Sally_Kirkland Reviews

House of Sand and Fog (2003)

Just another bad film

[3/10 · 27 May 2004]

This film is bad.

I haven't read the book, but maybe I should've; then maybe the story would have made sense.

On the bright side: Powerful performance by Ben Kingsley. As always. Anything else would have been a dissapointment.

On the not so bright side: A story that's incoherent. Bad acting from Eldard - wow, that was so bad! - and Connelly, who now officially is the female Keanu Reeves. Useless cinematography. Boring music to a 'powerful' story. As for Shohreh - well, she was good, but even Tammy Faye Bakker could have given that performance.

This film really is bad.

Kansas City (1996)

Atmosphere

[8/10 · 28 December 2003]

This film takes exactly 25 minutes before it starts.

At least that's how it can feel for the viewer. For a notorious Altman regular as myself, this is now surprise. He likes to establish the mood of the film, the tone of the story and time before he blends into the characters. It is one of those characteristics about his direction that makes him one of our times' greatest. It is a daring move in an industry that demands fast pace for keeping the spectators attention.

Sometimes Altmans film feels merely as an atmosphere study. In recent films such as THE GINGERBREAD MAN and DR. T AND THE WOMEN, the story never really captivates. Here it does indeed - KANSAS CITY is an underestimated gem.

Jennifer Jason Leigh, who always has that sour tone of bitterness and uncomfortability about her acting, is a perfect cast as Blondie O'Hara. Miranda Richardson, the British Meryl Streep, if you like, tones her dipsy Carolyn 'Red' Stilton down and add a subtle layer of curiosity to her upper class stereotypical wife. Harry Belafonte though is the true treasure in this film. As a black mafioso he shines and gives an oscarworthy performance with splendor, evil and humour.

In smaller parts Jane Adams, Steve Buscemi and Dermot Mulroney is given very little time, but still manages to be remarkable.

The true star of KANSAS CITY is the music and the set decoration. If you are a fan of depression era jazz, this simply is a magnificent pearl, gift wrapped in rich, emotional settings. Combined with the cinematography and a captivating, surprising tale, this is indeed a remarkable Altman movie. Do not miss it.

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Punch Drunk Anderson

[6/10 · 29 October 2003]

Somewhat disappointing, it is. We know Anderson can do better. This simply isn't quirky enough for a Andersonian love story.

Adam Sandler can act, and he does it very well here. That is a pleasant discovery. Emily Watson, on the other hand, is simply wasted - as is Luis Guzman and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The film depends on Sandlers performance, and even though he pulls it off fine, something is missing.

Do we like him? Are we thinking "he needs a shrink" instead of "he needs a love"? Barry is one the line of comedy and reality, but we never finds out where he belongs. It seems PTA doesn't know either.

Not a bad film, but - disappointment remains.

6/10.

A Midwinter's Tale (1995)

Shakespeare For Beginners

[10/10 · 29 October 2003]

This is a brilliant, totally overlooked film.

If you are new to Shakespeare and do not get the passion for his works, this is the one to see. A fine introduction to the various people that are touched, moved and amused by Shakespeare.

Brilliantly written, brilliantly acted, brilliantly photographed. The best Christmas film ever.

10/10

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

I Prefer Jane R.

[3/10 · 24 August 2003]

This film is hardly good, not great at all. A few memorable scenes and the unlucky choice of pairing Norma Jean with an actual actress. Jane Russell has it all working for her, Marilyn's lesser woman and/or actress. One can only wonder why this is considered being one of the highlights of her lame career. 3/10

Marnie (1964)

Hitch's Best Mom Ever

[6/10 · 23 August 2003]

Bernice Edgar beats all the Hitchcock moms and Louise Latham shines as the mother with the well-kept secret in this piece of sweet nothing that displayed Tippi Hedrens limits as an actress and Hitchcocks over-the-top fondness for "psychology". Sean Connery is brilliant as the suave gentleman, but the film belongs to Louise Latham. Why on earth the Oscar did not come her way, I don't get.

Adaptation. (2002)

I Got It (Still, It's Not Funny)

[6/10 · 27 February 2003]

I confess: I had my hopes high for this one. "Being John Malkovich" was hilariosly insane, created with a wit and drive bound to take you away. With even more praise for this one, I hoped a new sensation.

But alas. This was at best a mediocre film. The interesting plot about deconstructivism and the deconstruction of that plot ruined the film and made it's points seemed forced and perplexed. This had nothing like the energy of Malkovich, and the whole meta-thing wasn't fullfilled decently. Which made me yawn. I never thought Kaufman could be like All The Other Screenwriters and make me do that. But I did - I yawned.

