The Drive for Perfection

I've been really happy to hear how well Black Swan is doing at the box office (~$61,000,000) and the good reception it has received in general. I saw Black Swan for the first time in Chicago the day it arrived in theaters and due to some poor planning had to sit in the third row from the front. It was certainly not my ideal movie viewing situation, so I was more than happy to accompany some friends to watch it for a second time.  When I walked into my Buffalo movie theater I could not believe how full the screening was almost a month after its arrival.  Incidentally we had to sit in the front section again, but not quite as close as my first time. 

Prior to its release, it seemed like there was a lot of talk around the internet about how its extreme nature is not suited for the Oscar crowd.  While there is still a long road ahead, Black Swan is going strong and Aronofsky, Portman, Kunis, and Hershey's names continue to get recognition and praise amongst the other strong Oscar contenders.  I will be truly excited to see Aronofsky's name grace the DGA nominee list this week.

My first watch of Black Swan was more focused on the psychologically crazy trip through Nina's transformation, the dynamics of her relationships, and of course the disturbing beauty of the final stages of her metamorphosis.  The second time I was able to appreciate so much more her aspiration of perfection - it's consuming power and consequences.  It's there when she comes before Thomas in his office to ask for the part of Swan Queen, when she is moved in explaining her tendency toward attention to detail over an ability to be completely overtaken by the emotional aspects of the story. It's there when she sits in front of the mirror emotionally exhausted from failure and when she leaves the company for home only to immeadiately get out her shoes to continue practicing in her room.  Perfection is within reach as a quitely assured Nina tells Thomas she will be the one performing not Lily.  And as Nina falters in her portrayal of the White Swan we see her a step closer to embracing an all encompassing spot-on performance of the Black Swan. She becomes the role and by extension everything she has always wanted is hers.  Even in spite of all the suffering endured emotionally and physically, even when the performance costs life itself, Nina is overcome with the happiness of perfection.

Also of note is how watching Nina pull a long layer of skin from her finger went from cringe-party (first viewing) to purposeful in a battle for perfection (second viewing).  Sometimes watching a movie after knowing the ending is really great.  Especially this one because watching Nina's full immersion into Black Swan on the stage will never get old.  I love those first moments when her skin begins to grow goosebumps and her arms start taking on the black and grey tones all the way up to her fully feathered wingspan arched behind her.