Natalie Portman’s ballerina wows Venice film festival

The Venice film festival got off to a gilded start last night as former Golden Lion winner Darren Aronofsky's spooky psychological thriller about the cut-throat world of classical ballet, Black Swan, won rave reviews - particularly for the film's lead Natalie Portman.
 
Portman is being tipped for award nominations for her impressive performance as a New York ballerina struggling to cope with her obsessive jealousy of a sultry new rival (Mila Kunis).
 
Following last night's premiere, several critics are saying the performance could propel the 29-year-old Portman - already a respected actress - to centre stage.
 
The Daily Telegraph's David Gritten, who gave Black Swan four stars, said: "Powerful, gripping and always intriguing, it also features a lead performance from Natalie Portman that elevates her from a substantial leading actress to major star likely to be lifting awards in the near future."
 
Portman plays Nina Sayers, a struggling and self-destructive dancer who suddenly lands the lead as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake. But as the ballet's opening night approaches Nina starts to fall apart, suffering from delusions and disturbing dreams.
 
Not only does Portman meet the demands of a highly complex character, she has also mastered the discipline of dance for the role.
 
Add to that a steamy love scene between her and Kunis, plus a plot line that deals with sexual liberation, violence and horror, and Black Swan is a winner. "The effect is enthralling," enthused the Independent's Geoffrey McNab in another four-star review. ·