MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #234 - THE FILMS OF LARS VON TRIER

Ratings out of

 

LARS VON TRIER (1956 -     )

Melancholia (2011)

Antichrist (2009)

To Each His Own Cinema (2007) (segment "Occupations")

The Boss of It All (2006)

Manderlay (2005)
The Five Obstructions (2003)
Dogville (2003)
D-dag - Den færdige film (2001)
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
D-dag (2000)
D-dag - Lise (2000)
The Idiots (1998)
Breaking the Waves (1996)
Europa (1991)
Medea (1988)
Epidemic (1988)
The Element of Crime (1984)
Image of Relief (1982)
The Last Detail (1981)
Nocturne (1980)
Menthe - la bienheureuse (1979)
The Orchid Gardener (1977)

 

 

Edited by Jim_K - 6/26/11 at 9:00am

Jim, your ratings are way too generous. I've seen Dancer in the Dark, Element of Crime and Breaking the Waves, and don't begin to know which is worse. I'm still sick to my stomach from the horrible, horrible, hand-held camera work and horrendous editing from Breaking the Waves. I was going to have lunch, but just thinking about it has killed my appetite.

Rated from to
Titles in RED are theatrical screenings

Lars von Trier
Apr 30, 1956 -

Melancholia (2011) 
Antichrist (2009) (Own the Blu)
To Each His Cinema (2007) (segment "Occupations")
The Boss of It All (2006) (Own the DVD)
Manderlay (2005) (Own the DVD)
The Five Obstructions (2003) (Own the DVD)
Dogville (2003) (Own the R1 DVD & R2 2-disc SE.)
D-dag - Den færdige film (2001) (TV)
Dancer in the Dark (2000) (Own the DVD)
D-dag (2000) (TV)
D-dag - Lise (2000) (TV)
The Idiots (1998) (Own the uncensored DVD)
The Kingdom II (1997) (mini) (Own the R2 SE DVD)
Breaking the Waves (1996) (Own the R1 DVD & the uncensored R2 SE)
The Kingdom (1994) (mini) (Own the re-edited Canadian DVD & the full-length R2 SE)
Europa (1991) (Own the R2 SE DVD)
Medea (1988) (TV)   
Epidemic (1988) (Own the R2 SE DVD)
The Element of Crime (1984) (Own the R1 & R2 SE DVDs)
Image of Relief (1982) (Own the DVD, haven't watched it yet)
The Last Detail (1981)
Nocturne (1980) (Own the DVD, haven't watched it yet)
Menthe - la bienheureuse (1979)
The Orchid Gardener (1977)

Seen 16
Own 15

Edited by Bill McA - 12/11/11 at 6:33pm

1. Dogville
2. Dancer in the Dark
3. Breaking the Waves
4. The Five Obstructions
5. Manderlay
Edited by Kirk Tsai - 11/28/09 at 11:12am

I've only seen "Breaking the Waves".

I did borrow "The Five Obstructions" on DVD -- however, it is one of probably only 2 films in the last 10 years that I couldn't get through. (The other being "Irma Vep".)

I have Dogville sitting (since it came out) and have only watched the first few minutes, which definitely looked interesting. I'm just waiting to be in the mood for it. I watched Dancer in the Dark finally sometime last year and it practically gave me nightmares. I'm not even sure why. I just can't give a rating. Maybe I'll drop back by after I see Dogville and maybe Breaking the Waves or something else.

"Manderlay (2005) - check back in 5-6 weeks"

Was Manderlay given any sort of release date? I havent heard anything yet.

In 5-6 weeks from now, Manderlay will receive it's North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, which I will be attending and hope to get tickets to see!

.

UPDATED:

Manderlay (2005)


Seen 10
Own 12

Oh, Lars... you're so provocative!

