HOLLYWOOD—“Black Swan” is a film that Natalie Portman surpasses all of her previous film work in. Portman portrays Nina Sayers, the Swan Queen, and Mila Kunis portrays the Lily, the Black Swan. Director Darren Aronofsky was new to my film knowledge, but he surpassed my imagination and made me want to see this film all over again. The style of direction in this film is almost from the classic era of Hollywood, which makes the characters so much more accessible and almost dreamlike in their appearances on-screen. He doesn’t use the new fast track storytelling, which audiences now demand, but it’s still not sluggish or too slow for movie goers. I’m now a huge fan of director Araonofsky, as I have always been of actress Natalie Portman.

Vincent Cassel, who portrays Thomas Leroy, the Gentleman, is enthralling as the leading man in the film. He was another performer in which I was not readily acquainted with, but I became impressed with his level of professionalism and the strength of his performance, which includes one of the best voices in filmdom today.

The movie, which sounds very classic in its title, is actually a very dark version of “Swan Lake.” The chilling, often off-beat film put me in the mind of the 1980s show “Twin Peaks” and the directorial style of David Lynch was scary and enchanting at the same time. The dancing is absolutely astonishing, but the torment that ballet dancers often go through for the love of the art is showcased in almost horror-version filming.

Fox Searchlight Studios refers to the film as a drama thriller for good reason. “Nina (Portman) is 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 obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well,” said the studio’s official release.

Portman uses guile and charm to engross the viewer, but the director steals every scene with his enormous style that is eclectic and enchanting. It’s hard to see where the star on screen in actress Natalie Portman and the star behind the scenes in director Darren Aronofsky end, while the other is supposed to begin. With the Oscar race heating up, both Portman, as Best Actress and Aronofsky, as Best Director are definitely obvious choices. They should not be cheated out of being included in this year’s Academy Awards® race.

This reviewer gives the film Five of Five Stars. “Black Swan” opened on Friday, December 3.