Black Swan (2010)

Director:

Darren Aronofsky

Writers (WGA):

Mark Heyman (screenplay) and
Andres Heinz (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 December 2010 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A ballet dancer wins the lead in "Swan Lake" and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan - Princess Odette - but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odile, the Black Swan.

Plot Keywords:

Ballerina | Dancer | Swan Lake | Ballet | Dance

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 54 wins & 118 nominations

Cast

Natalie Portman	...	Nina Sayers
Mila Kunis	...	Lily
Vincent Cassel	...	Thomas Leroy
Barbara Hershey	...	Erica Sayers
Winona Ryder	...	Beth Macintyre
Benjamin Millepied	...	David
Ksenia Solo	...	Veronica
Kristina Anapau	...	Galina
Janet Montgomery	...	Madeline
Sebastian Stan	...	Andrew
Toby Hemingway	...	Tom
Sergio Torrado	...	Sergio
Mark Margolis	...	Mr. Fithian
Tina Sloan	...	Mrs. Fithian
Abraham Aronofsky	...	Mr. Stein
Charlotte Aronofsky	...	Mrs. Stein
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	Georgina
Shaun O'Hagan	...	Sebastian
Christopher Gartin	...	Scott
Deborah Offner	...	Susie
Stanley B. Herman	...	Uncle Hank
Michelle Rodriguez Nouel	...	Physical Therapist
Kurt Froman	...	David's Understudy
Marty Krzywonos	...	Conductor
Leslie Lyles	...	Nurse
John Epperson	...	Jaded Piano Player
Arkadiy Figlin	...	Piano Player
Tim Fain	...	Violin Player (as Timothy Fain)
Sarah Lane	...	Lady in the Lane
Liam Flaherty	...	Man in Stall
Patrick Heusinger	...	Rich Gent
Marina Stavitskaya	...	Ballet Mistress
Olga Kostritzky	...	Ballet Mistress
Christine Redpath	...	Ballet Mistress
Alexandra Damiani	...	Ballet Mistress
Rebecca Azenberg	...	Corps De Ballet
Laura Bowman	...	Corps De Ballet
Holly L. Fusco	...	Corps De Ballet
Abigail Mentzer	...	Corps De Ballet
Barette Vance	...	Corps De Ballet
Lillian di Piazza	...	Corps De Ballet
Megan Dickinson	...	Corps De Ballet
Jessy Hendrickson	...	Corps De Ballet
Geneviève Lebean	...	Corps De Ballet
Rachel Jambois	...	Corps De Ballet
Ryoko Sadoshima	...	Corps De Ballet
Kaia A. Tack	...	Corps De Ballet
Lauren Fadeley	...	Corps De Ballet
Sarah Hay	...	Corps De Ballet
Adrianna de Svastich	...	Corps De Ballet
Jamie Wolf	...	Corps De Ballet
Carrie Lee Riggins	...	Corps De Ballet
Gina Artese	...	Corps De Ballet
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rhona Fox	...	Socialite (uncredited)
Dj Jess	...	DJ (uncredited)
Daralina Komar	...	Ballet Dancer (uncredited)
Tim Lacatena	...	Ballet Dancer (uncredited)
Carmella Stolyar	...	Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)

Directed by
Darren Aronofsky

Writing credits (WGA)
Mark Heyman		(screenplay) and
Andres Heinz		(screenplay) (as Andrés Heinz) and
John J. McLaughlin		(screenplay) (as John McLaughlin)
Andres Heinz		(story) (as Andrés Heinz)

Produced by
Jon Avnet	....	executive producer
Brad Fischer	....	executive producer (as Bradley J. Fischer)
Scott Franklin	....	producer
Jerry Fruchtman	....	co-producer (as Gerald Fruchtman)
Peter Fruchtman	....	executive producer
Rose Garnett	....	associate producer
Ari Handel	....	executive producer
Mike Medavoy	....	producer
Arnold Messer	....	producer (as Arnold W. Messer)
Brian Oliver	....	producer
Joseph P. Reidy	....	co-producer (as Joseph Reidy)
Jennifer Roth	....	executive producer
Rick Schwartz	....	executive producer
Tyler Thompson	....	executive producer
David Thwaites	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Clint Mansell

Cinematography by
Matthew Libatique		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Andrew Weisblum

