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Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, likely to be a strong Oscar contender, was one of 2010’s most exciting films. A psychological thriller set in the dramatic world of ballet, the film stars Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers, a tortured ballerina on her descent into madness after winning the star role in a production of “Swan Lake.”  The film is smart and sexy, showcasing Portman’s incredible talent. Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, and Barbara Hershey round out the stellar cast. The film also contains elements of a sexual thriller. Portman plays a shy, timid dancer who becomes mentally and physically corrupted by her new role in a premiere ballet company with an overtly sexual director, played by Vincent Cassel. Kunis is the beautiful temptress who stands to take Portman’s place if she falters, and Hershey plays Portman’s mother, an overly protective and frightening woman with hints of an incestuous crush on her daughter. The film highlights the darker side of the dance world. Without being too cliché, Aronofsky crafts a stylish and haunting fishbowl of passion and cutthroat competition that finds its protagonist losing her sanity to the art form to which she has dedicated her life. The film challenges the audience to toe the line between reality and total madness, guessing which parts of the film are genuine and which are only happening in Nina’s head.  Abandon all hopes for a storyline that makes much sense, and go see Black Swan for its twisted beauty.