Review of Dogville (2003) by Mark A — 26 Jul 2009
It's not a perfect film and it certainly won't please everybody, but the ideas that Lars von Trier is trying to convey are interesting. This film is meant to be a shallow representation of things rather than an accurate depiction of reality (hence the stage sets and simple-minded characters).
This film is an ethical satire of not only homespun Americana, but also human nature and the insulation of rationalization. Things are never as innocent as they seem in a world full of evil. Admittedly the film feels quite long and the sets can be distracting for some (it took me out of the film a lot, but some of my friends were unfazed or adjusted quickly), but the finale will irk you but it will hopefully stir you to think.
That being said, it does feel a pretty pretentious and rather presumptuous of Von Trier (as he's never been to America and is staging this moral attack). Things to think about, but too long and preachy.
The ideas and performances are good, but I feel they are wasted in this movie.
This review of Dogville (2003) was written by Mark A on 26 Jul 2009.
Dogville has generally received very positive reviews.
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