Nina is obsessed to give the perfect performance.  Thomas points out that this is a flaw of hers because she has to learn to let herself go at times.  Nina lives with her overbearing, controlling stage mother (Barbara Hershey).  A former ballerina herself, who never made it big and now, lives her dreams through her daughter.  Finally there is Lily (Mila Kunis) a new dancer whose carefree attitude (“She’s not faking it” Thomas points out) earns her the spot as Nina’s alternate for the role and who Nina is convinced is out to get her in order to obtain it.

 Or is she?  That’s where the movie really starts to mess with the audience, not knowing what Nina is seeing and experiencing is real or in her mind due to the enormous pressure she is putting on herself to be perfect.  Aronofsky is known for using a technique know as “hip-hop montage” which is described on his IMDb page as images or actions shown in fast-motion accompanied by sound effects which he uses again here to perfection.  What you never realize is that this whole movie is a ballet with a grand score and all.  That’s where the mastery truly lies.

Of course, in order to pull off this ballet you need the right cast and the director could not ask for a better one.  Portman is sure to nab many acting nomination this coming award season.  The battle Nina wages within herself is mesmerizing to watch.  Mila Kunis continues to make some great choices for herself.  Her star is rising so quickly it must be traveling at the speed of light.  Winona Ryder reminds everyone why she was so often talked about a decade ago and that talk is sure to start again after this movie.  Barbara Hershey is superb as Nina’s manipulating mother.  When Nina refuses a piece of cake and her mother then motions to throw the whole thing away you can see how she resent losing control of her daughter for even a second and will do and say anything to get her to be her “little girl” again.

While some of the imagery created here is something to see it may rub people the wrong way. There are some things Nina sees and the audience sees that we know is not real. The there are other moments where we feel just as confused as Nina and these “surprises” can feel like pure manipulation for just the sake of it. There are also some moments that will make audience members uncomfortable, even simple moments like when the dancers are cracking their knuckles. Other moments can be seen in the movie’s trailer.

There’s a great deal being made about the lesbian scene between Portman and Kunis. Yes, they kiss and touch and so on, but its all part of the art Aronofsky is creating. It’s also part of the mind screwing he likes to do so much. That shouldn’t be the reason to get your butt in the seat, but if it is, at least you’re there and this movie is worth seeing. It is rated R for strong sexual content, shocking images, language and some drug use.