Dogville

Started by Weak2ndAct, July 12, 2003, 04:39:50 AM

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The Perineum Falcon

I left the theater with a sense of elation that hasn't happened nearly enough lately. It's that feeling I get when I see a film that is undeniably, unquestionably well done.
I enjoyed this film, as much as one can, and it's the first Von Trier film that I've ever finished watching (Zentropa and Dancer in the Dark, I just couldn't get into at the time), so that should say something.
But I went in with a little hesitation. It could be that I wasn't completely sure I'd like it, in fact, I thought I might hate it and with it being 3 hours and all, that's quite a commitment for me. It could also be that I was going in alone. Normally, I'd drag someone to see a movie they didn't particularly care for, but I just couldn't with this one (and this certainly has something to do with the reason I stated prior).
And at first, it was alittle strange, the non-existent walls and doors, but I quickly adapted. I loved the dialogue and the acting was top-notch.
There were a few moments that I didn't like, but they're so overshadowed by what I liked that I can't even recall them right now.
I should probably go a bit more in depth, but I can't review a movie for shit, at least not as well as some others here might, so I apologize if this is a little sparse. But I'll end with my verdict:
Great movie.
We often went to the cinema, the screen would light up and we would tremble, but also, increasingly often, Madeleine and I were disappointed. The images had dated, they jittered, and Marilyn Monroe had gotten terribly old. We were sad, this wasn't the film we had dreamed of, this wasn't the total film that we all carried around inside us, this film that we would have wanted to make, or, more secretly, no doubt, that we would have wanted to live.

Ravi

http://www.dvdfile.com/software/dvd-video/archive/2004/06_02.html

Also sure to provoke controversy is Lar Von Trier's already-infamous Dogville, starring Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman. Due for release on August 24th, this one includes an anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby 5.1 track, along with the acclaimed "Dogville Confessions" documentary by Sami Saif, on the intense behind-the-scenes drama that went into the making of the film. List price will be $26.95.

Finn

Finally we hear something! Sounds great!
Typical US Mother: "Remember what the MPAA says; Horrific, Deplorable violence is okay, as long as people don't say any naughty words."

Pubrick

u Region-1ers crack me up.
under the paving stones.

Finn

I think back on this film and I think it's still just as brilliant as when I first saw it. But one thing I can't get over is the anti-American thing. I thought the movie worked best as a study on human nature and Von Trier should've left out the photographs on the credits to point the film toward only Americans themselves. I love the David Bowie song, "Young Americans". But of course if you listen to the lyrics, Von Trier's just being snide about the whole thing. I think the film works great with that song as it is, but maybe he should've left those anti-American parts out of the movie. I'm an American and I'm not offended by the movie. But the film just didn't have any "justification" on that level. Any comments?

Also, any more word on the dvd?
Typical US Mother: "Remember what the MPAA says; Horrific, Deplorable violence is okay, as long as people don't say any naughty words."

Jeremy Blackman

I think of it more as Von Trier combating the romanticization of oppressive American small town culture. Mark Twain explicitly said he wanted to do the same thing with the South.

matt35mm

I was waiting for someone to connect Lars Von Trier with Mark Twain.  I dunno why, but I just was.

Finn

Pay attention to the lyrics...

"Young Americans" by David Bowie

They pulled in just behind the bridge
He lays her down, he frowns
"Gee my life's a funny thing, am I still too young?"
He kissed her then and there
She took his ring, took his babies
It took him minutes, took her nowhere
Heaven knows, she'd have taken anything, but

All night
She wants the young American
Young American, young American, she wants the young American
All right
She wants the young American

Scanning life through the picture windows
She finds the slinky vagabond
He coughs as he passes her Ford Mustang, but
Heaven forbid, she'll take anything
But the freak, and his type, all for nothing
He misses a step and cuts his hand, but
Showing nothing, he swoops like a song
She cries "Where have all Papa's heroes gone?"

All night
She wants the young American
Young American, young American, she wants the young American
All right
She wants the young American

All the way from Washington
Her bread-winner begs off the bathroom floor
"We live for just these twenty years
Do we have to die for the fifty more?"

All night
He wants the young American
Young American, young American, he wants the young American
All right
He wants the young American

Do you remember, your President Nixon?
Do you remember, the bills you have to pay
Or even yesterday?

Have you been an un-American?
Just you and your idol singing falsetto 'bout
Leather, leather everywhere, and
Not a myth left from the ghetto
Well, well, well, would you carry a razor
In case, just in case of depression
Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors
Blushing at all the Afro-Sheeners
Ain't that close to love?
Well, ain't that poster love?
Well, it ain't that Barbie doll
Her heart's been broken just like you have

And
All night
You want the young American
Young American, young American, you want the young American
All right
You want the young American

You ain't a pimp and you ain't a hustler
A pimp's got a Cadi and a lady's got a Chrysler
Black's got respect, and white's got his soul train
Mama's got cramps, and look at your hands ache
I heard the news today, oh boy
I got a suite and you got defeat
Ain't there a man you can say no more?
And, ain't there a woman I can sock on the jaw?
And, ain't there a child I can hold without judging?
Ain't there a pen that will write before they die?
Ain't you proud that you've still got faces?
Ain't there one damn song that can make me
break down and cry?