Chris Cooper was the true highlight, Meryl was merylly, Nic Cage was fine. The direction however seemed tame and uninspired. I give this a 6/10. Still, I'm disappointed and definately not amused.

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Kitsch! (or alt. title: "The Man Who Was Afraid Of Hats")

[4/10 · 27 September 2002]

"A Beautiful Mind" is an honoured film. Lots of awards has been coming it's way and I understand it as this film is an archeotype of the kitschy image a lot of directors have on making film.

In fact, the film is kitsch. The result is always going to be so when the introductory view from the directors point is that "we are going to make art/history etc.". Indeed Ron Howard has always wanted to make THAT film that could keep everybody talking. Looking at his records show that he so far has not artistically been very succesful. With all these awards, notably beating Robert Altman in Best Directing at the Oscars and DGA, has he then achieved it? Has he made art with "A Beautiful Mind"?

No. Far from. He has elaborated on his very oldfashioned look at making movies, and he has shown his disrespect for the viewers.

Take a look at the dialogue in this one. Do people really talk like this? Did they do that in the '50s? No. Between Nash and his wife there isn't a single real-life conversation. Ron Howard does not have time for such common things. Common things in his mind cannot be art. So the couple are left with a cribbling dialogue that never explain their affection for each other but simply displays them as puppets. They are not real people. (A bizarre thing to say when the plot centers around an authentic story!)

Ron Howard's best effort so far IMO has been "EdTV". That was a charming film that did not try to be more than it was: Entertaining. The characters in it were (so to speak) normal - and so was the dialogue. Strange that even the real people in "A Beautiful Mind" have to be so shallow.

Also, Howard believes that the audience is more or less stupid. This leeds him to giving up on all subtleness and explaining everything very clearly. I don't like being spoken to as if I was stupid - do you? It destroys the overall issues of this film - and I cannot help thinking that it is so odd Howard never even tries to elaborate on Nash's theories and his importance. He has given up on us from the very start.

Russel Crowe is a always a rock, but here his performance tend to be unintentionally amusing - remember Anthony Hopkins in "Legends Of The Fall"? You want to laugh as his character deteriorates - but no no, this is serious stuff. Does Ron Howard really thing life is that serious? Where is the authenticity in this real life story?

Jennifer Connelly is given very little to work with. She whispers and has got a different hair-do from time to time - and then there is the obliged breakdown that gave her the Oscar. Only Winslet and Smith were AMPAS nominees in the supporting category this year without displaying "breakdowns". Food for thought, eh? Anyway; even Connelly's breakdown seems odd. Howard so bad wanted the Oscar for her.

Kitsch is what this film is about. Indeed the weakest of the five Best Picture nominees. Artistically flawed and tame, Howard got what he wanted.

4/10

Små ulykker (2002)

Surprisingly boring best European picture

[19 August 2002]

"Små Ulykker" was the film to continue the fine Danish tradition for awards at the Berlin film festival. The movie displays itself in the footsteps of "Mifune", "Italian For Beginners" (two other Berlin winners) in an impro style like "Let's Get Lost", or Mike Leigh.

Centered around Marianne, this film elaborates on the subjects of family and loss but the attempt of facing tragedy with a smile does not succeed. Also there is very little sympathy for the characters here. Pia (Jannie Faurschou) and Tom (Henrik Prip) is half the family but is here only presented as shallow stereotypes and only Jørgen Kiil as the father and Maria Würgler Rich faces the challenge of evolving their characters with a good result.

The film fails as you do not want to like this characters. That way you don't really care with them - or the film. "Små Ulykker" may be award winning, but never the less it is boring and indifferent and leaves the viewer cold and careless.

Elling (2001)

Norwegian Sensation About Misfits

[10/10 · 3 August 2002]

It is not the cinematography or special effects or costumes or makeup or location. But...

"Elling" is brilliant and cannot be recommended enough. Though it is hard to understand that Norway can produce good films, this one is a pearl. The simple story of two men on the verge of normality is told with heartbreaking simplicity and honesty.

Go see a foreign film. Go see "Elling".

The Shipping News (2001)

Yes, It Is That Bad!

[3/10 · 3 August 2002]

Lasse Hallström is an acclaimed director and has created surprises like "My Life As A Dog" and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape". I even liked "Cider House Rules" and was positively surprised by "Chocolat", which everybody hated.

