re: black swan

It reminded me of Polanski's Repulsion (worth seeking out) and the final act of The Red Shoes. In fact, I think repressed female characters have been going ambiguously nuts since Henry James wrote The Turn of the Screw in 1898.

Black Swan feels like a final take on those themes in the hands of a master. It's just so solid technically, from the beautifully grainy 16mm to the bombastic old fashion score. Portman holds nothing back, much like her character... has their been a performance that has ever demanded such simultaneous physical and mental perfection? It's kind of heroic and I hope she gets the Oscar. I can imagine Aronofsky slipping through for Best Director as well.