Dogville
|
List Price: Our Price: $2.49 You Save: $12.49 (83%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.19 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Dogville
Movie Review: Dogville
Summary: 5 Stars
To put it plainly, there has never been a more eloquent film made than "Dogville". I knew very little before seeing the movie, and know very little now, of the film's director and writer, Lars von Trier. The mega-talented cast (of which includes Nicole Kidman, Lauren Bacall, James Caan, Patricia Clarkson, Paul Bettany and more) is what compelled me to check it out, and thank God for that.
What is important to convey first is that this movie is unlike any other with regards to set design and stage direction. There are few props besides the clothes that each character wears, and little more than a large black room with white outlines on its floor in the place of walls and doors, trees and roads. This will put many potential views off before they even begin watching the film - I know, because I hardly had interest in such a bizarre arrangement myself... no doors?! You've got to be mad, Lars!
Watching this movie puts a new perspective on cinema. If you become as submersed in the film as I have, you'll likely never see another movie the same way again - a new angle is opened up. The angle of a character's emotions becomes the central device rather than action shots or props commanding your attention.
Grace (Kidman) is a wealthy woman on the run from gangsters when she stumbles across a quaint town full of honest, hard-working people willing to save a ravaged soul like hers. What we find is that those who are willing to save us can be just as apt to annihilate us for their own survival. I might say that this movie features the greatest twists I have ever seen develop on screen, but they're far more than twists, they're erratic developments of unfathomable and philosophical proportions. If you let it, the power of this movie has the capacity to blow your mind.
"Dogville" is an examination of the human condition, as seen through the eyes of a small American town, located somewhere in the Smokey Mountains. The way these humans react to guilt, desire, and threat can shock the views' soul to the core. It's a profound experience to see emotion running so raw, so vivid, and so extreme. I never knew that a movie could so acutely replicated sincere expression - the things that happen to each character are so very real that we not only witness, but experience it for ourselves.
It has the ability to pull your eye lids open farther than any other instrument can.
This is the movie that knocked "Citizen Kane" from atop my favorite films list.
BREATHTAKING.
Grade: A+
Movie Review: Brilliant Transparency in Disturbing Cinematic Experience...
Summary: 5 Stars
The Danish Lars von Trier is a cinematic visionary and his creation Dogville is an example of his remarkable cinematic genius. The film is shot in a studio where white lines on the floor depict the where the houses and other significant landmarks are located. There is some minute use of mise-en-scene such as a top of a bell tower floating in mid air by wires and small porcelain figurines, but most of the mise-en-scene is completely removed. The transparent environment produces an atmosphere without secrets and the true nature of people is completely revealed when an opportunity appears.
The story takes place in the small mountain village, Dogville, which is located in Colorado during the Great Depression. The young aspiring writer and philosopher Tom Edison (Paul Bettany) wanders through Dogville one late evening when he hears a shot, and later discovers Grace (Nicole Kidman). Grace has escaped pursuing gangsters and Tom decides to act as Grace's savior as he becomes infatuated with her. Tom presents Grace to the village's 15 adult inhabitants as he intends to let the village decide whether she can join the village or not. The people of Dogville give Grace two weeks to prove that she is an honorable person and not a threat.
Grace offers herself to the town by helping with the towns chores. Initially Grace faces resistance to her presence, however, the people of Dogville decide that she is useful and they let her stay. This is the beginning of a wonderful time for Grace, but when the police turn up in the small village claiming that she is a dangerous bank robber and she has committed several robberies while she has been in Dogville townsfolk begin to demand more from her. The demands are a lead up to a beginning of a brutal exploitation of Grace's persona while Tom feebly attempts to find a reason to the madness and an escape for Grace.
Dogville is a disturbing film with a straight forward story. However, the politics behind the film have an allegorical value as it seems to draw from both historical and contemporary issues. The film strongly hints toward the use of allegory since the intended use of almost no mise-en-scene was cleverly manufactured by von Trier. The story is well directed as the film progresses with ease as it is both chaptered and well-written. When the cinematography, mise-en-scene, cast performance, and script is put together it offers a brilliant cinematic experience that the audience can ponder and discuss for a lengthy time since it can be related to issues that have affected the world.
Movie Review: Makes you think
Summary: 5 Stars
Was fortunately able to rent this in Europe MONTHS before the US release. Was surprised by that...
Would have given it a 4.5 if I could have. Not a perfect movie by any means, but still one that jars you, stuns you, and pokes you uncomfortably enough to either be: 1) turned off totally (as one reviewer was) or 2) inspired to really contemplate the message being portrayed in the movie. What this movie focuses on ISN'T the warm and fuzzy niceness of being human.
