Melancholia

2011, 15, Directed by Lars Von Trier
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgard

If there’s one thing that will spring to mind when Danish director Lars Von Trier is mentioned, it will most probably be his silly remarks that got him thrown out of Cannes Film Festival; as if we didn’t know already, it turns out the bloke is as controversial and conversation-inducing as the films he crafts. Looking past this - and towards Melancholia, the film he was promoting at the time – and there should be no doubt in the mind that this same bloke is something else entirely. Beginning paradoxically with the end of the world (shown using obscure, chilling, yet beautiful images in extreme slow-motion) the film is split into two halves, both of which focus on two sisters. The first is Kirsten Dunst’s Justine, a not-too blushing bride who would much rather have a soak in the bath then cut the cake by the side of her groom. Von Trier does his best at merging family drama with social comedy, which all in all creates a crazily uneasy feeling. We track Justine constantly, all smiles in front of her guests and pure emotion behind closed doors. Snippets of dialogue enlighten us to a history of unpredictable behaviour from Justine who seems to be seen, but rarely heard despite her best efforts. As an audience, the entire half of the film could become an extremely alienating experience – let it be said that Justine could be construed as an ignorant livewire, but somehow Dunst grounds things, providing a form of perspective. The fact that this is just the precursor to her later appearance in the second half of the film speaks volumes, especially when considering she took home the Best Actress prize at the Festival where her director caused such furore.

This part of the film is dedicated to Claire played by Charlotte Gainsbourg, who can only now be described as a Lars stalwart after that performance in Antichrist. Taking place after an undisclosed amount of time since the wedding, we bear witness to the changes that have occurred – perhaps most importantly the announcement of Melancholia, a newly-discovered planet which is rumoured to be heading directly for earth. A bizarre concept, but one that is tackled head on by all involved upholding rationality until the intentionally predictable climax; Kiefer Sutherland’s scientist husband  is convinced the planet is simply going to pass by, viewing the entire debacle as a ground-breaking experience. But an unspoken worry looms. Retrospectively, there is some difficulty when attempting to highlight what Von Trier is exactly commenting on - if whether Melancholia has a deeper symbolism (the auteur conceived the idea during a spell of depression, an idea relevant to the film).  But as the film reaches its inevitable endpoint, if you are still trying to piece together what you think is going on, it’s fearful you may have missed the mark completely. This is science fiction with technicalities ignored. It doesn’t matter why the world is coming to an end, it just matters that it will come to an end.  

Love it or hate it (it will either be one or the other), prepare to marvel at the wonderment Von Trier has achieved. Even if a non-converted, it will undoubtedly be a struggle not to become impressed with what has been achieved on a visual and humane level. Just don’t search for anything too subliminal.

4.5/5

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Top 15 of 2011: 5-1

5-1

Number 5:

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Mummy's little devil...

Release Date: 21st October

Highest Box Office Position: 7

Directed by Lynne Ramsay

Starring: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller, Jasper Newell

If there’s a few films from 2011 that certainly need to be spoken about, it’s Lynne Ramsay’s dazzlingly bleak We Need to Talk About Kevin, in which Tilda Swinton puts in a career-best performance as a mother who has to deal with the consequences of her son Kevin’s devastating actions. Through non-linear narrative, Swinton perfectly conveys Eva’s desire to love a son who hates her, and anguish at facing up to cruel revelations. Ramsey raises the game here – it has to be seen to believed.

We Need to Talk About Kevin reviewed...

Number 4:

Drive

Some heroes are real

Release Date: 23rd September

Highest Box Office Position: 5

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Christina Hendricks

Nicolas Winding Refn’s 80s neo-noir has everything going for it, not to mention guaranteed cult status. Ryan Gosling is the enigmatic toothpick-chewing Driver with no name who whisks away criminal’s right from under the cops’ noses by night. Keeping himself to himself, he threatens to ruin all stability when involving himself when a bid to protect Carey Mulligan’s innocent girl next door embroils himself in danger with Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman’s villains. Depicting this with an electro, vibrant, damn cool soundtrack, as well as tight editing and an iconic performance in Gosling to top it all off, Drive is races ahead.

Drive reviewed...

Number Three:
Melancholia

Enjoy it while it lasts

Release Date: 30th September

Highest Box Office Position: 15

Directed by Lars Von Trier

Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, John Hurt

Directed by Lars Von Trier, and promoted amidst his thoughtless remarks at Cannes Film Festival, this is a truly astounding work of art. Split into two parts, the film follows two sisters, played by an award-winning Kirsten Dunst and Von Trier regular Charlotte Gainsbourg, and how their lives are altered by the introduction of a new planet named Melancholia that threatens to collide with the earth. With support in the form of Kiefer Sutherland and John Hurt, this could be the arthouse auteur’s finest piece yet.

Number Two: 
Tyrannosaur

Release Date: 7th October

Highest Chart Position: 19

Directed by Paddy Considine

Starring: Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman, Eddie Marsan, Samuel Bottomley

The directorial debut of actor Paddy Considine proved that this guy has more than one string to his bow – and one that he should pluck more often. Tyrannosaur, a gritty British drama set in a Leeds estate, was quite simply storytelling of the cruellest, gruelling – yet sublime nature. Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman’s central performances (as the lost souls whose lives collide when the former charges into the latter’s charity shop) are ones to be shouted about.

Tyrannosaur reviewed...
Number 1:

The Artist

Release Date: 30th December
Highest Box Office Position: 8 (as of present)

Directed by Michel Hazanavicius

Starring: Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, Uggie the Dog

 The Artist is a very special film. Telling the story of George Valentin, a silent movie star who refuses to embrace the introduction of sound in cinema at a time when audiences 'want to hear what actors have to say', he remains set in his ways and continues making silents with his trusy dog (amazingly played by Uggie the Dog!). As his career hurtles downwards, new actress on the block Peppy Miller's soars - but Valentin remains in her mind amidst her success... A charming storyline propelled forward by the charming way in which French director Michel Hazanavicius depicts his film. If you don't know already, The Artist is a silent black and white. The irony of the storyline keeps this from ever becoming gimmicky, with lead actors Dujardin and Bejo keeping everything grounded: and just when you think you have this treat worked out, the rug is pulled from under your feet in a way you just don't expect.

This one really lives up to the hype and deserves any award success it receives.  

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