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MAN'S BEST FRIEND... NOT |
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Or to put a more fine of a point on it, woman's best friend... not. Glenn masturbates over Lars Von Trier's "Dogville" |
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Not to ruin the surprise or anything, but "Dogville" will, most likely, be my #1 movie of the year. An impressive feat for a movie I saw in the first week of January. But regardless of when and where I saw the film, the fact of the matter is that it is not likely to be surpassed in the direction of Lars Von Trier and the supreme acting of Nicole Kidman. Technically the film is a gluttony of treasures. But the film also has that rare gift of enciting passion, frustration and discussion that makes it worthwhile. |
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Let's begin with the cast, shall we? Just look at these names: Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Lauren Becall, Chloe Sevigny, Patricia Clarkson, Ben Gazzara, Philip Baker Hall, James Caan, Jeremy Davies, Stellen Skarsgard, Blair Brown, Siobhan Fallon Hogan and John Hurt as the narrator. I think the beauty in Kidman's performance is that she makes it look so easy. Emoting so much pain, anguish and hurt while playing her character of Grace as naive and helpful at the same time sure does sound like a tricky task. That Paul Bettany makes the dull-as-dishwater character of Thomas any interesting is a testemant to him, and that screen legends Patricia Clarkson, Lauren Bacall and James Caan make such an impression in a large cast (which includes many others such as Jean Luc Barr, Shauna Shim, Harriet Henderson and Bill Raymond) is astonishing.
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One of the very first things you notice about "Dogville" is the very stage oriented feel of it all. It involves narration in the tone of a fairy tale. "With the right care, the gooseberry bushes produce fruit that is so good in pies" he notes at one point. Almost a juxtaposition of tone's |
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to the events happening on screen. The film is also structured around a set created entirely on a stage and using basic chalk outlines for buildings and significant landmarks. Constructed sets are relegated to a couple of doorways, a mine entrance, a bench and various window's. That the actors aren't made laughing stocks by opening imaginary doors and walking around invisible walls is a blessing.
Lars Von Trier has ditched his Dogme '95 boundaries and has gone completely 180. He uses artificial lights to signify night and day, he uses special effects (however subtly) and specifically tailored costume's, which are perfectly suited and add an even more homely feel to the residence. The cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle (also of "28 Days Later") and Lars Von Trier himself works perfectly for the film, constantly using distant and close-up shots to signify character traits.
He wrote the screenplay himself and it is the first film in a trilogy, curiously titled "U.S.A. - Land Of Opportunities" and I suppose it is that, along with his decision to set the film in America, that have lead to accusations of anti-Americanism. But, if Lars Von Trier is guilty of anything, it's anti-world. People may choose to say his tale of a woman openly accepted and coldly thrown away is a slamming of America's treatment of immigrants but I choose to think that it can be applied to anywhere in the world, including Australia, UK, etc. That he set it in America, to be honest, doesn't mean shit. Are foreign films not allowed to be set in America (yet foreign films can gladly set their seedy and morally questionable films abroad without such pessemism) or is it only for film makers who work along the guidelines of, what I like to call, the Eisner Code Of Ethics?
But what matters is that Lars Von Trier is not bothered with what others think. He has chosen to tell his story how he wants. He has come out and produced a tale that is emotionally confronting and makes you wants to explode with feelings. If you had any emotional reaction, whether it be positive or negative (I don't think there's an in-between with Von Trier) then he has succeeded, whether you want to admit it or not.
A+ The film of the year? Most likely, what with Lars' excellent direction and script, a career best performance by Nicole Kidman. Original, different and successful in it's mission. |
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Go back to the flag-waving patriotic home page |
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Or, make like the wind and fly over to Glenn's page |
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