Nicole Kidman portrays a woman in some sort of trouble, who turns to the folks in a small Colorado town to help protect and hide her. They reluctantly do so at first, but then slowly discover their position of power over the woman isn't so uncomfortable after all. And eventually, almost every person in the town begins to exploit the woman's predicament, and their begrudging pseudo-benevolence slowly mutates into horrific abuse.
The entire movie is shot on a sound stage resembling a large-scale play set. Minimal props and effects give the whole story a surrealistic feel. The characters and their costumes are the only completely made up items in the movie.
Not a big Lars Von Trier fan, as he seems quite the pretentious **** at times, and yes, there does seem to be an anti-American slant to his work, but the themes and ideas presented in this movie definitely aren't unique to the U.S. Several non-American friends of mine didn't see the movie as necessarily an American-bashing flick. Its message is bit more universal than that.
Similar themes have been presented in other stories ("Lord of the Flies" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" came to mind during the film) where we examine a small isolated group of people, trying to define what's moral, what's just (and excessively patting themselves on the back for doing so), but ultimately failing miserably and ending up even further away from the humanity they're proclaiming to represent.
Outstanding performances in the film, despite the stage-like setting and minimal props, from Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, et al. You get the feeling that Von Trier kept things tense on the set, just to add to the overall feeling.
If you want to buy/rent a "feel-good" flick, then this isn't the one to get. If you want an insightful and thought provoking story though, this one delivers.
Movie Review: Let sleeping dogs Lie
Summary: 5 Stars
There is a very good reason Lars Von Trier names his fictional American town Dogville. It behaves very much like a dog. Its very suspicious of outsiders but with a simple tummy rub everyone can be won over and accepted. The film is book ended with the bark of a dog. The dog you see, doesn't exist, he is merely a chalk outline on the floor of a sound stage. Using a minimal amount of props Von Trier creates a town where everyone is very secretive, yet ironically enough their homes are out in the open for all to see inside.
Von Trier asks alot from his audience, its up to you to fill in the gaps. Actors close and open doors that simply are not there, but it is your mind that makes it real. In the span of three hour this strange little town will both pass judgement and be judged themselves. Nicole Kidman plays Grace, a woman on the run from gangsters. She ends up in Dogville where she meets a small town of simple town people. The movie chooses to linger and lets you soak in the rich dialogue and accurate performances. Unlike Von Triers previous effort (Dancer in the Dark) this time he lets events happen naturally. Instead of feeling the forced hand of the script making lives miserable, it is characters who act out of instinct that is the driving force through out the movie. They turn from kind to mean very gradually and all the clues are scattered through out nine chapters.
This Dog has quite a bite and Grace learns this the hard way. The many rich layers of thought have lingered in my mind and I eagerly wish to watch the movie again and catch all the subtle ideas I may have missed the first time around. If there is any criticism in this movie about America, I don't think I would disagree with any of it. I think America is best symbolized by the blind man, who refuses to admit he's blind, and foolishly thinks that no one else has noticed his loss of sight. To criticize the world, is not to disown it, but if we do not admit our loss of sight, than we truly have grown old, stubborn and cold.
Dogville is one of the best films of the year and the first Lars Von Trier film that I truly think works from beginning to end. This is the first in a trilogy, and I cannot wait to see what awaits Grace in the next two films. I do not give five stars to just any movie but this film has truly deserved it.
Movie Review: Breaking down walls
Summary: 5 Stars
'Dogville' was the type of film that I never would have expected, and never will forget. The most obvious, and odd, part of the film was that there was barely a set - no walls, no doors, just a chalk outline of what is supposed to be there, along with minimalist amounts of furnishings.
This works on a few levels. First, it is symbolic with the plot: breaking barriers to the human condition, seeing people for who, and what, they really are. Second, the lack of walls shows audiences the true talents of the actor. Indeed, the actor must employ imagination and true feeling in order to be engrossed in the plot and their character's condition, rather than fixed on the lack of props.
On that note, Nicole Kidman, as well as the other actors, did a stellar job in her character study. Once you are engaged in her performance, the no-walled set seems to not matter anymore, while you are more focused on the characters and what is happening in Dogville.
I would also have to say that 'Dogville' is a film not to be taken lightly. It is definitely one of those films to think about, and that can be proposed as an allegory to modern society. Can people really help themselves? Should the wronged forgive? What can one person to in this world to simply survive? This film also questions moral judgement, as well as questioning how far is too far.
The film has a startlingly unpredictable ending, but one that I found rather satisfying considering all that had happened in the preceding three hours. You may be left shaken, but 'Dogville' is one of those films that you just have to see.
Finally, I was also impressed with the cinematography. Besides the set, the lighting was also very creative, moving from light to dark in symbolic ways. The film also has a gritty, raw feel to it, as if it is more 'real.' I also found the voice-overs rather necessary, and at times, funny.
Overall, I give 'Dogville' five stars, for it was an excellent film that everyone should see at one point in time.