Melancholia

PrincessTeacake · Oct 10, 2011

I'm really surprised there's not a thread for this film already. I daresay it's my favourite film of the year, if not ever.

The opening visuals are stunning, Von Trier really paints an accurate picture of crippling depression in Justine and the whole disaster-movie plot of the planet crashing into Earth is handled with wonderful subtlety instead of the usual screaming melodramatics.

Obviously Von Trier is a bit controversial with his ill-advised joking at Cannes though and a lot of people seem to find the film slow and pretentious. What did you guys think?

victoriajakes · Oct 11, 2011

I cried and cried and cried some more. I thought technically (like, as a film student) it could have used some editing, and maybe a second piece of music. As a depressed person, it felt so honest and gut-wrenching. I kind of hate von Trier as a person, but I also feel a weird artistic connection to him. Kirsten Dunst was fantastic (who knew?) as was just about everyone else. My boyfriend complained about how the science of it was silly, but I didn't care too much about that.

I do find him slow and pretentious. But I guess I also feel slow and pretentious sometimes, so it all works out.

But I am glad I watched it in the privacy of my bedroom first because I was such a blubbering mess when it was over.

PrincessTeacake · Oct 11, 2011

I guess there's the rub, if you are depressed, have been depressed or you've known someone at the pit of their depression you see more in the film than a person that doesn't understand depression at all. Plus it was a very ugly role for a girl that's considered one of the prettiest actresses in Hollywood and that made it all the more amazing to see how well she played it.

Mr. Anonymous · Oct 11, 2011

I'd love to see it. But it doesn't seem to be out anywhere. lol.

PrincessTeacake · Oct 12, 2011

Depends on where you are. I'm in Ireland, it was just released here.

victoriajakes · Oct 12, 2011

I don't think it will be in theaters in North America until early November, and then probably only in limited release. There's a few copies floating around online, though not the best quality.

clockwork · Oct 13, 2011

Mr. Anonymous said:
I'd love to see it. But it doesn't seem to be out anywhere. lol.

If you live in the US, you can digitally rent it from Amazon (and possibly elsewhere).

I saw it, and while I think it falls a tad short of being superb/amazing/a masterpiece, I did still find it emotional, haunting and affecting which is also how I felt about Antichrist. The performances are first rate and there is a slow, tragic inevitability to the whole thing which held my attention throughout - I didn't find it slow and pretentious. Images and moments lingered with me for a few days afterwards, which I suppose is a rare thing for a film these days and because of that, I'll definitely watch it again. I would solidly recommend it to those on the fence, but it won't be to everyone's taste.

DancingMaenid · Oct 16, 2011

clockwork said:
If you live in the US, you can digitally rent it from Amazon (and possibly elsewhere).

You can also rent it from iTunes, or at least you could as of last week or so.

I haven't seen it, but I may want to at some point. I've never seen any on Von Trier's other films, but I've been curious about them and about this in particular.

Diana Hignutt · Oct 17, 2011

victoriajakes said:
I don't think it will be in theaters in North America until early November, and then probably only in limited release. There's a few copies floating around online, though not the best quality.

FIOS has it before theaters here.

Diana Hignutt · Oct 21, 2011

Powerful. Kirsten Dunst's best acting since her star turn in Interview with a Vampire in my opinion. A movie you will think about after seeing it. Recommended. But note: it's arty, a little pretensious, a paced a little slow, but....see it.

Diana Hignutt · Oct 26, 2011

Watched it again. Loved it even more the second time. The best movie I've seen all year. Dunst should get a Oscar nod for this one.

Diana Hignutt · Oct 27, 2011

The music is Wagner's Prelude to Tristan and Isolde.

You have to see this movie.

I understand the Dunst won the best actress award at Cannes for this.

The Lonely One · Nov 10, 2011

victoriajakes said:
I do find him slow and pretentious. But I guess I also feel slow and pretentious sometimes, so it all works out.

I've got a huge man crush on Stanley Kubrick. This sounds right up my alley

I wanted to see this but the preview just didn't do it justice at all, didn't really give me any kind of a feel for the storyline, so I still haven't seen it. But these reviews make me quite interested.

Diana Hignutt · Nov 10, 2011

The Lonely One said:
I've got a huge man crush on Stanley Kubrick. This sounds right up my alley

I wanted to see this but the preview just didn't do it justice at all, didn't really give me any kind of a feel for the storyline, so I still haven't seen it. But these reviews make me quite interested.

I found it to be a very powerful film. Saw it twice...

Diana Hignutt · Nov 15, 2011

It came out in theaters in the US on Friday...no one saw this...the best movie of the year?

