The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
88
Studio and Year: 20th Century Fox - 2010
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 108 minutes
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, Spanish/French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Natalie Portman, Milo Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Music by: Clint Mansell
Written by: Mark Heyman, Andrew Heinz, John J. McLaughlin
Region Code: A,B
Blu-ray Disc release Date: March 29, 2011
"Perfect"
Film Synopsis:
Black Swan is directed by Darren Aronofsky and stars Academy Award winner Natalie Portman as Nina, a stunningly talented but dangerously unstable ballerina on the verge of stardom. Pushed to the breaking point by her driven artistic director (Vincent Cassel) and the threat posed by a seductive rival dancer (Mila Kunis), Nina's tenuous grip on reality starts to slip away - plunging her into a waking nightmare.
My Take:
BLACK SWAN follows the story of Nina (Natalie Portman), a ballerina in the New York City Ballet trying to make it to the top. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), also impresses Leroy and becomes Nina's competition. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly with her innocence and grace, but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan with her fiery personality. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.
I saw Black Swan when it was in theaters earlier this year. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it initially. The trailer left me with the impression that it was a supernatural thriller with elements of horror. As I watched I realized that it was psychological thriller with elements of drama and horror. This a darkly engaging, character driven film that is told from a singular viewpoint, that being of the main character, Nina. She is an A type personality with an already fragile psyche that has been developed by being raised by an overbearing mother and working in a physically demanding and highly competitive profession. Add to that an obsessive desire for perfection and you have the setup for a psychotic break. Nina is already a complex individual but when she gets the opportunity to become the Swan Queen and star of the show her delicate sensibilities and quiet nature take a back seat to wanton desire for the part which will require her to leave her comfort zone of perfection. Her transformation is built upon a series schizophrenic episodes that are driven by the presence of newcomer Lily, the pressure to conceptualize perfection versus imperfection and the unending fear of failure. This is an intriguing character study that probably holds some truths not just for people in this profession. Natalie Portman's performance serves as the catalyst which makes this an incredibly compelling film to watch. Her Academy Award win is justly deserved. Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder and Vincent Cassel are all very strong in support. Darren Aronofsky is a visionary filmmaker whose films are thematically and visually organic and you get that in spades with Black Swan. I enjoyed it the first time I saw it but even more during this second viewing where I was able to glean a bit more nuance from the performances, visuals and narrative. A truly wonderful film experience.
Parental Guide:
The rating is for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 88
Video: 88
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Black Swan comes to Blu-ray from Fox featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 33 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.5 Mbps.
This film's visual style doesn't lend itself to the crisp, high gloss, three dimensional look of most new release films released on Blu-ray but this is a creative decision that doesn't reflect negatively on its presentation. The video has an overtly grainy texture that gives it a gritty, filmlike quality that mirrors its theatrical presentation. Resolution is excellent as images are clearly rendered with appreciable detail and discerning nuance during close ups. The filtered chromatic range is purposefully limited to muted primary colors and softer secondary hues. That coupled with the drab lighting schemes and dark cinematography makes for a visually pallid but thematically affecting look. Skin tones among the cast vary and range from Rosy to pale while appearing textural and lifelike. Blacks are deep but a bit flat and shadow detail was crushed slightly which left some of the darker segments appearing less dimensional. I didn't see any signs of compression related artifacts or extraneous video noise.
The high resolution DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack features Dialogue that is presented with crystal clear intonation, full bodied vocal texture, and deep room penetration. Imaging across the front of the room is excellent as the mixture of sounds, dialogue and music is integrated with precision. The films orchestrated music is distributed through the main speakers and surrounds which accents presence. There are moments where the track springs to life with the power of the music or the snap of a jump inducing effect. Each is charged with dynamic energy and tactile bass response. The musical set pieces have an enriching dynamism, clarity and sweet sounding mid range that draw from the film's quieter moments and define the passion/bombast contained in the source material. This is an excellent audio presentation that successfully transitions from being very raucous to very subtle while positively reinforcing acoustic presence and aural dimension. It perfectly suits the thematic tone of the film and sounds great.
Bonus Features:
Final Thoughts:
Black Swan is a compelling psychological thriller set in the world of New York City Ballet. It's an engaging fiilm that features an alluring sense of the surreal, staunch direction and a dazzling performance from Oscar winner Natalie Portman. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from 20th Century Fox featuring faithful high definition video, rewarding lossless sound and an above average offering of bonus supplements that include interviews of the cast/crew, and a look behind the scenes at the production. For all that it is, Black Swan is a must see and comes highly recommended.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS50 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100 16x9 Screen
Anthem AVM50v THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Samsung BD-C7900 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld, VizionWare, Audioquest, Better Cables, Best Deal Cables - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
88
Studio and Year: 20th Century Fox - 2010
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 108 minutes
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, Spanish/French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Natalie Portman, Milo Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Music by: Clint Mansell
Written by: Mark Heyman, Andrew Heinz, John J. McLaughlin
Region Code: A,B
Blu-ray Disc release Date: March 29, 2011
"Perfect"
Film Synopsis:
Black Swan is directed by Darren Aronofsky and stars Academy Award winner Natalie Portman as Nina, a stunningly talented but dangerously unstable ballerina on the verge of stardom. Pushed to the breaking point by her driven artistic director (Vincent Cassel) and the threat posed by a seductive rival dancer (Mila Kunis), Nina's tenuous grip on reality starts to slip away - plunging her into a waking nightmare.
