Don’t watch Black Swan alone, but do watch it.

About the film:
Black Swan follows the story of Nina (Natalie Portman), a ballerina in the New York City Ballet trying to make it to the top. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), also impresses Leroy and becomes Nina’s competition. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly with her innocence and grace, but Lily is the personification of the BlackSwan with her fiery personality. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

The Black Swan [Blu-ray]disc contains special features not included on the DVD including exciting behind-the-scenes looks at the filmmaking process and interviews with the cast and director Darren Aronofsky. With the best-available sound and picture quality, the Blu-ray format provides viewers the premier way to experience the stunning Academy Award®-nominated cinematography, memorable character performances and flawless choreography.

My thoughts:

I knew this wasn’t a film to be watching alone after seeing the film trailer.  It looked creepy, and it certainly was.  During some parts I was so anxious I couldn’t look.  I learned rather quickly that you couldn’t always trust what you were shown, and that’s done to help the audience experience what Nina is going through.  Natalie Portman totally deserved the Academy Award for her role.  The movie excellent, but be prepared for the intensity.  It’s a thriller that keeps the audience hanging right until the shocking ending.

Are you a black swan or a white swan? 
Find out at this interactive site where you’ll be shown a series of film clips and asked to click on words/phrases that best describe your emotional reaction to that clip. The experience morphs depending on the responses chosen, ultimately leading users to “transform” into the White Swan or BlackSwan.  I was surprised by the outcome.

No compensation was received for this post. I received a complimentary copy in order to facilitate my candid review.