Review of Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013) by Spangle — 07 Jul 2015

Provocative, moving, and exquisitely put together, Nymphomaniac: Vol. 1's biggest sin is how over the top it is. Though the sex scenes are obviously going to be present, their over the top nature makes you wonder if your time would be better off spent just watching a porno instead.

Honestly, this one is just a porno with an A1 plot. I would also like a count on the exact number of guys Joe sleeps with. Like, oh my God, forget tossing a hot dog down a hallway. Anyways, it is brilliantly directed by Lars von Trier and the work on the sex scenes is impressive since they are non-simulated, but are heavily edited.

Though the film can be gratuitous at times, it does get quite emotionally powerful at times as you see how troubled this girl and why she acts the way she does. This emotionally fragile girl is brilliantly portrayed by Charlotte Gainsbourg and, especially, Stacy Martin.

Stellan Skarsgard is also quite good here as he plays the straight man to Gainsbourg/Martin's crazed sex escapades. He essentially plays the role of the audience here and is trying to understand and make sense of what he hears in the same way we are.

One of my main concerns here, as well, is that some guy cheated on Uma Thurman, so how believable this film is should certainly be in question solely based on that. Seriously though, Nymphomaniac: Vol.

1 is an interesting start to this two-part sex journey that really pushes limits and gives Von Trier free reign to be as weird as he likes to be.