Manderlay
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Movie Reviews of Manderlay
Movie Review: A Racial Microcosm
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the best movies of last year comes to dvd after dismal distribution in the U.S. Manderlay is the satisfying sequel to Lars Von Triers' film Dogville, but its style should be more accesible and knowledge of the first film is not required to see
the tale of a southern plantation in the 1930s which has still kept slaves. Presenting an symbolic history of Black Americans, it is a scathing indictment of the past and the present racial attitudes that refuse to be abolished
Movie Review: Manderlay
Summary: 5 Stars
We caught the tail end of this movie on Encore, there is no rewind or start over. I was so intrigued by the little I did see, I felt I needed to see the entire movie. It was a good investment.Movie Review: Political allegory at its barebones finest!
Summary: 4 Stars
I just can't help myself. I always have to see what Lars von Trier is up to. I think von Trier sees Americans as either hopelessly self-deluded or secretly self-loathing. Either way, he once again has allowed us to peer into his head in order to see America through his eyes (even though he has yet to step foot on American soil due to his own fear of flying). To say he's an irritant would be an understatement. He has quite a talent for getting under one's skin and setting up camp for a long while even after the last reel of film has unspooled. He's annoying, provocative, controversial and possibly one of the greatest directors of all time. Just like his film style and choice of subject matter - you either love him or you hate him. I kinda like that. I like a filmmaker who forces the viewer out of the gray dullness of life - to take a definitive stand and to have a direct opinion about something ... anything. He's thought-provoking, ascerbic and scathing at his best and he's a somewhat simplistic, narcissistic, petulant man-child at his worst. But, I promise you this: after seeing Manderlay, you will have an opinion and you will have food for thought for quite some time. This is a bold and daring film and von Trier delivers his message with surgical precision.
In the second part of his proposed American trilogy (the first part being his last film, Dogville), the story's hero, Grace comes upon a working plantation (Manderlay) complete with slaves and slave owners. The problem is, the year is 1933. Are these people living a vacuum? Well, it seems it's up to Grace to "break the news" to all involved. Her gangster father, played by Willem Dafoe, urges Grace to not get involved but headstrong and rebellious Grace (played by the talented but miscast Bryce Dallas Howard) is of another opinion. Driven by a sense of compassion or maybe a "god complex" or something of that nature, Grace decides to intervene and, very quickly, her good-natured intentions backfire and set into motion a tragic series of events.
This film is rich in social and political allegory. It is a scathing attack on American foreign policy namely unwelcome American intervention and democratization. There's also an even larger assault on America's history of black oppression and slavery - sometimes referred to (and rightly so) as the African Holocaust in America. I don't think it is the purpose of this film to "point fingers" and to place blame since slavery was an institution brought over to the New World by Old World Europeans. Even von Trier surely knows that his own country of Denmark bears the guilt of systematic oppression while it occupied, subjugated and ruled harshly over the countries of Norway and Iceland for many centuries. But, I digress... (sorry but I'm still somewhat irritated!) Rather, I think the purpose of his latest film is more of awareness and not condemnation. It is a parable or maybe a cautionary tale.
