Black Swan

The Academy always has a big problem of neglecting the more artsy/independent- esque films. But thankfully, the best picture nominations have recently been doubled from 5 to 10, allowing certain films, like Black Swan, an opportunity to run in the big leagues. Darren Aronofsky, the genius behind Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler, has created a psychological thriller that stands alone among most of this genre.
Devoid of Aronofsky's typically stylized directing, this film is more of a character study of Nina, a troubled ballet dancer whose life has been completely devoted to dancing and achieving perfection in her craft. Played wonderfully by Natalie Portman, her role as Nina is one of the most haunting performances in recent memory, making you cringe and squirm in your seat as you watch her progression into insanity, becoming delusional and unaware of what is reality and what is in her mind. This film does a brilliant job of toying with the audiences' perception of reality within the film, thanks to Aronofsky's skilled and mature direction. It's shot in an almost documentary style, devoid of still shots, with hand-held camera work that seems to be intimately following the characters and their actions.
Unfortunately, Black Swan has little-to-no chance of winning best picture; this film is, simply, too artsy for the Academy's taste, not quite mainstream enough. At least they've finally recognized Aronofsky, who's gone his whole career without a hint of recognition. Now, hopefully, this film proves something--that independent films do stand a chance against the big studio productions.