Cannes Movie Review: Melancholia (2011)
A journey into von Trier's depressed mind
Photo: Magnolia Pictures
Lars von Trier was bored and depressed and so he decided to make a movie. I'm not saying this based on fact, but that's the impression I got after watching and digesting Melancholia, an apocalyptic companion piece to Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life, which played only two days earlier here in Cannes.
The cast includes Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kirsten Dunst, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, Alexander Skarsgard, Stellan Skarsgård, Udo Kier, John Hurt, Jesper Christensen and Brady Corbet. For more information on this film including pictures, trailers and a detailed synopsis choose from the following menu.
Review
"Melancholia" is a Magnolia Pictures release, directed by Lars von Trier and is rated R for some graphic nudity, sexual content and language. The running time is 2 hours 10 minutes.
The only place to begin would seemingly be an instance of absolute human happiness. A wedding, or a wedding reception to be specific. But, despite the fact this reception is being held at a lavish hillside castle surrounded by an 18-hole golf course, things aren't all smiles. Perhaps as an accident or simply in an effort to confuse his detractors, the director, whom is often referred to as a misogynist, injects his voice into the film, not as the groom (Alexander Skarsgaard), but as Justine (Kirsten Dunst), the bride.
Following a Wagner fueled operatic opening eight minutes, foreshadowing Earth's demise in elegant slow motion, the title appears and we find our happy newlyweds on their way to their reception put together by Justine's sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and her husband John (Kiefer Sutherland). As the night wears on, Justine becomes detached from not only the wedding party but also her new husband. The catalyst appears to be her parents (Charlotte Rampling and John Hurt), both of which, instead of toasting to the bride and groom, take the opportunity to lay into one another. Justine's mother tips the scales, sneering as she tells the newlyweds, "Enjoy it while it lasts."
Where smiles once could be seen on Justine's face, a blank stare now resides and will reside for the duration of the film. Her marriage is crushed only hours after saying "I do." Her depression and detachment collides with her sister's worry and concern as the giant planet Melancholia hangs on the horizon, threatening to destroy everything. "The Earth is evil, we don't need to grieve for it," Justine says as Claire looks on, incredulous.
Von Trier describes Melancholia as a "beautiful film about the end of the world," which is to say he believes he's found beauty in absolute sadness. On a completely superficial side he's right, his film is beautiful. You could also find support for this idea in Dunst's character and what appears to be von Trier's acceptance of the naivete of the rest of the world that surrounds him, compassion for the innocent and even a delicate, though pitiful, burial for those too afraid to face reality.
However, as poetic as that may sound, the film doesn't offer very much. Melancholia seems to simply come from a place of boredom and von Trier's interest in making a film because he had nothing better to do. He wrote his last film, Antichrist, while he was bedridden with depression and it would seem he's still holding on to some of that. While this film won't be as controversial as Antichrist, he still tries to jab briefly at the audience, prodding us into wondering why Justine would leave her party to urinate on the golf course while in her wedding dress or why she has sex with a stranger (Brady Corbet) in a sand trap. As far as those two examples are concerned, I really couldn't care less.
Sure, von Trier is right, he made what is unquestionably a beautiful film, shot by Manuel Alberto Claro. It's also a film about the end of the world so that too is on point. The amount of nudity required of Kirsten Dunst signals a brave, "I'm a serious actor" performance, but in terms of acting she's only required to sulk around set for the film's 130-minute duration. And no I'm not saying she's bad, in fact she's quite good, I'm just telling you how it is. Along with Dunst, Gainsbourg and Sutherland are also quite good and I particularly enjoyed the brief moments of levity brought by Udo Kier and Jesper Christensen.
Melancholia isn't a bad film, it's simply a film that takes much inspiration from its title. It's a melancholy, sad sack kind of feature and what I perceived to be von Trier's boredom with it hit me quite hard. If he had been able to break free of his own sadness perhaps there could have been some real lifeblood to counter Justine's dour mood, but even Sutherland's optimism isn't enough to make this more than a one note meandering feature.
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A review I read said that Kirsten Dunst was the best thing about the movie. I always thought she was an underrated talent (brilliant in The Virgin Suicides, Marie Antoinette, and Bring it On). Hopefully she'll be praised, just like she deserves.
It will be interesting to see how the controversy of von Trier's incoherent half-joking(?) pro-Hitler, Pro-Nazi ramble and subsequent banning from Cannes effects the film. Certainly, I cant tear my eyes off of Dunst's face in the video of it as she sits next to him in massive discomfort while he goes on about Jews and Nazis. To put yourself out there like she did in making this film and then to see the premiere come crumbling down (the after party was cancelled as well) has got to be heartbreaking.
I totally agree with you. She looks so embarrassed when he says the "Nazi stuff". Now his words have eclipsed the entire movie.
I still think he was just being Lars (i.e., kidding with heavy stuff), but people aren't being that kind. I wonder if he'll change his ways?
Actually, this sounds right up my alley. But I suppose I'm a cynic and a pessimist, so that's to be expected.
I am also very interested in this film because I think it's an intriguing concept. In my opinion, it's wrong to say this will only appeal to those of a cynical nature because the end of the word is a very interesting subject and this story's spin on it looks to be great. I can't wait to watch this.
I'm not saying it will only appeal to those of a cynical nature, I'm simply claiming that I think my cynicism is just another reason that this could appeal to me.
I can sum up Lars von Trier into one phrase: "Fucked up."
Other critics can says he's a talented filmmaking mind all they want, but he is completely messed up. After seeing "Antichrist", I literally wanted to find von Trier and punch him in the face because that film was so insanely unnecessary and degradingly brutal. After watching "Antichrist", I looked up his bio and sure enough… he was undergoing mental health therapy around the time the picture was made.
And now that Brad has reviewed "Melancholia", I think it's safe to say that Lars von Trier is one of the most depressing, cynical, and just plain ill directors in the film industry.
Because of one man's opinion? Damn, Brad is a great guy and a good reviewer but you seem to take his word like it's God's around here. I've seen great reviews for this film and there is no doubt Von Trier is very talented. Also, you're saying you want to punch someone in the face because they have serious issues in their life? Wow.
It's a terrible film. I know nothing about the maker of the film when I watched it but came to the conclusion that it must have been written by someone who suffers from Depression and wants his viewers to know exactly how that feels. The writer wanted to take his viewers into depression. Anybody vulnerable to depression, will suffer from severe depression after watching this film. I also thought the writer would also be on drugs as well as depressed. It was a most horrific experience.
People like to say that they're "depressed" because they think it makes them sound tortured, sensitive, and therefore more "artistic". You can't be bedridden with depression and knock out an entire screenplay. A truly depressed person would not have the energy or will to complete such a task. Then again, that would describe how his horrible screenplay for Antichrist came to fruition.
saw this today. i thought it was a tad long, but very well shot and would take the best cinematography oscar if it wasnt released in the same year as the tree of life. the final shot, however, and score that accompanies may be the best moment of cinema this year.