Starring Kirsten Dunst, Keifer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgard, Stellan Skarsgard, Charlotte Gainsbourg, John Hurt
Along with Darren Aronofsky, Lars Von Trier is probably the only other pioneer of art house cinema thrown to the mainstream. And like Aronofsky, Von Trier is always more difficult for me to swallow than mainstream. Although his films tend to be better, one can't help feel, well...bored.
Melancholia sees Kirsten Dunst play Justine, a newly wed who on her wedding day manages to cause controversy with her sister and husband by not buying into her new happiness. Here we get John Hurt and Charlotte Rampling giving a British flavour of family - something that would look better in a Mike Leigh film than here.
There's an oncoming apocalypse according to the anxious behaviour of Justine's sister, Claire. But to be honest all the way through I didn't actually see where the two sister's conflicted interests where. Maybe because I'm used to linear narratives. Or maybe because this film isn't working enough to keep my attention.
Von Trier's previous film AntiChrist was gory, strange and difficult to swallow - but there was enough to keep the ball going. Even more impressive that it only had two characters. Melancholia on the other hand is just dull. I enjoyed the appearances of big actors, but somehow I think they where dooped. Dunst most of all.
2/5
If you like this you should try
Requiem for a Dream (2000) 2/5
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