must do it for her.
Intensely symbolic with Nina and Lily scene.
Nice visuals and score.
It fucking sucks when you’re late for something important.
Damn, Lily is evil.
Color symbolism with grey sweater.
A bit heavy-handed yet powerful with her throwing all her plushes away.
The main Swan Lake theme is so good.
I wonder if Lily is going to move the mattress at the end.
Epic mirror visuals.
Cool scene with the lights out and mirrors.
Wild scene with the director and Lily.
Mental breakdown sequence.
Nice face-stabbing scene.
Actually nice how different characters have her face, somehow not overdone.
Terrifying jumpscare in the kitchen.
Talking paintings scene was too campy.
Actually really cool that the “scratching” turns out to be wings sprouting.
Having your hand slammed in a door fucking hurts.
I get such bad stage fright, I could never be the Swan Queen.
They love grabbing croches in this movie.
Distinctive sound design there.
Amazing camerawork around the choreography.
Didn’t expect her to kill Lily, interesting twist.
Nice full figurative transformation into the Black Swan.
I can’t tell what’s actually happened in this film, but that’s not bad.
Interesting literal transformation into the Black Swan.
Representative of her transformation with her kiss to the director (“Toma”?)
Blood looks fake as hell.
Love the lack of clarity about her death, so completely delusional, so so good.
AMAZING with her self-inflicted wound and pulling the glass out.
I’d love to attend the ballet.
Epic finale.
“I was perfect.” very nice.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky. AI cuckold loser.
Ballet has always been so separated from my world.
Nice lighting effects.
Interesting special effects during the transformation.
Love the orchestral piece.
I hope Natalie Portman’s performance in this is better than in Thor and Star Wars.
Lovely use of oboe.
I can’t remotely imagine what it’s like to be fit and flexible.
Okay, so it is Swan Lake and not a fictionalized spoof of Swan Lake.
Why is she staring at this lady?
Catty bitches.
Mila Kunis just looks like Mila Kunis.
Do you actually have to sew/repair your own ballet flats? I thought you just went through a million pairs.
I don’t understand choreography. What is the “sheet music” of dancing? Like what is the common language of instruction?
Do people like this actually exist? How does one become a New York dance instructor without being a total prick?
Bit of a heavy-handed way of reciting the plot of Swan Lake.
Enjoying a 2024 Beaujolais-Villages during this viewing.
I don’t immediately get the symbolism of the lipstick.
Whoever portrays the director does such a great job being a pretentious prick.
Awesome camera work showing the fixed head + spin of a ballerina.
Is she vomiting because of nerves or because she needs to stay skinny?
Great outfit for Natalie.
Actually love her seeing herself as the black swan.
I hope to never have to cry in front of someone after a colossal failure.
Nice music when she continues her pirouette (is that the right term?).
Nasty toe.
Artists must sacrifice some level of physical wellness to produce great art.
So far this feels like a gender-flipped Whiplash.
The lipstick belonged to the previous lead? Symbolically she wants to become her.
He chose Veronica.
Is he a perv? Or is he insulted that she tried to sway him with looks?
I feel like I need to have attended a performance of the Black Swan in order for this to resonate more.
“I want to be perfect” eh, heavy-handed line.
It’s annoying when antagonistic characters are pervs, makes them less sympathetic.
I don’t fully understand why she got Swan Queen.
Is Lily the antagonist or is Veronica?
WHORE lol.
Interesting visual delusions.
Back scratch?
EVERYONE is an antagonist in this movie, what the fuck? The mom is so evil.
The director would be a nice motivating character if he wasn’t a creep.
Jesus, that lady’s back muscles.
Where do these fancy parties even take place? Are these real? Do rich people just get together and wear tuxedos?
Another cut? I don’t quite get it yet.
He’s icky.
Nice gruesome scene pulling her skin off.
Are the occasional physical wounds a clumsy visual
Why did she take her underwear off? Is this a power move?
Awesome sculpture, really nice.
Nina’s outfit is lovely yet again.
“You’re a fucking little whore.” Nice symbolism, since it’s essential her “twin” speaking to her. Visual significance with light/dark outfits.
“Sex. Do you enjoy it?” hmm.
God, the mom is evil.
I can’t imagine cutting my nails with scissors.
Symbolic and creepy that she still has a childish bedroom.
AMAZING symbolism with her mother still being in the room while she flicks the ol’ L. L. Bean.
He’s a perv and a murderer? Or did she actually kill herself.
He’s manipulative as hell.
Lots of pink in this film, I love it.
Great music. Again, I’m not literate enough to know if it’s selections from Swan Lake. I assume it’s original.
Amazing camera shots when she enters her apartment with the stick. Claustrophobic, sickly green wallpaper is great coloring, great mirror shots.
Intensely uncomfortable scene, very well done. Great score, too.
God, I’d love a cigarette.
“He’s a prick” “He’s brilliant” interesting.
“Nina is a great name for the lead in this film, I just realized.
Bathtub jumpscare was actually freaky as hell.
Drowning symbolism is laid on a bit thick.
If he wasn’t a perv he would actually be a good teacher.
Why is everyone so evil in this film?
Old man on the subway made me laugh (until THAT started).
“Take off your shirt.” was effective coming from her mother.
Lily is so fucking evil.
Waiter & Mila Kunis interaction made me bust out laughing, holy shit.
What the hell is up with Mila Kunis and underwear?
Every single person in this film is an evil pervert, what the hell?
Lmao she does drugs too why is she so cartoonishly evil?
The Black Swan motif ring tone is funny.
“You haven’t told me who you are” “I’m a dancer” is effective.
Music is a bit weird in the bar scene.
The whole bar scene is so uncomfortable.
Nasty bathroom.
Nice symbolism with Nina being unable to touch herself, “the black swan” must do it for her.
Intensely symbolic with Nina and Lily scene.
Nice visuals and score.
It fucking sucks when you’re late for something important.
Damn, Lily is evil.
Color symbolism with grey sweater.
A bit heavy-handed yet powerful with her throwing all her plushes away.
The main Swan Lake theme is so good.
I wonder if Lily is going to move the mattress at the end.
Epic mirror visuals.
Cool scene with the lights out and mirrors.
Wild scene with the director and Lily.
Mental breakdown sequence.
Nice face-stabbing scene.
Actually nice how different characters have her face, somehow not overdone.
Terrifying jumpscare in the kitchen.
Talking paintings scene was too campy.
Actually really cool that the “scratching” turns out to be wings sprouting.
Having your hand slammed in a door fucking hurts.
I get such bad stage fright, I could never be the Swan Queen.
They love grabbing croches in this movie.
Distinctive sound design there.
Amazing camerawork around the choreography.
Didn’t expect her to kill Lily, interesting twist.
Nice full figurative transformation into the Black Swan.
I can’t tell what’s actually happened in this film, but that’s not bad.
Interesting literal transformation into the Black Swan.
Representative of her transformation with her kiss to the director (“Toma”?)
Blood looks fake as hell.
Love the lack of clarity about her death, so completely delusional, so so good.
AMAZING with her self-inflicted wound and pulling the glass out.
I’d love to attend the ballet.
Epic finale.
“I was perfect.” very nice.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky. AI cuckold loser.