Dialogue was an area of Black Swan that I had trouble with. Now, seeing DOUBLES moving different ways in mirrors was okay. Stabbing yourself in the face? I’m good with that. Plucking the emerging black feathers out of your shoulders? A little over the top, sure, but no problem. We’ve all done that :-) But, in several places in the film, I had no idea what the actors were saying, especially Lily (Mila Kunis). One example of several: immediately after the sex scene. Nina shows up late for rehearsal, is terrified of losing her hard won Swan Queen role, and accosts Lily during a break in practice. If I didn’t have the script open (p. 77) while watching the film (@ 72:35), I wasn’t getting it. Maybe that’s really more of an acting issue than a Dialogue or diction issue. Or maybe they just had the boom mic positioned much closer to Nina, the Protagonist. I could see that happening. But I don’t know. A character who talks fast is fine. That gives her an edge, an attitude, a difference. All good traits. But we the audience have to hear and process what’s being said, too. Or maybe it’s just me. I went through most of my life convinced that John Lennon was singing: “Coo Coo Cah Choo”, and then, when YouTube came along, I find out that the lyrics were really: “Goo Goo G’Joob”. That really threw me. Man! Who knew? And doesn’t that just change everything? You know? :-) John A ps: I liked the French banter between the BALLET MISTRESS and Thomas. Great dialogue item, considering the setting. Worked for me.

Something I found interesting in reviewing Black Swan this time around: How characters articulated key themes early on in the script, especially Thomas. For example when Thomas introduces Swan Lake to the troop [P. 8]: "We open our season with Swan Lake. Done to death, I know. But not like this. Strip it down. Make it visceral and real. And dangerous. No predictable Lake for us. Doesn't that sound very much like the journey Nina goes on? Then this: "But which of you can embody both swans? - white and black?" This articulates the arc of Nina's journey, getting in touch with her 'shadow' self, her dark side, her black swan. And how about this: "Devastated and doomed, the White Swan leaps off a cliff, killing herself. But, in death, she finds freedom." There's your ending. All of that laid out in one scene, in effect a monologue by Brennan [Thomas]. And since he is - in my view - the story's Mentor [albeit a dark one], it makes sense he would be laying down these truths. Sometimes characters can lay out central themes in dialogue.

My favorite piece of dialogue in BLACK SWAN - and one of my favorite movie moments of that year - Nina passes the black swan back stage, and he says "Hey." Completely hilarious and totally terrifying at the same time.

Scott, Good point about Brennan/Thomas' monologue setting up the central theme. Then look at what he says (to Nina) during the company's final rehearsal before opening night: "The final act. Your final dance. You've tasted your dream - touched it. Only to have it crushed. Your heart is broken. Wounded. Your life force fading. The blood drips. The Black Swan STOLE your love. There's only one way to end the pain. You're not fearful, but fear with acceptance. You look down at Rothbart. Then at the Prince. And then yes, at the audience. Then you jump." He really sums up the central theme right there and then. And, if you take it one step further, he also quickly explains the entire Swan Lake ballet to everyone who went to the film, but will never go to the actual ballet (probably most of us). That's important here as THIS IS Swan Lake. Nina starts off rigid and innocent. Maybe even repressed. Then she comes to this point. Wonderfully summed up via Dialogue. John A ps: brings to mind the film Mean Girls (2004) by Tina Fey. At the Denouement, Protagonist Cady Heron offers up this summation (in VO): "So that's how I went from Homeschooled Jungle Freak to Solid Plastic, to Most Hated Person in the World, to Partial Spring Fling Queen, to Actual Human Being." Her character comes right out and connects the dots for you concerning her character arc. No wondering needed! (Mean Girls was nominated for the WGA Best Adapted Screenplay 2004).