8. Subtlety is not Black Swan‘s strong suit.
Nina, perceived as fragile and meek, wears a lot of white, while the assertive wild-child Lily (Mila Kunis) can usually be found in black. Thomas Leroy is the demanding director who lives up to his kingly last name, controlling the fates of both of his swan queens, while Nina’s imperious mother is set on preventing her daughter from leaving the nest. You don’t need a large brain to figure out what this movie is relaying — just some functioning eyeballs and a strong stomach.
9. Aronofsky thinks the performing arts are painful.
Black Swan and The Wrestler both have an obsession with artists who have an obsession with performing. Mickey Rourke’s Randy bled and bruised for his profession, and Nina bleeds and bruises for a host of reasons, her art being one of them. Could you imagine Aronofsky directing an episode of Glee? I couldn’t!
10. The trailer’s better than the movie.
And the poster too, frankly. The movie’s promotional materials are slick and alluringly cool. So is the movie, but, under its sheen, there’s not that much going on. A couple of good performances, some fancy visual techniques, and a handful of well-worn tropes don’t quite carry Black Swan.
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