Portman, saddled with the near-impossible role of an impenetrable heroine we must care for without ever coming close to understanding, delivers career-high work here...
Though visually beautiful and boasting superb performances from the entire cast, Black Swan, much like the ballet Nina so adores, falters because of its emphasis on melodramatic style over substance.
Wonderful performances and assured and audacious direction make for one of the best films of the year. Aronofsky is never afraid to take risks with the story and his unflinching direction turns out to be one of the film's greatest assets.
For all his command of adrenalized, propulsive narrative and his dazzling technical facility, Aronofsky's study in female hysteria ultimately favors frenzy over compassion or insight-and remains strictly skin-deep.
It's either the awesomest stupid movie or the stupidest awesome movie I've seen all year.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
January 31, 2011
Portman hasn't been this good since her early performances in The Professional and Heat, and is deservedly attracting intense Oscar buzz. Kunis brings to Lily a savvy sexiness, and Cassel is entertainingly smarmy.