All night
I want the young American
Young American, young American, I want the young American
All right
I want the young American
Young American
Young American, young American, I want the young American
(I want with you, I want with you want)
All right
(You want it, I want you you, you want I, I want you want)
Young American, young American, I want the young American (I want to want, to want, to want , to want I, I want you)
All right
(Lord I wanted the young American)
(young American)
Young American, Young American
I want the young American
Typical US Mother: "Remember what the MPAA says; Horrific, Deplorable violence is okay, as long as people don't say any naughty words."

modage

Quote from: mutinycoBIG SWEATY OFFENSIVELY ODOROUS SPOILERS

Eh...I think Von Trier's films are manipulative garbarge. A jaundiced view of America from somebody who knows nothing about America. The problem is: his point of view doesn't hold water. There's nothing about Dogville from its manipulative, rapist townsfolk to its Barton Fink finale that connects to anything I understand about America. I think Von Trier thought that something needed to be said about America at this particular moment and that he was the person to do it -- but he didn't achieve his goal. He's never been here. He's essentially a communist, socialist at best.

I think the film was an interesting attempt, but it just doesn't work or hold attention. He's hitting too many beats that he's already hit (let's punish a woman and manipulate the audience beyond comprehension), and references to Our Town or Barry Lyndon aren't going to save it. And another thing: IT"S WAY TOO LONG. He could've accomplished his goal in half the amount of time.
yeah.  3rd Von Trier film after Breaking and Dancer (neither of which i enjoyed). but as much as i hadnt liked those i still was completely optimistic when i popped in the dvd.  there were a few moments where i  WANTED to be wrong, i wanted to love this film and did not want to sit through 3 hours of something i didnt like just to say i didnt like it.
 
unfortunately that didnt happen.  the stages, if it was meant to strip everything away and bring the focus on whats happening was a ludicris idea and heavily distracting.  the story would've been better served with locations, but that probably would've put the focus back on, the story, which was sparse and pretty weak.  it was ambitious to try to do something so different but that doesnt mean that it worked and i think perhaps some people are quick to give something daring a pass for trying.  i am not.  there was WAY WAY too much narration, the title cards telling you what was going to happen in the next chapter were obnoxious, and the end credits david bowie/picture montage was also EXTREMELY obnoxious.

but it was ATleast watchable and somewhat engaging.  the apples shot was really cool looking and i did get a certain thrill during the final chapter SPOILERSduring the revenge.  (while the father being caan was predictable from the phrasing in the beginning 'they took my father'.  i've seen too many movies to believe that he's dead when youre talking like that.) END SPOILERS

this movie was FANTASTIC actors in a bad play with great lighting filmed (mostly) badly in a movie thats too long and too preachy.  really the cast was the only thing that kept me interested (specifically nicole kidman who i really like), making it probably my favorite of his films but thats not saying much.  and i am now the last geek on earth to write in about this film.
Christopher Nolan's directive was clear to everyone in the cast and crew: Use CGI only as a last resort.

NEON MERCURY

Quote from: themodernage02and i am now the last geek on earth to write in about this film.

one more geek left...........

well, i rented this last night...b/c i didn twant to buy it b/c i couldnt even watch the first 20 mins of dancer in the dark b/c i thoguth it was boring.so, anyway.......


spoilers00.....


...the first 20mins were boring .but then it flew.....as for the anti-american sentiments which are plenty.i didnt get bothered by them that much b/c the type of behavior that the inhabitants of dogville inflict are every-phucking-where...people lie, rape, kill, abuse..and destroy each other .....thats not an american thing .its everywhere..so, while watching the film i didnt cry and think "this danish mother phucker.how dare he do something like this"......instead i was like this is a great film regardless of its intentions od anti-americanisms......its manipulative.........but what the phuck...ill roll with it anyway....i like films and i will surrender myself to a films logic and ideology...........the acting was perfect.........and besides eyes wide shut this is kidmans second best..........bettany/stellen rule as always.......and the patricia clarkson scenes were killer.........th eending is incredible..even though th efilm had the fake vibe w/ chalkllines and sh*t.i still cringed and felt sick when everyone got dealt with.....even the baby....damn, that rough sh*t.............and the best line was when kidman gets her revenge and flips patricia lines about "not crying" right back on her..that was wicked.................and hearing bowie at the end was icing......


end of spoilerss...........



as for the dvd .i will get it now that i have seen it.....and i was wondering is the commentary track good..or just to much on the technical side..........???

Finn

the first 20 minutes was one of my favorite parts :?
Typical US Mother: "Remember what the MPAA says; Horrific, Deplorable violence is okay, as long as people don't say any naughty words."

meatball

I don't regret the three hours I spent watching dogville, but I won't spend another three hours to watch it again.

The acting was good, and I enjoyed the set.

It felt like I was sitting in the town hall, watching Lars Von Trier taking Paul Bettany's place to preach. I can't even say it was an intelligent morality play, just bitter towards humanity. It's nothing new, insightful, or mildly entertaining -- for me, anyways.

Jeremy Blackman

Can anybody think of an older movie, something like The Truman Show maybe, that has the same kind of artifical set situation as Dogville?

I thought this was interesting... "dictum ac factum" is Latin for "word and deed."



Just in case anyone is into Descructionism, I still think this is the most desconstructive movie I've seen. The gooseberry bushes are not gooseberry bushes, i.e. they're the "signifier" of the "signified." It's almost textbook Descontructionism.

cron

JB, could you elaborate on this?

QuoteThe gooseberry bushes are not gooseberry bushes, i.e. they're the "signifier" of the "signified." It's almost textbook Descontructionism.

A website or a book would help. thankee
context, context, context.