Review of Dancer in the Dark (2000) by Daniel H — 12 Jun 2011

I never liked Bjork, what I heard of her music, her personality, or her message, and watching Dancer in the Dark didn't help my opinion. Another person whose art work I disliked quite intensely was Lars von Trier. His frequent pieces of controversy always crossed the boundary that went from extreme art to Darren Aronofsky and Hitler high on drugs after a boozy night out. It's just not a line that should be crossed.

Thankfully in Dancer in the Dark we don't have to put up with his usual twisted violence and heavy content, but we do have to put up with a simple-minded and annoying lead actress who never stands up for herself and other actors whose performances are nothing short of poor (Morse and Stormare).

A stab at America and its culture maybe, but it's a poor one. Anyone who knows anything about America will just pass it off as pointless bigoted ignorance and tell him to take a day trip to the States if he wants to release his opinion in such drastic fashion again. Everything about this movie, especially the feel and spirit it carries cries out within me and I find no redemption or message that rests well with me. It's made by a tortured soul, voicing tortured souls, and lying about its torturing monster of America.

Lies are not to be admired. Strong opinions without back up are not to be believed or listened to. Self-righteous directors are not to be supported.