Review of Melancholia (2011) by Cale B — 20 Feb 2014

The critical raves were well-deserved. The acting was superb-full of nuance and subtlety, fully realized and believable. The direction and pace were mesmerizing, the imagery and cinematography beautiful and compelling.

The concept was interesting and "profound". And now that I've dispensed with acknowledging the talent and artistry involved here, I have to say that I really despised this film. At heart, it's a bleak and depressing story about depression in which the climax is sort of a suicidal fantasy.

I resented being mesmerized by it, being drawn deep into the most dysfunctional areas of the human psyche, being baited to join in the self-destructive relief when it was finally OVER....Sure, there may be something "profound" in here.

..even some "revelations" to those who have never witnessed or experienced the downward spiral of self-destruction firsthand and understand little about it. But this is merely an accurate depiction.

There's nothing instructive here. So if you feel like wallowing, indulging in a bit of hopelessness and doom, and feeling somewhat numb and traumatized for a few days...by all means-see this movie! Make sure you have your Prozac and your Xanax handy! This is a film you'll remember, and wish you could forget.

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