But this is so bad.

It simply is the worst that can happen when turning a novel into a film. I have not read the book but it is so obvious that some things have been left out or simplified to make the movie. That has done tremendous damage to the film and makes this coming of age picture hard to swallow.

Then there is the casting. It all looks very hopeful but as it turns out almost every character is a miscast. Kevin Spacey does nothing to convince us that Quoyle actually develops. Cate Blanchett's ten minutes is a waste of talent and I hate to see her spending her career as the sidekick of movies like this and "Talented Mr. Ripley", not to mention the "LOTR"-trilogy. She deserves better and could possibly had added the needed frailty, anger and unsecurity to the Wawey woman whom Julianne Moore totally kills with her uninspiring performance. Normally I am quite enthusiastic about mrs. Moore, but this is simply below average. Judi Dench gets very little to work with, as does Pete Postlethwaite and I simply don't know what Rhys Ifans is doing here.

The cinematography starts off beautifully with the "under water" images but then suddenly, as they reach the wild landscape of Newfoundland, gets the same uninspiring disease that afflicts the acting crew.

All together, this is really that bad. I thought the US critics were being to harsh on this film and I did look forward to see it but I must admit that really - it is as bad as they say. 3/10

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Naïve vision of war

[4/10 · 2 July 2002]

This film displays Spielbergs childish wiev of the world. A wiev that has done him good in so many films but is fatal for a war epic. He simply is naïve in displaying the friendship, the combats not to mention the actual plot which is near to being silly. That combined with the lame overall acting makes this a grand disappointment. 4/10 because of the cinematography.

Antenneforeningen (1999)

Fauli's failed talents

[5/10 · 9 June 2002]

Søren Fauli appeared rightfully as the new hope for Danish cinematic comedy in the beginning of the '90s but he has yet to materialize as being capable of keeping focus in directing. "Antenneforeningen" is a fine example of that lack of concentration.

At first "Antenneforeningen" is a fun encounter with the inhabitants of an old house in Copenhagen all looking like and loving the TV-series "Huset På Christianshavn". This update of a Danish classic is hilarious and very well acted, notably by Farshad Kholgi, William Kisum, Gerda Gilboe and - as always - brilliant Birthe Neumann. But Fauli wants to rock this sleepy world which he does with a terrible accident at the end of the movie. This is a break of style and is repeated in his later works "Grev Axel" and the notorious "Polle Fiction".

Fauli could be a capable comedian director but tends to let the temptation of pretending to be a better film maker than he is get the better of him. It is a shame but so far Søren Fauli has been a cinematic disappointment as is "Antenneforeningen".

En kort en lang (2001)

Supporting role's everywhere!

[3/10 · 6 May 2002]

This film is a mess.

From the beginning it is clear that this movie's first and foremost wish is: Your sympathy. It is clear that debutant director Hella Joof (probably Denmark's most succesful black actress!) has a lot of love for her characters. And that is probably why she has decided to fill this movie with a bunch of originals. And you wonder why there are so many of them. Many have one or two punch lines each - Peter Frödin as the only supporting role has got more! - and then they just remain there, filling the void left in which we ought to laugh. It seems as a waste of acting capacity seeing Ellen Hillingsøe, Pernille Højmark, Ditte Gråbøl, Thomas Winding, Lars Knutzon, Ghita Nørby, Hannah Bjarnhof etc. have so little screen time.

The plot surrounds the gay couple played very straight by Mads Mikkelsen and Troels Lyby. The one falls in love with the others sister in law and here goes trouble as it is in a bisexual reality.

The actors seem pretty much left to themselves and as most of them are experienced that can do. But Joof's eager to plaster celebrity Danes in every little part of the movie is ridiculous. Bodil award winner Zlatko Buric gets one line as a taxi driver - and that is symptomatic for the entire movie.

The only supporting role that earns praise is Lotte Merete Andersen as the doctor. She gets 30 second and steals the scene. That is acting!

Joof is famous for her special and somewhat childish humor as expressed in acting ensembles "Det Brune Punktum" and "Lex & Klatten" and it shows also here. Her fondness of 'dirty' words here are nevertheless not funny at all but seems misplaced in a film about very sensitive adults.

All in all this is a disappointment. Indeed one of the weakest Danish comedies in years.

Funny Games (1997)

An annoying yawn

[2/10 · 15 April 2002]

One have to admit: The plot of "Funny Games" is rather intriguing. Two teenagers take a family hostages and tortures them most delicately. Interesting and strange idea - and does it work?

