I just saw the movie tonight and man, all that camera focus on the face and body of Natalie Portman is just unnerving and it really just works! You are just so in focus at what is happening to Natalie's character that you are drawn in to what she is feeling and experiencing as she goes from kookoo to major kookoo! Everything feels claustrophobic and overbearing - just the way Natalie's character is really feeling. Now how's that for camera handling!
I admit I will be one of those who will be shocked if she does not win for this role! I know Annette Benning is long overdue for a win - but I don't think it should come from her movie - The Kids Are All Right. Maybe for American Beauty - but not that movie. Natalie just owned her character. She was just exquisitely beautiful in this movie. She also had to make her speaking voice a bit girly here. I am just surprised Barbara Hershey did not get a nomination for her mother role however. As for Natalie, she deserves to win. One year of ballet practicing and the punishing role she had here, plus that phase of going from crazy to even crazier - not easy to stand on your toles like that, like what she did in the movie. Academy - give it to her!!