Casting by
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Thérèse DePrez

Art Direction by
David Stein

Set Decoration by
Tora Peterson

Costume Design by
Amy Westcott

Makeup Department
Judy Chin	....	makeup designer
Diana Choi	....	special makeup effects artist (as Diana Yun Soo Yoo)
Marjorie Durand	....	makeup department head
Christen Edwards	....	special makeup crew
Jeong-Hwa Fonkalsrud	....	additional makeup artist
Rachel Geary	....	additional makeup
Valerie Gladstone-Appel	....	hair stylist
Dierdre Harris	....	additional hairstylist
Emma Jacobs	....	assistant makeup effects artist
Emma Jacobs	....	special makeup effects assistant
Chris Kelly	....	special makeup crew
Todd Kleitsch	....	key makeup artist
Mary Hedges Lampert	....	key hair stylist
Michael Maddi	....	makeup crew
Michael Marino	....	prosthetic makeup designer
Cassandra Saulter	....	makeup artist
Geordie Sheffer	....	hair department head
Hayes Villandry	....	silicone specialist
Christina Grant	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Gabrielle Mahon	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Amy Lauritsen	....	second assistant director
Travis Rehwaldt	....	second second assistant director
Joseph P. Reidy	....	first assistant director (as Joseph Reidy)
Jennifer Roberts	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Aimee Athnos	....	art department production assistant
Jasmine E. Ballou	....	property assistant
Tim Chung	....	art department intern
Michael Cory	....	props
Nicole De Luca	....	art intern
Daniel Fisher	....	property master
David Scott Gagnon	....	leadman
Todd Giresi	....	carpenter
Daniel Hahn	....	art department intern
Miriam Johnson	....	art department coordinator
Derrick Kardos	....	graphic designer
Danielle Krudy	....	art department intern
Robert Ludemann	....	additional graphic artist: props
Chris Wolfgang Mauch	....	storyboard artist
Jeffrey Rollins	....	on-set dresser
Max Sherwood	....	assistant property master
Noreen Souza-Bailey	....	construction production assistant
Greg Sullivan	....	charge scenic artist
Richard Tenewitz	....	construction coordinator
Ian Zdatny	....	set director
Tim Zydel	....	additional on-set dresser

Sound Department
Steve Baine	....	foley artist
Sean Byrne	....	post-production sound
Alfonso Calvo	....	dubbing re-recording mixer
Brian Emrich	....	sound designer
Nelson Ferreira	....	sound effects recording
Dann Fink	....	adr loop group director
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer (Los Angeles)
Dror Gescheit	....	sound re-recordist
Anguibe Guindo	....	boom operator
Gina Gyles	....	foley assistant
Craig Henighan	....	sound designer
Craig Henighan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Craig Henighan	....	supervising sound editor
Ken Ishii	....	production sound mixer
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer
Wayne Lemmer	....	sound effects editor
Brendan Jamieson O'Brien	....	boom operator
Joe Origlieri	....	sound utility
Peter Persaud	....	foley recordist
Jill Purdy	....	supervising dialogue & adr editor
Andy Stallabrass	....	adr recordist
Seth Tallman	....	additional boom operator
Dominick Tavella	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Benjamin Lécuyer	....	adr engineer (uncredited)
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Michael Bird	....	special effects technician
Roland Blancaflor	....	special effects technician
Conrad V. Brink Jr.	....	special effects coordinator (as Conrad Brink)
Kevin Carter	....	special effects contact lenses
Tim Rossiter	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Adam Avitabile	....	flame artist
Colleen Bachman	....	visual effects producer
Derek Bird	....	digital compositor
Alex Boothby	....	compositor
Seth Brower	....	compositor
Jodie Brown	....	visual effects producer
Christian Cardona	....	visual effects
Ryan Chatel	....	rotoscope artist
Manda Cheung	....	digital compositor
Leslie Chung	....	digital compositor
Michael Collins	....	visual effects supervisor
Steve Dellerson	....	executive producer: Look FX
Direct Dimensions	....	3D scanning
Mark S. Driscoll	....	president: Look Effects (as Mark Driscoll)
Henrik Fett	....	additional visual effects supervisor
Katherine Filtranti	....	visual effects artist
Kelly Fischer	....	digital compositor: Look Effects (as Kelly Fisher)
Chris Flynn	....	digital compositor
Trey Freeman	....	digital artist
Carl Frytz	....	animator
Buddy Gheen	....	lead compositor
Brad Kalinoski	....	digital compositor supervisor: Look FX LA
Joanie Karnowski	....	matchmove artist
John Kilkenny	....	visual effects executive
Danny S. Kim	....	digital compositor: Look Effects (as Danny Kim)
Darren Kiner	....	visual effects artist
Lewis Kofsky	....	motion capture producer
Matt Kushner	....	cg artist: LOOK Effects
Matt Kushner	....	visual effects coordinator: LOOK Effects
Keith Lackey	....	character technical director: LookFX
Jessica Lai	....	matchmove artist
Brett Landon	....	compositor
Eric Leverenz	....	digital imaging
Shawn Lipowski	....	visual effects artist
Manuel Llamas	....	digital compositor
Jose E. Lopez	....	rotoscope artist
John Mangia	....	digital compositor: Look Effects, NY
Martin McGreevy	....	rotoscope artist
Morgan Miller	....	digital imaging
Daniel Molina	....	digital compositor
Aaron Newman	....	concept illustrator
Sk Nguyen	....	coordinator: vfx
Joseph Oberle	....	digital compositor
Guillaume Renberg	....	motion control operator
Migs Rustia	....	visual effects editor
Gabriel Sanchez	....	flame artist: Look Effects
Dan Schrecker	....	visual effects supervisor
York N. Schueller	....	character technical director: Look Effects
Greg M. Silverman	....	visual effects artist
Jason Snea	....	compositor
Paul Stemmer	....	visual effects editor
Andrew Still	....	data manager
Antonello Stornelli	....	visual effects artist
Ben Sumner	....	digital compositor
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration
Niko Tavernise	....	visual effects coordinator
Melinka Thompson-Godoy	....	additional visual effects producer
Jay Tilin	....	visual effects artist
Chris 'Pinkus' Wesselman	....	digital compositor
Michael P. Whipple	....	digital intermediate engineer
Brent Whitmore	....	compositor
Melissa Widup	....	senior roto/paint artist: Look FX

