Black Swan

Finally got to check out the hype at Archlight, Hollywood this Monday afternoon.  Not to be swayed, I went with a more quiet path of being patient and waiting to scrutinize this much talked about film.  I just adore Natalie Portman and the role didn't disappoint but it didn't move me either.  I wanted to care and understand, feel the anguish and pain but again, it was her pain, her anguish and I was just an onlooker watching the destruction happening.  Eventful, tortured, beautiful...very much so, but no connection for me to grasp to help me feel like I should really care.  I felt like if the film wanted to add elements of her turning into a swan and having her legs contort then they should have committed to that aspect instead of throwing some things here and there then forgetting about it, because as a viewer, I didn't.  I loved the feathers growing slowly during the black swan solo and fully forming into wings but then why the leg contortion?  These are some of the film choices that left me puzzled.  Overall, I still enjoyed the beauty of the film, the acting and the smartness of no montages of explaining anything and for that I give this film a thumbs up!

A solid B, so dance, plie, or pirouette your way down to the theaters and see for yourself why everyone is talking about this film.