I kid Denmark's self-appointed enfant terrible, but in all honesty I look forward to his films more than just about any other director working today. I mean, what can you say about a guy who's first feature-length film out-Tarkovskys even Tarkovsky from a visual standpoint, and then ten years later the very same guy inaugurates the dogme movement? From treating actors like just another element of the mise-en-scene to becoming the director who's style has done more to liberate actors than any other (save perhaps Mike Leigh)? A guy who somehow manages to purchase Carl Dreyer's tuxedo, and then wears it while accepting an award and flipping off the Cannes jury because it's just a technical one? Who kept all of Denmark transfixed with his TV series (likened to the "Who shot JR?" mania in the States)? Who introduced the brilliance of Emily Watson to the world? Who so broke down Bjork that she refused, Falconetti-like, to ever act again... after receiving a Best Actress award for her work at Cannes?

No, there's no one like Von Trier, and he'll make damn sure of that. Is he the greatest filmmaker working today? Probably not. But, arguably, he's the most important. Certainly one of the most visionary. And, at the same time he aims his films straight at the mainstream audience while refusing to pander to their preconceptions and prejudices (but playing on those preconceptions and prejudices for all they're worth). His films are the perfect antidote to the wimpering, faux-transgressive "indie-scene" cinema of today, his cynicism and ascerbic wit a welcome tonic for the pandering, platitudinous conservatism of mainstream movies.

All his films are recommended. Even "Epidemic" and perhaps especially "The Idiots". And "Dogville", "Dancer", "Breaking", "Europa", "Riget"... masterpieces all. <-Not all apprehend this yet, but mark my words. :b

Dancer in the Dark:
Hmm. How wold I rate this? It's designed to be manipulative. The story-- a half blind woman emigrates to the United States for the sole purpose of saving enough money for procure an operation for her son. And, of course, those evil Americans, those greedy, little people who care only for materialism, proceed to remove her from her money. And when that fails, her life is forfeit. The horror.

It's not even about Washington. The only reason it's set in Washington is that they have hangings. And hangings are a visually interesting way of killing people....

Most directors use the 2.35 aspect ratio so as to dramatize the sense of composition. Not von Trier. He uses it it combination with hand framing and wobble. The result is a sort of sea sickness. Color is muted, bland. The sound mix is towards the center.

But in musical scenes, everything is framed perfectly. The colors are bright. The sound is spacious. Is von Trier trying to argue for misanthropy? That one's imagination is so much more vivid than anything the mundane world could ever produce?

I liked the Kingdom. Pity that the second part isn't available here. I've only seen Breaking the Waves once. Perhaps he had a similarly artistic notion behind his decision to abandon tripods. Perhaps he simply likes to torture the audience.

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #234 - THE FILMS OF LARS VON TRIER

Manderlay *** out of ****

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #234 - THE FILMS OF LARS VON TRIER

Antichrist (2009) - 7/10
Manderlay (2005) - 8/10
Dogville (2003) - 8/10
Dancer in the Dark (2000) - 8/10
Breaking the Waves (1996) - 7/10
The Kingdom (1994) - 9/10
Europa (1991) - 8/10

I would have sworn I already posted in this thread.

Anyway, LVT is definitely a director who inspires both love and hate in any viewer (at least, any viewer with an open mind). Manipulative as hell, but also effective as hell, and quite fascinating.
Edited by Martin Teller - 11/21/09 at 4:41pm

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #234 - THE FILMS OF LARS VON TRIER

Medea *** out of ****

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #234 - THE FILMS OF LARS VON TRIER

UPDATED:

The Boss of It All (2006)

Seen 11
Own 13

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #234 - THE FILMS OF LARS VON TRIER

Updated Master list...............................

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #234 - THE FILMS OF LARS VON TRIER

UPDATED:

To Each His Cinema (2007) (segment "Occupations")

Seen 12
Own 13

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #234 - THE FILMS OF LARS VON TRIER

Seen:
Breaking the Waves (4/5), and still probably the most depressing film I have ever seen.

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #234 - THE FILMS OF LARS VON TRIER

UPDATED:

Epidemic (1988) (Own the R2 SE DVD)

Seen 13
Own 14

Re: MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #234 - THE FILMS OF LARS VON TRIER

added Europa (1991) - 8/10

UPDATED:

Antichrist (2009)

Seen 14
Own 14