Darren Aronofsky	...	(Director)
Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, John J. McLaughlin	...	(Writer)
Natalie Portman	...	Nina
Mila Kunis	...	Lilly
Winona Ryder	...	Beth MacIntyre
Vincent Cassel	...	Thomas Leroy
Janet Montgomery	...	Madeline
Toby Hemingway	...	Tom
Barbara Hershey	...	Erica
Christopher Gartin	...	Handsome scott
Kristina Anapau	...	Galina
Ksenia Solo	...	Veronica
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	Costume Mistress
Adriene Couvillion	...	Violinist
Shaun O'Hagan	...	Stage Manager
Marty Krzywonos	...	Orchestra Conductor
Matthew Libatique	...	Cinematographer
Benjamin Millepied	...	David
Sebastian Stan	...	Andrew
Sergio Torrado	...	Sergio
Mark Margolis	...	Mr. Fithian
Tina Sloan	...	Mrs. Fithian
Abraham Aronofsky	...	Mr. Stein
Clint Mansell	...	Composer

Comments: Natalie Portman gives a career performance but I don't think it's good enough to make this a great film. The transformation scene near the end is a little too little too late. None of the actual ballet is that exciting or well-executed, and it's only slightly an edgy drama ... inner demons and all that. Nothing is that interesting or played out too intensely. Vincent Cassel is great, of course, but it's not about him. Mila Kunis is refreshing as a "dancer from San Francisco". I enjoyed that she seemed to get what that means.

Good but not great. Natalie Portman is no Mickey Rourke.

Summary: 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. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side - a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.