Stunts
Jared Burke	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Barbara Christie	....	stunt performer
Barbara Christie	....	stunts
Douglas Crosby	....	stunt coordinator
Sarah Lane	....	stunt double: Natalie Portman
Lisa Ann Murphy	....	stunts
Abby Nelson	....	stunt double: Natalie Portman
Abby Nelson	....	stunts
Kimberly Prosa	....	stunt double: Natalie Portman
Maria Riccetto	....	stunts
Jen Weissenberg	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Jen Weissenberg	....	stunts
Natalie Jean	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Alcantara	....	lighting technician
Tony Arnaud	....	best boy grip
David M. Carr	....	grip
Joseph V. Cicio	....	"a" camera operator
Rashad Clinton	....	grip
Stephen Consentino	....	steadicam operator: "a" camera operator
Luis Contreras	....	lighting technician
Lamont Crawford	....	key grip
Gavin Curran	....	rigging gaffer
Jonathan Dahan	....	grip
Devin Donegan	....	video assist technician
Kris Enos	....	second assistant camera
Morris Flam	....	gaffer
Craig Paul Harris	....	electrician
Asie Kid	....	electrician
Michael A. Leo	....	generator operator
Patrick Lowry	....	rigging grip
Lorne MacDougall	....	theatrical lighting director
Frida Marzouk	....	company electrician
Dave McAllister	....	best boy
Louis Petraglia	....	rigging electric best boy
Eve Strickman	....	film loader
Eve Strickman	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Niko Tavernise	....	still photographer
John Velez	....	gaffer
Aurelia Winborn	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Lindsay Graham	....	casting associate
Brandon Hemmerling	....	casting assistant
Jennifer Sabel	....	casting director: background

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nina Cinelli	....	set costumer
Rebecca Hofherr	....	assistant costume designer
Jennifer Ingram	....	wardrobe supervisor
Jared B. Leese	....	specialty costumes
Angela Mirabella	....	set costumer
Kate Mulleavy	....	costume designer: ballet costumes
Laura Mulleavy	....	costume designer: ballet costumes
Nicci Schinman	....	set costumer
David Turk	....	additional set costumer

Editorial Department
Victoria Anderson	....	colorist assistant
Kent Blocher	....	first assistant editor
Dana Bloder	....	digital intermediate producer
Zuzana Bochar	....	apprentice editor
Sam Daley	....	colorist: dailies
Kristyn DiPane	....	dailies producer
Kristyn DiPane	....	dailies project manager
Jessica Elvin	....	digital intermediate editor
Andreas Fehrle	....	apprentice editor
Eric Glatt	....	post-production assistant
Trevor Joyce	....	digital cinema producer
Jeffrey Leiser	....	colorist assistant
Richie Roefaro	....	dailies advisor: Canon 7D
Richie Roefaro	....	final cut pro technician
Tim Stipan	....	digital intermediate colorist
Kevin Vale	....	digital intermediate project manager
Lee Wimer	....	color timer

