Review of Dancer in the Dark (2000) by Augustine H — 21 Sep 2014
Lars von Trier is indeed the most brutal contemporary director. Like Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves, the excessively naïve and simple Bjork is placed under a pain that not many can withstand. Worse still, in Breaking the Waves, you can still blame the people around Emily Watson for their cold-bloodedness to please yourself; but in here, who should you vent your anger and sorrow on? When people are left no choices, like the David Morse couple, their behaviour is perfectly reasoned and understandable.
How about the legal system? But Bjork is already given the opportunity. It's just her motherly love forbids her from saving herself. So...what about the shattered American Dream? That will be politically incorrect though, for Bjork is not even nominated for Oscar for such sincere performance.
Halle Berry is not bad I must say, but her win just can't make me feel good. Few films are able to blend The Green Mile genre and musicals together and produce that dramatic effect, which is entirely attributable to the innovative Mr.
von Trier and the excellent cast.
This review of Dancer in the Dark (2000) was written by Augustine H on 21 Sep 2014.
Dancer in the Dark has generally received very positive reviews.
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