Review of Manderlay (2005) by Janne S — 16 May 2008

Lars von Trier continues his quest to annoy as many (American) people as he possibly can.

Manderlay boasts a tighter screenplay than its predecessor, although at times it feels like Trier is ticking off his points rather than exploring them. The film benefits from the director standing still for once. Anyone who has seen Dogville won't be perturbed by the sound stage aesthetic or John Hurt's heavy, sardonic commentary, which means you can get into the thing straight away instead of spending the first twenty minutes adjusting to the style.

Once again, it's deliberate, polemical and provocative, and a swingeing attack on just about everyone across the mainstream political spectrum, and once again Trier is more concerned with asking what YOU think than telling us with any sincerity what he does.

Probably the first film he's made since The Kingdom where there is conceivably a middle ground rather than the familiar Marmite love-it or hate-it reaction, which may in part explain why he's opted to put off making the third part of the trilogy and gone away for a rethink with The Boss Of It All and the upcoming Antichrist.