'Black Swans' Risks Pay Off

Black Swan takes a huge risk by shooting a surreal, psychological thriller with a cinema verite-style, but the gamble pays off in a big way. Libatique’s camera not only dances and glides with the performers, but adds a strong sense of realism to the first half of the film so that when Nina really goes off the deep end, you’re completely enthralled and captivated by her unhinged reality. The inspired cinematography manages to craft a visual presentation that is both immediate and otherworldly.