This film has a lot of buzz going around for it. It is 'art', 'shocking' and 'provocative'. But in fact - it is none of these.

The shock is never there as the production company clearly haven't had the money to show us the actual physical torture. Instead we hear the noises and see the poor victims afterwards. And it never really surprises us as the eleged evil spirit of the youngsters clearly is being established at the beginning of the film. As for the physical tortures the structure of the family is so badly drawn that it doesn't show us anything but a marriage that never worked in the first place as it never consisted of real people. And that actually does make the tormenting rather tedious.

The provocative elements are almost laughable. Of course we have to be terrified with these actions taken by regular young boys, but it never works. And it's even quite embarrasing as Michael Haneke tries to add a patina of existentialistic questions to this absolute nonsense. It is extremely annoying and clearly shows the director's intentions with this film - some intentions that never are fullfilled as the director himself is so focused on the so called 'schocking' elements.

To be provocative and thoughtful you need to produce something unexpected and peel it slowly while asking the questions that the audience can relate to. "Funny Games" fails to do either. It is an annoying yawn - a film you only can't miss if you want to play artsy with your friends at the chess club.

2/10 ( - and only for the plot. Even the actors are bad).

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Don't Walk Away, Renée

[6/10 · 29 January 2002]

This movie is sweeter than candy. But it is a tad to long to be delicious.

It's reflexions on "real life" with it's up's and down's is unbearably boring, mostly due to Cruise's soul less effort.

What works here is Renée Zellwegger. Her bittersweet performance adds the very welcome drop of reality in this pretending to be realism romantic disappointment.

She saves this film from being unwatchable - she and the fine dialogue together with Cuba Gooding Jr.'s perfect supporting role makes this an alright film.

Dr. T & the Women (2000)

I am truly sorry

[5/10 · 11 July 2001]

Really, I am. Robert Altman is one of the finest directors of our time. His sense of atmosphere and his ability to draw his characters as real people is always a source of joy and watching his films usually is the best time to spent in front of a screen.

Alas, in "Dr. T." Altmans work is disappointing. Even though the story begins with a remarkable "Atmanish" long slide over the lobby of Dr. T.'s clinic, introducing to us these women - oh, these women! - and even his loyalty towards his characteres kicks in from the very beginning, the film fails to amuse or excite. It is as if he has had his difficulties to know which way to direct the movie. Or maybe even simpler: Perhaps it is just to difficult to create a screwball comedy with real, believable characters in it. The mix of reality and fantasy collides and the result is not as fruitful as could be hoped.

Among Altmans strong sides is his marvelous personal directing. Although I have never been directed by the Maestro myself it is hard to believe that the excellent efforts of Laura Dern, Kate Hudson, Richard Gere, Farah Fawcett and most notably Shelley Long has come to light without Altman being the midwife. It is a joy to watch them and it saves the movie from being completely wasted.

Yes, I am sorry. Please Altman, strike us yet another masterpiece so I can show my friends why you are the greatest!

5/10

Terms of Endearment (1983)

Gosh, it has aged very badly!

[4/10 · 22 June 2001]

Re-watching the sobbing of "Terms of endearment" revealed that it has aged pretty badly, I'd say. The portrait of these oh so strong women is as '80s as can be. How these strong, but still gentle women change their surroundings with their strength and their love can be quite unbearable to watch. Almost all male characters are jerks who becomes jerks-turned-around after the meeting with these strong, independent women who has their sacred fellowship with each other. Well - if I had a bra, I would burn it!!

When the story centers itself around the infidelity of Flap and Emma it is only the man who is to blame since he gets caught! But because of her female strength, her inner spirit, her motherhood and sisterhood she can actually forgive him.

I am glad I was too young to marry in the '80s! This portrait of women is terrible and it is hard for me to believe that it once was up to date!

4/10

Et rigtigt menneske (2001)

Teaching us an ever-so valuable lesson in humanity......

[7/10 · 17 May 2001]

This is a story of a hero.

It is the story of the child-like "P" or Achmed, as his name quite surprisingly gets to be. It is a tale of how his refreshing wiev on life today touches - yes, that is the real Oprah word - the lives of various people. May it be the struggling career couple of Valther and Charlotte, the poor and alone and somehow deranged mr. Stromboli, the young-at-heart Tanja who has a crush on him etc. With his naïvety and stubborn believing in man's good side, he has a tremendous impact on his surroundings. It is as the crystal clear voices of a boy choir leads him wherever he goes. And in the end we are all better people, now when true love and trust has touched us deeply and moved us.