Go and see it. You can thank me later...

mario_c · Nov 26, 2011

Von Trier obviously loves Kubrick too - the parallels to 2001 and his other work as well jumps right out at you.
I enjoyed and appreciated all the lovely little details, like the arc of Kirsten's character (spoilers!) - she starts out as a irresponsible little princess, and we agree when Keifer's character sees right through her. Two things happen: her inner darkness has a justification (a big goddamn rogue planet is crashing into the earth!), and her sister and nephew's love bring her back to reality. When she builds the tepee where they all die in, it represents her becoming someone useful and caring and loving in a true sense of the word. (no more spoilers) Her scene under the double moonlight is so moving, and not just for the obvious reasons

You really get a sense of her awakening and starting to fight off her darkness, if only for a moment.
On the other hand, I didn't buy that she would go so completely off the deep end with depression on her wedding night. And the amount of hate these rich fucks show for each other

really distances us quickly.
At the end of the day, this is a standard melodrama, but it's told in such an interesting way it transcends that. At least before you walk out or fall asleep you'll have seen one of the most visually stunning opening scenes since, well, Antichrist (hard to top that!). Von Trier was wise to reunite with Charlotte Gainsbourg too, as the increasingly nervous sister, though the supporting players - Kiefer Sutherland, John Hurt, Charlotte Rampling, Udo Kier (damn, what a list!) - come and go way too quick. For some reason, I didn't catch that Keifer's character had committed suicide - I thought the horses trampled him because of how Kristen's character had beaten the one horse. I know, I'm stupid...

Michael Wolfe · Nov 29, 2011

I wish I could see this in a theater, but it seems to be a pretty limited release here. I'm glad so many people liked it though - I'd been wanting to see this for awhile and now I'm looking forward to it even more.

Diana Hignutt · Nov 29, 2011

Michael Wolfe said:
I wish I could see this in a theater, but it seems to be a pretty limited release here. I'm glad so many people liked it though - I'd been wanting to see this for awhile and now I'm looking forward to it even more.

Amazon has a download available, FIOS has it ondemand. If that helps...

How far are you from Philly? It must be at the Ritz, I would think? Maybe, I'll go with you...

Michael Wolfe · Nov 29, 2011

Yeah, it's playing in Philly, but Philly's a little far to travel for a movie. I'll probably end up downloading it on Amazon.

Diana Hignutt · Nov 29, 2011

Michael Wolfe said:
Yeah, it's playing in Philly, but Philly's a little far to travel for a movie. I'll probably end up downloading it on Amazon.

That depends entirely on the movie, my friend...

CChampeau · Dec 27, 2011

It wasn't showing here in Florida. When I first started watching it I was like "Damn, is she ever smily." I still don't understand that part; I didn't get the sense that she's depressed so much as I was confused by certain...weird things she does.

Don't get me wrong, I know clinical depression, and it didn't look or feel quite like this. Von Trier, in his interview on the official film website, made a point of distinguishing depression in general and melancholia.

This is from http://otherreality.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/mourning-and-melancholia/ :

Mourning is a conscious response to something, a specific death, whereas melancholia is often unconscious, resulting from a loss that cannot be physically perceived, like love. Melancholia is more puzzling because of this absence of a loss that can be observed. Also in melancholia exists the additional symptom of a lowering of self-regard. “In mourning it is the world which has become poor and empty; in melancholia it is the ego itself” (246). The person believes that they are inferior and despicable and have always been that way and will tell others about their inferiority. The fact that they feel comfortable enough to tell people how awful they are is unusual because most people who are ashamed or feel remorse for something do not feel comfortable in sharing that.

Diana Hignutt · Jan 26, 2012

The academy snubbed Von Trier, Dunst and Gainsbourg...no nods for Melancholia...

thebloodfiend · Jan 26, 2012

Diana Hignutt said:
The academy snubbed Von Trier, Dunst and Gainsbourg...no nods for Melancholia...

Haven't see the movie, but I imagine that Dunst was perfect for the role. Like Hayden Christensen, when she's in a good movie, she's kick-ass. When the material is sub-par, she's horrible. Loved Jumanji, Eternal Sunshine, and Interview With a Vampire. Will be checking this out soon. I haven't trusted the academy since Juno (which was alright, I guess) won best original screenplay.

William Haskins · Jan 26, 2012

fuck the academy.

the film is a masterpiece and doesn't need hollywood validation to be so.

Pemako · Jan 26, 2012

Also my favorite movie of the year, but it never came to theaters around here, so I suppose I'll never get to see it in a theater. Very frustrating. And very frustrating that it was ignored by the Academy ...

Melancholia

let me tell you about my dogs

Just a guy with a pen & a delusion

let me tell you about my dogs

In the zone...

New kid...seven years ago!

Very Tired

Very Tired

Very Tired

Very Tired

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Very Tired

Very Tired

Your thoughts are not real...

Jambo Bwana

Very Tired

Jambo Bwana

Very Tired

The ever absent-minded

Very Tired

Cory

poet