Melancholia 2011
Certificate 15
Written & Directed By: Lars Von Trier.
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgard, Brady Corbet, Cameron Spurr, Charlotte Rampling, Jesper Christensen, John Hurt, Stellan Skarsgard, Udo Kier, Kiefer Sutherland.
So many people have turned around and sworn on their very careers that “Melancholia” is one of the best films since sliced bread, even the invention of the wheel. However, to the few that have the luck in seeing this film, like us at The DVD Archive here in the UK, we will say that there is no rush to go out and see this movie on the big screen – or to waste money on the eventual (if this happens to be released on) BluRay distribution.
With more than half a dozen well known stars from both the UK and the US; John Hurt, Kirsten Dunst, Kiefer Sutherland, the film itself has sparked a little controversy regarding the storyline that tells of the planet which is to pass the Earth. Admittedly, the start of the film is something new and spectacular even with the special effects, but it is worth knowing that the soundtrack is very, very annoying as well as far too long. If you can get past this first bit of under dramatic ear bashing then the following hour will have you wanting to reach for the remote control, or at the very least you will be asking yourself one seriously important question: What in the hell was the director thinking when he started filming this picture? And more to the point did the entourage of A-list actors actually believe this film would accredit them for future projects, or did they foresee Melancholia as a fast ride to a better deal in the great Hollywood Hills?
Shot on location in Vastra Gotaland, the storyline begins with Justine and Michael as they return from the Wedding ceremony to John’s huge stately home – with a full sized 18 hole golf course included – for the Reception. Being two hours late and having all the guests waiting seems to be a standing joke for Justine (Kirsten Dunst) who then proceeds to go see the horses in the stables before going to greet family and guests inside the house.
The dull and boring build up to the point where all the guests leave the celebration puts some in mind of watching a rich friend or bureaucrat’s Wedding Video, which we believe Lars was trying to tell us by filming this movie around the locations he did.
Drained by a strange condition that Justine has, Michael makes the self-discovery – with help from Justine’s embittered Mother – that marriage can be a very short journey. Cue Michael’s exit and the storyline becoming even more drawn out and boring to a single point in the movie when finally Melancholia is mentioned in a barrage of scientific talk, jargon and theoretical spoil.
Adding the titillation factor of showing Kirsten Dunst naked in the woods under the increasingly large approaching planet, the storyline suddenly wakes up when John (Kiefer Sutherland) takes an easy way out by saving the Global Killer Planet the trouble in killing him. After this happens with John, it’s not long before we see the huge blue planet staring down our character’s throats.
“Melancholia” is a film that would be best remade by Spielberg on a day like that of when he created “War of the Worlds”, because for us, if it wasn’t for the fact of reviewing the film, then it would have certainly ended up in the bottom drawer to gather dust and be forgotten.
Incidental music by Richard Wagner from his opera Tristan und Isolde
The DVD Archive Rating: 5/10 (6 if Spielberg had directed)
© The MKDS Network 2011/DVD Archive 2011.
Melancholia (Official Trailer)
