Natalie Portman in "Black Swan", photo: Niko Tavernise/Fox Searchlight Pictures

Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky’s so-called psycho-sexual dance thriller that everyone is talking about, opens today.  Below is an excerpt from my review of the film.  Go see it.

Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan explores one dancer’s quest for perfection in the cutthroat world of professional ballet, and her terrifying descent into madness, obsession, and self destruction.  Natalie Portman’s performance as Nina, who is a rising star preparing for the lead role in Swan Lake, is superb, embodying all of the fragility, uptightness, and vulnerability of a young dancer willing to sacrifice everything – even her own life – for perfection. Read the full review here.

You can also watch the anatomy of a scene, with commentary by Aronofsky, at The New York Times’s site.