In keeping with the Dogme 95 movement, von Trier has once again stripped down his film making style to its most basic elements with the focus being on narrative. Just like in Dogville, the entire 133 minutes takes place on a rudimentary theatrical stage with props kept to a bare-bones minimum. With the stage floor once again outlined in chalk designating areas such as "Mam's Garden" and "The Well", the viewer is once again coaxed into focussing more on the dialogue and storyline as opposed to rich, scenic backdrops and computer-generated special effects. He's minimalist and thoroughly post-modern. Not only is von Trier irritating the audience with his subject matter, his "shaky wandering" style of filming is back. Will someone buy this guy a tripod! Just kidding. Although, it does take me about fifteen minutes to acclimate myself to this style. I really don't mind. Anyway, throughout the film, the ever capable John Hurt provides voice-over and much-needed momentum to the sometimes tedious interaction of the principals. Without getting into too many details, young Grace teaches the slaves to be autonomous, punishes the plantation owners and screws up everything in the process. Danny Glover is great as the elder slave but he is woefully underused throughout the film. The same goes for Lauren Bacall, Chloe Sevigny and Jeremy Davies (all back from Dogville but, in new roles). Although I like Bryce Dallas Howard very much I feel that she was a poor choice for the demanding role of Grace. An older actress was needed to make the part more convincing. The role demanded maturity and wisdom and Nicole Kidman delivered both effortlessly in Dogville. And although Howard tried her best, she came up short. I'm not blaming Howard for this one bit. This was von Trier's fault. Although many of his films center around the subject of female martyrdom employing a woman-child sort of protagonist possessing great inner strength (see Breaking The Waves, The Idiots and Dancer In The Dark), this trilogy requires a strong female character of a different order. Namely, a woman of emotional and intellectual maturity who is less vulnerable and more resilient both mentally and physically. A woman who is not hopelessly idealistic and moves in and out of the harsh realities of life with great agility. I think Nicole Kidman embodied the spirit of the Grace character and it was sad to see her not return to the role. I don't think she wanted to return from what I heard. Willem Dafoe replaced James Caan as well and maybe for the same reason. I'm not sure though. Anyway, that's my opinion for what it's worth.
I think von Trier wants to and likes to shock his audience out of relative complacency. For example, I read that the mule was killed "on-film" (allowable under Swedish cinematic law)and that it was later edited out for the US version. A good move on von Trier's part since it would only serve to stir up unintended reactions and distract from the main focus of the film. Another example would be the "way too explicit" sex scene between Grace and one of the other members of cast (I don't want to give too much away). I found it to be exceedingly gratuitous and it could have been more tastefully done maybe from a distance like Nicole Kidman's unfortunate rape scene in Dogville. Both sex scenes were necessary to move the story forward but, there's a right way and a wrong way to do things. Actors put their trust and faith in a director's vision but sometimes compromises between actor and director must and should be made. I think this is yet another example that shows the difference between the wiser, more mature veteran actress Kidman and a non-veteran actress such as Howard. Kidman knew where to "draw the line" with the director.
Anyway, it probably seems like I didn't like the film. Well, I actually did like it tremendously and although it was hard to take in both visually and ideologically, it was a necessary pill to swallow. It took me some time afterwards to process my feelings about this film and to put pen to paper (or more appropriately, fingertips to keyboard) and few films have that effect on me. After seeing Dogville and Manderlay, I'm almost dreading to see what Mr. von Trier has in store for us with the final installment of this trilogy. I can't wait!
Movie Review: Von Trier takes on slavery
Summary: 4 Stars
For anyone who has seen "Dogville" it is a natural progression to see "Manderlay", part 2 of the American trilogy by the famously difficult to work with director Lars Von Trier. I personally like his films because the center of the story is inevitable a woman: strong, independent if not naive. In this film we come actross the plantation where black inhabitants are still enslaved despite the fact that slavory was abolished 70 years ago. Our main character Grace takes it upon herself to free them and teach them how to become (economically) self-sufficient. As much as Von Trier's critics were complaining about this work that they claimed was racially charged adn anti-american, when one thinks about it, Von Trier simply wanted to make it quite human. We learn that regardless of racial characteristics, people are people and they can be categorized into seven types. Film is actually psychological profiling that explains that it is our innate psyche that makes us what we are, who we are and how we see ourselves - not race, color or class. Definitely a powerfuil message but film still gets only four start. I do not understand why such gifted visual storyteller like Von Trier would resourt on making a film that looks as if it is made on the ordinary theatre stage with minimal props. If you have seen his beautiful film "Medea" that is so visually rich, you would know what I am talking about. Still, this is one of those directors that should not be ignored.Movie Review: Young mistress takes a brief tour on the plantation.
Summary: 4 Stars
Unique film indeed. Rarely films are made on such subjects. Film highlights race relations. A true image of America during the 1930's. Bryce Dallas gives a close to perfection performence, Isaach De Bankole... oh boy, he almost stole the show, his decent action results in a very neat chemistry with Bryce and you just can't take your eyes off the pair on screen. Its a bold film, quite bold. You will smile, you will be shocked, you will keep staring. Its a film with a brilliant cast performence. Worth watching.