Dogville

Pros: Performances, Screenplay, Message, Set Design
Cons: Long, Depressing, Demands patience

“Well, that’s just human nature.” A phrase usually employed when discussion turns to the uglier things human beings do to one another, it has become so common that it is almost without meaning. What is this “human nature”? Is it a ...

Pros: Story, acting, pacing, narration
Cons: Length and it requires much attention, so watch in pieces

Lars von Trier is a difficult director who stretches the bounds of emotion in a way that no other director I’m aware of can even consider. He revels in and exploits the talents of the worser angels. In the more mainstream Breaking the Waves ...

Pros: interesting, actually tries to say something, Kidman, Bettany.
Cons: too long, too experimental for its own good.

Lars von Trier is nothing if not horribly pretentious. This is, after all, the man behind the Dogme95 “doctrine”, a method/movement of filmmaking so strict and overbearing that it’s a near miracle that a good film ever came out of its ethos ...

Pros: A Provocative, Minimalistic Masterpiece from Lars von Trier with a Great Ensemble Cast.
Cons: None, Unless You Don't Like Long, Experimental Films.

When Dancer in the Dark was released to mixed reviews in 2000, including its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, many critics scolded its filmmaker Lars von Trier for its depiction on America, especially since the plane-phobic Danish-born ...

Pros: Great cast, strong performances
Cons: Emotionally unsatisfying

I must admit that as I write this review, I’m still a bit conflicted about whether I like Dogville or not. Is it a brilliant experimental work that the movie-viewing public just isn’t ready for? Or is it a pretentious, long-winded, and ...

Pros: Nicole Kidman as usual.
Cons: Lack of a real movie set!

I do not like live plays; there is something about the fake scenery, and the slow plodding way in which a story unfolds that turns me off. Perhaps I am a product of my over-stimulated culture in that I need action, some action, or scenic vista to hold ...

Pros: Almost everything...
Cons: Trier's a nut. Just read about him, and you'll agree.

I think Lars von Trier is mentally ill. I think the message he gives us in this film doesn't work in the least bit, and that he really needs to set foot in America before he can make a true judgment about it. The images at the end of the film display ...

Pros: Acting, script, stage set-up, ending, fresh approach
Cons: Stage set-up, lacks doors in the props dept.

Dogville is played in a single studio with a simple theatre like set up. At first glance one could be forgiven that this is just a play acted by an amateur theatre troupe. Therefore instead of gooseberry bushes there’s a chalk outline of a few ...

Pros: Brave, excellent and captivating story; phenomenal cast; Lars Von Trier at apex of filmmaking powers
Cons: Masterpiece Theater inflections may throw off some; jaundiced view of American heartland

DOGVILLE opens with an overhead shot revealing a soundstage, bare except for a few select props. White paint outlines a modicum of homes and businesses along a single main street, the names of each home's owner scrawled upon the floor. As the camera ...

Pros: Unique. Thought provoking.
Cons: --

A friend once told me not to watch Dogville. She proceeded to tell me something that happens in the last third (the third hour) of the movie that made her hate it. Now, after watching the film, it is clear to me that she is not a very perceptive ...

Pros: Amazing acting by Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany and entire ensemble cast.
Cons: Sparse scenery, seems slow going to start

This is one of those movies to which the phrase 'if you can get beyond the obvious drawbacks, you will be richly rewarded' is really appropoe. It is directed by Lars von Trier, who also directed 'Dancer In The Dark', another movie which defies ...

Pros: Kidman, Bettany and supporting cast. Trier's amazing direction and phenomenal screenplay.
Cons: There are no trains, flights, or buses to DOGVILLE. Just get there anyway you can.

I had wanted to see DOGVILLE when it was mentioned that Nicole Kidman starred in this movie from the same director of BREAKING THE WAVES and DANCER IN THE DARK. Plus with all the advanced hype on it, I was a definite ticket buyer ready to see this ...

Pros: Creative story telling, excellent performances
Cons: Too long, redundant

I recently caught Dogville in its premier at the New York Film Festival. While not generally a fan of Lars von Trier's work, this is a thought provoking, creative piece, that while not necessarily enjoyable is certain to be a rewarding film going experie ...

Pros: Yuck. I'd rather visit the gynocologist.
Cons: I could write a book on what I hated about this movie.

I love to go to live theatre, and I enjoy movies. But, a movie pretending to be theatre and very minimalistic theatre at that is just boring as heck.

This entire movie is shot on a stage with props and pretend action with poor lighting. They break “Dogville” up with a prologue and with chapters (gag me) like a book on stage and stretch it all to 3 hours. A rather pompous sounding narrator adds his two and three cents every whipstitch, since it’s impossible to follow this dreary and boring story by watching the (lack of) footage.

If you perform on stage, you deal with the restraints. When you film, you build on the strengths of the medium. Not so in this case.

I can’t imagine why Nicole Kidman took this project. Though she did a good job acting, she had nothing (and I do mean nothing) to work with.

Skip Dogville, unless you’re into pain. It’s a dog to watch.

Pros: I had no idea Nicole Kidmin could act. Best role for her ever.
Cons: Trying to get past the first 15 minutes, then your hooked.

A Beautiful young women runs away to a small town, to get away from shady people. While in Dogville people come looking for her. Town has to decide whether to protect Kidman or give into to these very powerful people. The most amazing part of the movie is what Kidman indures to keep the town people content in there own lives.

Kidman was beside here self in this movie. She has become my favorite female actor because of her performance. I can't wait to see her next derverse role.