In the beginning and in the end this Dogme film is rather annoying. But in between there are some quite nice scenes, who with humour, wit and poetry describes the amusing struggles for "P" to become a real human being. Especially his escapades at the refugee center or the initial scenes with Valther and mr. Stromboli has a great blend of sadness and fun. In the end, however, as the lesson comes to an end, the film underlines the importance of the values "P" brought us. And that is perhaps a bit over the top.

Nikolaj Lie Kaas portraits "P" like his character in the second Dogme film "Idioterne". If you still aren't fed up with looking at him, you'll probably be it after this one. He has a limited acting ability, and he is putting it to the limits. Peter Mygind struggles with his image as the fun boy and actually get's away with it. But Susan Olsen's Charlotte is probably the most authentic character that must grant her a breakthrough in Danish movies.

Åke Sandgren has made a 'humanistic fable'. Sometimes it is too humanistic, sometimes it is too fable, but it has it's moments - still it is one of the weaker Dogme films.

6/10

She-Devil (1989)

Hilarious! and clever too!

[9/10 · 17 May 2001]

This movie is not serious at all. That's the funniest part!

This movie is absolutely among my comedy favorites. Perhaps it was a bit ahead of it's time, I think - everyone should take a look at it again and have a laugh.

As a European I must say that it is ever so refreshing with a movie with such a black humor to it. The fact that everything is over the top makes it not less attractive, but brings the so-called "authenticity" of this story to an extend of fun, fun, fun. It is beyond "real" - it is there to amuse you and so it does. This movie is sarcastic, even to itself and indeed to the Fay Weldon novel that lies behind it.

Roseanne stars in her very best role ever as the ugly and poor Ruth Patchett who reveals herself as a superheroine in the vengeance department. To cast Roseanne in this role is a brilliant idea. She is obviously not afraid of being the most repulsive woman ever seen on video, and that only contributes to the laughs as she turns from the bearded lady into a business woman with a hard grip on her own destiny. Roseanne has always been accused of being a bad actress. I am not saying that she is a good one, but perhaps the character Ruth has a lot of Roseanne inside her - because her work here is in any way magnificent.

Meryl Streep on the other hand is absolutely faboulos. She has tried a few time to enter the world of comedy, most notably with the bizarre "Death Becones Her", but this might be her very best try in the genre. As the pink queen of romance, the Barbara Cartland of her generation, you might add, she sparkles with hysteria and selfconsciousness. Her Mary Fisher does make one of the funniest breakdowns as her "Love in the Rinse Cycle" fails as well as her relationship with Robert Patchett, Ruth's husband. Streep has the elegance that it takes to be - well, pink - but she is not afraid of tearing it down and plays the role with much physical courage.

Academy Award Winner Linda Hunt as always also makes a great appearance as Ruth's partner-in-crime Nurse Hooper. Along with Roseanne and Meryl Streep she benefits from her physical appearance, and all three of them changes as women in a very convincing way. For Linda Hunt, cookies does the trick, and her change from dry, bitter and hardworking to giggling business woman is very amusing indeed.

Finally I must say that the cinematography and editing of this movie is outstanding, as well as the musical contribution, e.g. the opening titles and the introduction of Ruth - it sure does follow the general irony of the story in a great way. Along with the extremely well-put dialogue this movie simply is - hilarious.

Threesome (1994)

Somebody's having a bad (hair) day

[2/10 · 8 May 2001]

This film is a mess. There is no other way to put.

How sympathetic I found the idea of a film discussing the confusion of sexual identity, the frustration of falling in love with a dear friend and the debating on friendship versus falling in love, there is very little sympathetic about this movie.

I had hoped for a funny delighted adventure in the lives of these college students. And it starts off well but turn into a mess since it does not want to show us the characters as intelligent people with a friendship and understanding on a deeper level than sex. It simply does not answer the questions, it want to ask. It doesn't even try!

And for the actors: Stephen Baldwin, who tends to star in "kinky" movies, has a really bad hair cut. Despise that, this might be his finest work. It's not good, but.... ya know what I'm saying. Lara Flynn Boyle gives us the usual "I can be Marilyn" looks and seems to overkill her character because her acting is sort of over the top. Josh Charles is great as ever. Why don't we see him some more. He is indeed talented and great, a versatile actor.

This movie is - well, a mess. You might like it though. I think I does not.

3/10

The King Is Alive (2000)

But The Movie Is Not

[3/10 · 31 January 2001]

This is one of those films with a great potential. Brilliant actors, a debut from a very interesting director and a haunting "Survivor"-ish plot.

