Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 11:20AM Movie Review: 'Melancholia'
| Melancholia
Starring Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Kiefer Sutherland
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Lars von Trier certainly has a way with words. Not only is Melancholia aptly titled, but decisively true in its portrayal of mourning by classical standards, as well as contemporary about its mood. A planet named Melancholia has entered our solar system bypassing other planets, it endangers everyone whether they believed in science or faith; or found themselves putting their trust in others. At its core, Melancholia is about the struggles of family and the choices we make of them.
In von Trier's latest film, the director sets the viewer up in knowing how it all ends and will evoke to wonder what came before. No way out is the name of the game and that's a terrifying way to live. I should mention that Melancholia isn't your typical "apocalypse movie", but its essence is in viewing two sisters, Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg), cope with the escalating risks of emotional damage when Melancholia enters the space of balance.
Justine suffers from a form of depression and is trudging along through her wedding reception to Michael (Alexander Skarsgard), an ever trying husband with futile attempts in making Justine happy. Justine works at a PR firm for Jack (Stellan Skarsgard), a chauvinistic power-hungry individual and best man to Michael, her sentiments towards him are all but evident. Claire is a mother and wife to John (Kiefer Sutherland), who hosts the wedding, and after going through great ordeal to make her sister happy, is left to contend with the near ruin of the wedding reception. I won't go into more details as this segment of the film is much more interesting to watch. Everything unfolds with a certain dread, some that's expected and some that's not when concerned with the presence of family.
The film itself is divided into two chapters, Justine and Claire, and each one focuses on the woman in question and the feat they endure to survive. Both are dangerous to themselves and endangered by the men around them, as if saying they are not capable of pleasing nor protecting the two sisters. Acting as the thread holding Justine in this world, Claire is the figure we're supposed to support and yet when the planet "Melancholia" arrives, we're given a different light to examine. Both actresses pull you into their world of varied melanchoilc states, each addressing their own personal struggles through their own actions and through others. It's no wonder Kirsten Dunst won the "Best Actress" award at the Cannes Film Festival. Charlotte Gainsbourg will surely be receiving numerous nominations once awards season begins in Hollywood.
Melancholia, starts off with a sonorous and stylistic portrayal of the end of the world, featuring our two female leads and the film soundtrack plays to an omniscient presence by attaining moments of clarity through destruction and a feel of constant pain when dealing with the living. The film also boasts some spectacular special effects, through its simplicity it becomes mesmerizing and by those terms it becomes dangerous.
As I keep describing the wonderful acting by the women of Melancholia, I've so far neglected to mention the efforts of Lars von Trier and the film itself. The direction the film takes is intriguing and certainly von Trier's auteur stamp is present. The way he presents the characters under the light of "Melancholia" is fascinating in its criticism of trust and beliefs through scientific or personal means. His camera movements are in fluid motion, always trying to capture a truthful essence to its environment by watching all of this unfold.
Melancholia opens in New York and Los Angeles November 11, 2011 and then opens with a limited release November 18, 2011. The film is available for VOD, but trust me you'll want to see it in theaters.
Reader Comments (3)
amamzing post! i am so thankful to you! quite informative and interesting as well... appreciate your efforts!
Great review very well though out - but, to me, this looks like a depressing mess (perhaps that was the intent). "Dogville" had that same bleak sense of doom and gloom. But doom and gloom that is very self aware and smug. That said, I think I want to see it because it, at least, looks interesting. Here is a really funny review of "Melancholia" from a Finnish film reviewer attempting to write in English.
http://mankabros.com/blogs/btp/2011/05/20/melancholia-review/
Dunst was very good in this role but her character was just a little mopey for my liking. However, von Trier keeps his artistic vision in-tact and although there are moments of boredom, it still all comes together so well in the last 40 minutes. Great review. Check out my review when you get the chance.