Music Department
Nancy Allen	....	music editor
Jim Black	....	music supervisor
John Bradbury	....	musician: solo violin
Simon Chamberlain	....	musician: piano
Chris Clad	....	violin
Chris Cozens	....	music: digital orchestral timings
Fiona Cruickshank	....	assistant score engineer
Matt Dunkley	....	conductor
Matt Dunkley	....	music adaptor: music from "Swan Lake"
Matt Dunkley	....	music arranger: music from "Swan Lake"
Matt Dunkley	....	orchestrator
Tim Fain	....	violin soloist
Geoff Foster	....	score mixer (uncredited)
Geoff Foster	....	score recordist
Mick Gormaley	....	associate music editor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Gabe Hilfer	....	music supervisor
Clint Mansell	....	music adaptor: music from "Swan Lake"
Clint Mansell	....	music arranger: music from "Swan Lake"
Charlotte Matthews	....	assistant orchestra contractor
Adam Miller	....	assistant score engineer
David G. Russell	....	midi preparation (as David Russell)
David G. Russell	....	score preparation (as David Russell)
Richey Rynkowski	....	orchestrator assistant
Jill Streater	....	score preparation
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky	....	composer: music from "Swan Lake"
Nigel Wiesehan	....	score technical assistant
Rolf Wilson	....	musician: solo violin
Geoff Foster	....	score engineer (uncredited)

Other crew
Liz Adams	....	production assistant
Eugen Ahl-Klopsch	....	production intern
Ama Ampadu	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jodi Arneson	....	assistant production office coordinator
Teddy Au	....	production accountant
Adam Ballesteros	....	assistant: David Thwaites
Scott Bowers	....	staff production assistant
Zara Burdett	....	set production assistant
Christina Chow	....	production assistant
Wendy Cohen	....	product placement/clearances
Joaquin Collado	....	extras
Jeremy Dawson	....	title designer: main titles
Sam Day	....	production intern
Loreen Domijan	....	theatrical stage manager
Megan Fairchild	....	ballet consultant
David Farr	....	first assistant accountant
Lindsay Feldman	....	production coordinator
Scott Ferlisi	....	location assistant
Megan Foerster	....	location scout
Alex Footman	....	production intern
Alyssa Frankel	....	production assistant
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post production accountant
Kurt Froman	....	associate choreographer
Jessie Gant	....	assistant accountant
Karen Gehres	....	epk producer
Adam Gibbs	....	production assistant
Eric Glatt	....	intern
Trish Gray	....	location scout
Gabriel Greenberg	....	location scout
Orit Greenberg	....	location scout
Mallory Groff	....	production intern
Eva Hannon	....	location intern
Rob Harris	....	unit publicist
Jeff Joslin	....	stand-in
Jon Kauffman	....	assistant: Darren Aronofsky
Julie Kent	....	ballet consultant
Clara Kim	....	assistant to producer
Olga Kostritzky	....	ballet coach
Olga Kostritzky	....	on-set ballet coach
Jeff Kryvicky	....	title designer: main titles
Ronnie Kupferwasser	....	location manager
Sarah Lane	....	dance double: Natalie Portman
Michael B. Lewis	....	production secretary
Ben Lusthaus	....	office production assistant
Ashley Melone	....	ballet coordinator
Ali Mendes	....	assistant to producers
Grit Menzzer	....	production staff
Ross Miller	....	insurance
Soren Miltich	....	production assistant
Chris Miskiewicz	....	stand in: John Epperson
Allison Moore	....	motion designer: Cross Creek Pictures
Eric Papa	....	location scout
Ivan Paric	....	additional production assistant
Tiler Peck	....	ballet consultant
Anthony Pettine	....	script supervisor
Alexander Phillips	....	additional production assistant
Kimberly Prosa	....	dance double: Natalie Portman
Benjamin R. Reder	....	production legal counsel
Jennifer Roberts	....	set production assistant
Kerry Roberts	....	payroll accountant
Howard Samuelsohn	....	dialect coach
Ian M. Stratford	....	financial counsel
Daniel Tresca	....	assistant location manager
Robert Velo	....	production financing
Heather Watts	....	ballet consultant
Bruce Winant	....	adr loop group
Sally Winters	....	adr loop group
Spencer Wong	....	assistant: Brad Fischer
Peter Pamela Rose	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (presents)
• Protozoa Pictures
• Phoenix Pictures
• Cross Creek Pictures (in association with)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2010) (worldwide) (all media)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2011) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (through Warner Bros.)
• 20th Century Fox (2011) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2010) (Canada) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2011) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2011) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2011) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2011) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2010) (United Arab Emirates) (theatrical) (Middle East)
• Odeon (2011) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox C.I.S. (2011) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2011) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (through)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (Belgium) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Castello Lopes Multimédia (2011) (Portugal) (all media)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Odeon (2011) (Greece) (DVD) (blu-ray)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Curious Pictures (motion capture)
• LOOK! Effects (visual effects)

