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| Charlotte Gainsbourg and Kiefer Sutherland |
Director: Lars von Trier
Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgaard, Skellan Skarsgaard
Genre(s): Drama, Science Fiction
Theatrical Release Date: May 26, 2011
DVD Release Date: March 13, 2012
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%
Pleasant surprises, when in comes to movies, are often the best. Although, I suppose you could not say outright that I was surprised that I loved Lars von Trier's fantasy/drama, Melancholia, after I had read Entertainment Weekly's Lisa Schwartzbaum's raving review of the film. But I had also heard those negative reviews, which are likely for just about every movie. However, like Tree of Life, a similarly philosophical and innovative look and life and death, I found Melancholia to be utterly gorgeous. However, unlike Tree of Life, Melancholia contains a discernible plot and is much easier to follow, though that is not primarily why I found it so fascinating.
The movie is over 2 hours long, yet not a minute is wasted. Trier, who, like Tree of Life's Terrence Malick, is known for his bizarre behavior and directing techniques, has separated his film into three two parts. The first, titled "Justine," focuses on Kirsten Dunst's (Spider-Man) character's downward spiral the night of her wedding to her kind, handsome husband (True Blood's Alexander Skarsgaard). Her sister's (Serge Gainsbourg's daughter, Charlotte) husband, Kiefer Sutherland (24), has planned an elaborate and undeniably gorgeous wedding reception for the couple, but is angered when Dunst's character falls into a depression and seemingly ruins what should have been a perfect day.
The second part, titled "Claire," focuses on Gainsbourg's character becoming enveloped with anxiety: a new planet, appropriately named Melancholia, has been discovered. While her husband is excited about Melancholia approaching Earth and is certain that it will not cause a collision, she constantly has a sinking feeling that it will. I am not giving away any spoilers when I say that the two planets do, in fact, collide; this occurs in the very beginning of the film, which shows collision in an effectively powerful slow-motion technique.
I only wish I had seen the film in the theatre, because then, as Schwartzbaum insisted, I could have appreciated the visuals even more. That is not to say that von Trier's exquisite settings did not wow me; the fact that it did so while being viewed on a computer is testament to his brilliance as a director.
Von Trier has also assembled a diverse yet strong cast, featuring a mesmerizing performance by Dunst, who deservedly took home the Cannes Best Actress prize last year (and sorely missed out on an Oscar nomination). She conveys her character's depression with bold authenticity, and one almost forgets that she once best known for her upside-down kiss with Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man. Gainsbourg is similarly effective in her role, and Sutherland, Stellan Skarsgaard, and John Hurt -- among others -- round out the impressive supporting players.
Perhaps the only bit that confused me was why Dunst was seemingly the only one in her family with an American accent -- her father (Hurt) and sister are very British -- but that this not a significant concern, and does not detract from the film. The majority of the film is believable -- or, rather, as believable as a movie about two planets colliding can be. As the once-depressive Justine (Dunst) accepts her fate, Claire (Gainsbourg) cannot be as calm and understanding. I can imagine that is how people who react when they learn of impending doom such as this: some will be calm, and others will not be. But I try not to think too much into it, because it is a scary thought indeed. However, that is why it is a movie, albeit a very powerful and masterful one.
Grade: A
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