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Black Swan
Black Swan

Black Swan

December 3, 2010· 1h 48m
Directed by
Cinemagraphs Score7.9

The story of Nina, a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica who zealously supports her daughter's professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice.

Critics Sentiment

Critics7.9
No audience data yet —
1 — Hated it5 — Neutral10 — Masterpiece
Critics
|
8+ Great
6-8 Good
<6 Poor
17 reviews·Last updated 1mo ago
Peak Moment

Nina dances final act bleeding and declares herself perfect as she dies

10.0at 1h 44m
Lowest Moment

Thomas introduces newcomer Lily who resembles Nina but lacks inhibition

6.5at 1h 05m
Biggest Swing

The film dramatically shifts from its slowest point during the first hour to explosive psychological horror and transcendent finale.

Black Swan follows a challenging sentiment arc that mirrors Nina's psychological journey, starting strong but sagging significantly in the middle hour before exploding into visceral horror and achieving a transcendent climax. Critics consistently noted the film's slow first hour as its weakest element, but praised how it builds to an unforgettable finale anchored by Portman's career-defining performance. The overall reception reflects admiration for Aronofsky's bold vision and technical mastery, even when acknowledging the film's pacing issues.

17 reviews analyzed|Sources: Tmdb, Guardian, Imdb
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15.510

Rate each story beat:

Nina dreams of dancing Swan Lake with goblin prince
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Thomas forces Beth into retirement and announces Swan Lake casting
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Nina confronts Thomas who forcibly kisses her before she bites him
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Nina surprisingly receives the Swan Queen role at the gala celebration
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Thomas introduces newcomer Lily who resembles Nina but lacks inhibition⬇ Lowest moment
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Lily takes Nina out drinking and they consume ecstasy together
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Nina experiences severe hallucinations and believes she's transforming into Odile
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Nina dances final act bleeding and declares herself perfect as she dies⬆ Peak moment
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it

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