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| Movie Review: Antichrist Alternate Title: Nightmare on Elm Street
Story: Truth be told, my Wednesday
movie buddy and I saw this film almost a month ago. I took off for a
vacation the very next day, had no time to write a review and hated
the film so much I decided not to spend time writing or thinking about
the film. However, I have decided that it is my obligation to warn you
NOT to see this film - ever. Director and writer Lars Von Trier,
apparently working through his own depression, managed to make me depressed
in the process. Good going, Lars. This pretentious piece of celluloid porn is about
an unnamed couple (they are only referred to as 'he' and 'she') who
are trying to work out their grief over the death of their baby (which
occurs while the couple are shtupping all over the house). The film
is divided into four chapters with a prologue and an epilogue. The prologue
and epilogue are in black and white and the chapters are in color. Big
whoop. The graphic violence made me wince and cover my eyes. I almost left
the theater but was too candy ass to leave. Be warned that the violence
includes self-genital mutilation. I felt that Von Trier was just trying
to shock us throughout the film. How many images do we really need of
an erect penis anyway? I hated both of the characters, had no sympathy for them and wanted
them both to die. How's that? Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmKv_57fOvY Acting: Charlotte Gainsbourg and
Willem Dafoe are both powerful and dedicated actors.
I just hated them in this film.
Trivia: Lars Von Trier in 1995, his dying mother told
her son on her deathbed that the man he believed was his father was,
in fact, was not. Following her death, he tracked down his biological
father, a 90-year-old man who after four combative meetings told him
that, if he wanted to speak to him again, he could do it through his
lawyer. He broke up with his pregnant wife and moved in with their (much
younger) babysitter. [1996] He added 'von' to his name because his peers
at the Danish Film School called him so. Helped form a collective known
as Dogme 95 with a group of other filmmakers. The collective agreed
to make films following certain rules, such as using only hand held
cameras and shooting only on location. The year von Trier won the Palme
D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, he almost did not attend the ceremony.
He has so many phobias, he could only make the trip in a specially outfitted
trailer.
Predilection: Dogville, Dancer in the Dark and Breaking
the Waves are three of Von Trier's films that I liked.
Critters: I am a bit hazy on the number of animals
in the film. If I recall correctly there is a talking fox that says
'chaos reigns,' a frightened deer, a scary crow and more woodsy animals.
Food: I do not remember
Sex Spectrum: Lots and lots of sex.
Soundtrack: Handel is played during the opening sequence.
Very moving.
Visual Art: Other than the graphic sex and violence,
the film is visually quite beautiful.
Theater Audience: Two other people.
Squirm Scale: I squirmed often.
Predictability Level: I dod not care what happened
I just wanted the film to end.
Tissue Usage: I cried that I wasted my time and money.
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Neither.
Length: Too long at whatever length.
LOBO HOWLS: 2 (the opening scene was terrific)
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