But it does not work at all.

To start with the good thing: The cinematography is stunning. The beauty of the Namibian desert shows itself as a merciless surrounding, also in the pictures. And then there is the acting. Quite allright. Jennifer Jason Leigh has never been better. Bruce Davison also seems to have developed his character from Altman's "Short Cuts".

Then the disappointments: Janet McTeer. Romane Bohringer. And the plot. Why on earth does Levring pick "Lear" for their play? The whole idea of letting Shakespeare articulate their despair and inner longings does not work. It seems like a facade. And it is clear that the tragedies takes place because of the choice of "Lear". They just needs to fit in in the Script by Levring and Academy Award winner Anders Thomas Jensen.

And the sex. It takes about three days, then more or less all of the characters are sexually frustrated. Dahh!! Sex is always the easy way out when you are in need of a crisis in a plot. Janet McTeer's part totally falls apart, mainly because of that ridiculous idea. The sex makes the plot fall promptly to the ground. Instead they could have focused on the dialogue. There must have been conversation between all of the characters, but we mainly see them talking in smaller groups. Their talking though is as dead as "Lear" and the rest of the film.

"The King Is Alive" still is not the worst Danish dogme '95 movie yet. But comparing it to the most recent of the homegrown dogme '95 films "Italiensk for begyndere" by Lone Scherfig, this one fails badly. It is not a good film. It is a bad one. But it is beautiful.

The Idiots (1998)

If it wasn't for Bodil Jørgensen, this would definitely be idiotic!

[3/10 · 6 June 2000]

This movie is awful. Yuk. Maybe there is suppose to be some fantastic idea beyond the idiots being idiots. But the movie never reveals itself.

All you get is talented Danish actors playing mentally disturbed for an hour and a half, pretending that they serve a greater purpose. Maybe the just serve the puzzled imaginations of Lars von Trier..

But there is absolutely no use of the madness whatsoever. I really dislike those, who feel that this movie have "touched" them in a special way. How can this movie touch anyone?? I hardly can't see why it shouldn't be annoying.

At the time of the release here in Denmark, a special von Trier diary was published. From reading this you get the idea that he probably did this movie for his own reasons. I really do not hope so. But I can't see another reason for making something so shallow and stupid as this.

Something good though came out of it: We got to see Bodil Jørgensen as a new star. She is fantastic in this one - and the only reason a grade this 3/10.

So please - don't try (or rent!) this at home.

Gladiator (2000)

"The Mummy" goes "Asterix"

[5/10 · 1 June 2000]

This movie isn't terrible. It is merely foolish.

It reminds me of "The Mummy". A genuine mediocre film who worked out fine in it's own premises. A little too much though from time to time. But quite alright. Nothing more, nothing less.

But - I was a little disappointed with Russel Crowe. He is a star in my eyes - a true actor. In this film he simply walks around with a goofy, bewildered expression on his face - and that's all the acting, he gives us. Joaquin Phoenix has a face of a villain. But he draws his Commodus over the line. Only Connie Nielsen shines truly like a star. She reminds me of Greta Scacchi at her peak - or even Vivien Leigh.

I gave it 5. It really doesn't deserve more. Or we will be granted a terrible sequel.

Dancer in the Dark (2000)

Oops he did it again!

[4/10 · 19 May 2000]

Here's von Trier again. Doing what he loves to do: Manipulating you into a story of love and sacrifice, that almost made me cry.

Almost. 'Cause you've seen it all before when you have seen Trier's latest films.

He did it in "Breaking the Waves" and "Dogme 2 - the Idiots". Gave us a glimpse of somebody "good" or perhaps "pure". "Dancer" is also said to be the last (thank God!) film in the trilogy titled "Golden Heart".

But does the Trierloved characters posesses golden hearts? No - they are merely being silly, not to say stupid. They are all quite anoying, especially Selma (Björk) here in "Dancer".

von Trier wants us to see that she is driven by love to her son. But I think she is rather driven by nothing at all, being so foolish as she is.

We have seen it again and again. And now yet again. This time I hope they will give him the golden palms. Perhaps he then get's new inspiration...

Björk is alright, David Morse and Cara Seymour are better. I really do not know what Catherine Deneuve is doing in this film, and it looks as if she doesn't know herself either. The rest of the cast are Swedes, Germans and Danes. And the story takes part in USA...

He is a marvelous director. But I hope he would be looking for new - really new - material.