Review of Melancholia (2011) by Dov D — 07 Oct 2012

I'm a sucker for quasi-art house films such as Lars von Trier's most recent assault on the general public, Melancholia; and by that, I mean a slow developing plot combined with a tone so dark and an outlook so bleak that it' becomes almost a burden to persevere through.

.. But once the credits role, you realize that that was one hell of a ride. In Melancholia specifically, the opening eight minute montage of super-slowmo shots created an experience beyond words. Trier showed his audience that amidst the relentless despair, moments of intense beauty still exist when you choose to look for them.

Bottom line, a must see for anyone who watches movies for meaning and not just for entertainment. Two more side notes, 1) Kirsten Dunst's portrayal of a manic0depressed newlywed was the best female acting performance I've seen in years.

2) Lars von Trier NEEDED to find a composer able to create a score matching the magnitude of his dramatic moments... The current one disappointed and took away from those moments.