Watch it once if you want to know what people are talking about. Then never, ever, watch it again.
I liked it a lot, and I remember being bored and confused at the beginning the first time I saw it. But I got into it and “enjoyed” it. I mean, it’s the saddest movie ever, and I bawled my eyes out, but I kinda like that so, there you go. I also adore Bjork, so that made it enjoyable to me. I thought the musical parts were fantastic. If you like Bjork, and sad movies (and it is almost pointlessly sad; it’s not really making a statement about anything), I think you’ll like it.
But, I will say, I saw it in the theaters, and bought it on DVD when it came out. But I’ve only watched it once, and I didn’t finish it (I was depressed, and I thought a good sad movie might be what I needed, but as I neared the end I changed my mind). So, maybe I don’t like it as much as I think I do.
I don’t know anything about Bjork–to my knowledge I’ve never heard any of her music.
I decided to watch the movie on fast forward, with a couple of spots where I let it play at regular speed. I think I got the general gist of it between that and reading some plot summaries. I think I’m glad I didn’t take 2:25 to watch the whole thing regular speed.
Read the thread Eureka linked to.
Then, keep watching only if you like manipulative, over-the-top misery.
Trier. He added von (not Van) while being his pretentious self.
Having said that, I do admire him as a filmmaker and I don’t think women are protrayed as scapegoats. He’s stated many times that this trilogy is about the sacrifices women make for others (e.g. husband or child) and that they are over the top, not to help him make his point, but to really rub in how bizarre some of those sacrifices are.
It’s currently in my lifetime topten movies: a masterpiece. Bjork gives on of the, say, 4 or 5 best performances ever captured on film. Ever.
That said, it’s purpose is largely to make the audience squirm: it’s not supposed to be a pleasant experience. So if that doesn’t sound like something that would appeal to you, you should skip it. It’s definitely not for everyone.
It’s not, actually. Von Trier only made one film according to the “rules” of Dogme 95, Idioterne.
I agree with lissener. I think this is a brilliant film & Bjork gives one of the best performances I’ve seen. I loved all the musical numbers and thought they were very artfully done. Of course, it is probably one of the most depressing movies I’ve ever seen, but that doesn’t take away from how much I loved it.
The wife and I loved the movie. I liked Peter Stormare, too. as Jeff. (He was the silent killer in Fargo, the one who loaded Steve Buscemi in the wood chipper.)