My Take:
BLACK SWAN follows the story of Nina (Natalie Portman), a ballerina in the New York City Ballet trying to make it to the top. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), also impresses Leroy and becomes Nina's competition. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly with her innocence and grace, but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan with her fiery personality. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.
I saw Black Swan when it was in theaters earlier this year. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it initially. The trailer left me with the impression that it was a supernatural thriller with elements of horror. As I watched I realized that it was psychological thriller with elements of drama and horror. This a darkly engaging, character driven film that is told from a singular viewpoint, that being of the main character, Nina. She is an A type personality with an already fragile psyche that has been developed by being raised by an overbearing mother and working in a physically demanding and highly competitive profession. Add to that an obsessive desire for perfection and you have the setup for a psychotic break. Nina is already a complex individual but when she gets the opportunity to become the Swan Queen and star of the show her delicate sensibilities and quiet nature take a back seat to wanton desire for the part which will require her to leave her comfort zone of perfection. Her transformation is built upon a series schizophrenic episodes that are driven by the presence of newcomer Lily, the pressure to conceptualize perfection versus imperfection and the unending fear of failure. This is an intriguing character study that probably holds some truths not just for people in this profession. Natalie Portman's performance serves as the catalyst which makes this an incredibly compelling film to watch. Her Academy Award win is justly deserved. Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder and Vincent Cassel are all very strong in support. Darren Aronofsky is a visionary filmmaker whose films are thematically and visually organic and you get that in spades with Black Swan. I enjoyed it the first time I saw it but even more during this second viewing where I was able to glean a bit more nuance from the performances, visuals and narrative. A truly wonderful film experience.
Parental Guide:
The rating is for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 88
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
Video: 88
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
Black Swan comes to Blu-ray from Fox featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 33 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.5 Mbps.
This film's visual style doesn't lend itself to the crisp, high gloss, three dimensional look of most new release films released on Blu-ray but this is a creative decision that doesn't reflect negatively on its presentation. The video has an overtly grainy texture that gives it a gritty, filmlike quality that mirrors its theatrical presentation. Resolution is excellent as images are clearly rendered with appreciable detail and discerning nuance during close ups. The filtered chromatic range is purposefully limited to muted primary colors and softer secondary hues. That coupled with the drab lighting schemes and dark cinematography makes for a visually pallid but thematically affecting look. Skin tones among the cast vary and range from Rosy to pale while appearing textural and lifelike. Blacks are deep but a bit flat and shadow detail was crushed slightly which left some of the darker segments appearing less dimensional. I didn't see any signs of compression related artifacts or extraneous video noise.
The high resolution DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack features Dialogue that is presented with crystal clear intonation, full bodied vocal texture, and deep room penetration. Imaging across the front of the room is excellent as the mixture of sounds, dialogue and music is integrated with precision. The films orchestrated music is distributed through the main speakers and surrounds which accents presence. There are moments where the track springs to life with the power of the music or the snap of a jump inducing effect. Each is charged with dynamic energy and tactile bass response. The musical set pieces have an enriching dynamism, clarity and sweet sounding mid range that draw from the film's quieter moments and define the passion/bombast contained in the source material. This is an excellent audio presentation that successfully transitions from being very raucous to very subtle while positively reinforcing acoustic presence and aural dimension. It perfectly suits the thematic tone of the film and sounds great.
Bonus Features:
- (HD) Black Swan Metamorphosis (3 segments totaling approximate 48 minutes) :
- Chapter 1 - NY City
- Chapter 2 - Purchase New York
- Chapter 3 - The FX of Black Swan
- (HD) Theatrical trailer
- (HD) Ballet - 2 minute featurette
- (HD) Production design - 4 minute featurette
- (HD) Costume design - 4 minute featutette
- (HD) Profile: Natalie Portman - 3 minutes
- (HD) Profile: Darren Aronofsky - 2 minutes
- (HD) A conversation: Preparing for the role/Dancing with the camera - Natalie Portman and Darren Aronosfky (5 minutes)
- Fox Movie Channel Presents (6 segments totaling 21 minutes) :
- In character with Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder, Barbara Hershey, Vincent Cassel
- Direct Effect - Darren Aronofsky
- BD-Live: Live Extras - Go behind the scenes clip
- Pocket BLU - with Wi-Fi download option
- Digital Copy
Final Thoughts:
Black Swan is a compelling psychological thriller set in the world of New York City Ballet. It's an engaging fiilm that features an alluring sense of the surreal, staunch direction and a dazzling performance from Oscar winner Natalie Portman. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from 20th Century Fox featuring faithful high definition video, rewarding lossless sound and an above average offering of bonus supplements that include interviews of the cast/crew, and a look behind the scenes at the production. For all that it is, Black Swan is a must see and comes highly recommended.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS50 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100 16x9 Screen
Anthem AVM50v THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Samsung BD-C7900 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld, VizionWare, Audioquest, Better Cables, Best Deal Cables - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package