Other Companies

• ARRI / Camera Service Center  camera equipment provided by
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  score recorded at (as Air Studios, London, England)
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Gray Krauss Des Rochers  legal services
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research
• Reder & Feig  production legal counsel
• Rodarte  ballet costume designer
• ScriptE Systems  script supervision software
• Sixteen19  post production services
• Sony Classical  soundtrack
• Sound One  post-production sound
• Technicolor Creative Services  digital intermediate (as Technicolor)
• Technicolor Creative Services  film scanning and recording (as Technicolor - NY)

Also Known As:

"El cisne negro" - Argentina (imdb display title), Chile (imdb display title), Mexico (imdb display title), Peru (imdb display title), Uruguay (imdb display title), Venezuela (imdb display title)
"Cisne Negro" - Brazil (imdb display title), Portugal (imdb display title)
"''Le Cygne Noir''" - Canada (French title) (imdb display title)
"Черен лебед" - Bulgaria (Bulgarian title) (imdb display title)
"Чёрный лeбедь" - Russia
"Barbur shahor" - Israel (Hebrew title)
"Black Swan" - Japan (English title) (imdb display title)
"Cerná labut" - Czech Republic
"Cierna labut" - Slovakia (imdb display title)
"Cisne negro" - Spain (imdb display title)
"Crni labud" - Serbia (imdb display title)
"Crni labud" - Croatia (imdb display title)
"Czarny labedz" - Poland (imdb display title)
"Fekete hattyú" - Hungary (imdb display title)
"Il cigno nero" - Italy (imdb display title)
"Juodoji gulbe" - Lithuania (imdb display title)
"Mavros kyknos" - Greece (imdb display title)
"Melnais gulbis" - Latvia (imdb display title)
"Must luik" - Estonia (imdb display title)
"Shavi gedi" - Georgia (imdb display title)
"Siyah Kugu" - Turkey (Turkish title) (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #46261) | Germany:16 (f) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | South Korea:18 | Chile:14 | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Australia:MA | Malaysia:18 (censored version) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | Brazil:16 | Japan:R15+ | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Peru:14 | Argentina:16 | Sweden:15 | Netherlands:16 | South Africa:16LV | New Zealand:R16 | Italy:VM14

Filming Locations:

Bowling Green, Lower Manhattan, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Darren Aronofsky told journalist Kim Masters in a radio interview (KCRW's "The Business" broadcast February 14, 2011) that Natalie Portman not only trained for a year as a dancer to prepare for the role, but that she paid for the training out of her own pocket for about seven months until the film found investors. Aronofsky attributed the fact the film's ever actually getting made to Portman's dedication and enthusiasm.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Nina Sayers:I had the craziest dream last night. I was dancing the White Swan.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Breakfast: Episode dated 28 February 2011" (2011)

Soundtrack:

The Nina Frequency

The Good and The Bad

I was very lucky to snag tickets to see Black Swan at the the Toronto International Film Festival.

THE GOOD: Natalie Portman's acting was perfection - definitely an Oscar worthy performance. Mila Kunis's performance was surprising in a good way, it is clear that she stepped out of her comfort zone. The film's musical score was superb. Of course, much of it was taken from 'Swan Lake', but I loved that they were able to incorporate that music throughout the entire film and not just in the ballet scenes. Of course, it was beautifully shot and the plot was riveting - I was drawn in from beginning to end. The audience saw a new side of ballet/ theatre that is not often shown in popular films - the struggle the performer faces in committing to and perfecting a role. The struggle between 'good' vs. 'evil' was presented in a methodical and intriguing way.

THE BAD: Many parts of this film felt like it belonged in the horror Genre. Some parts definitely made me jump or cringe (which I was not expecting). The film was also an emotional roller-coaster, which was fine at first, but This 'emotional roller-coaster' sort of dragged on to the point that it almost felt like it was too much. I just feel that it could have been tuned down a notch.

Overall, I thought that most of the film was wonderful, and I highly recommend it.