MELANCHOLIA
R
130 minutes
Director: Lars von Trier
Writer: Lars von Trier
Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland

A big rock is on a collision course with earth.
What should we call this movie?
ARMAGEDDON? No, that is already taken.

ARMAGEDDON, the 1998 disaster film. What do I mean by disaster? The asteroid or the film itself. Like the term 'Patty Wagon': is the term derived from the Irish criminals, or the Irish cops?

The best and worst day of her life.
Justine (Dunst) and Michael (Skarsgård) are getting married on a giant estate, with an 18 hole golf course. Well into the wedding reception, the two have sex in a sand trap on a golf course (now that's what I call a hole in one).

Shortly after the soirée, Michael leaves Justine, forever.

Melancholia is similar to 2001: A SPACE ODDESY, except there is more dialogue. I would call this an avant-garde, concept film; one that is a bit self-indulgent at times.

Much effort was spent on this film, this is obvious in every frame. Vibrant colors, rich symbolism, and soundtrack that is nothing short of sublime.

Some of you may think this movie is too slow. Why isn't Jack Bauer doing anything? So I'll say this:71 minutes in, Kirsten Dunst gets naked, but in the context of this film, it's not very erotic.

Currently playing in limited areas, which means you might have to rent this. Ideally, this film should be seen in a theater. Either way, I do know one thing: this movie will rock your world.

Final Verdict 86 out of 100

Midnight in Paris, the opening film at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival was warmly received. That is expected, Cannes is in France, after all. But underneath this love letter to Paris, is an excellent film. Gil (Wilson) and Inez (McAdams) travel to Paris. They are engaged, but they do not seem very close or compatible, and this gets more obvious as the film progresses. Additionally, his in-laws do not seem to like him all that much. By chance, they run into Paul (Sheen) and his wife, Carol (Arianda), old friends of Inez. Paul is a pretentious blowhard, on a speaking tour. At one time, he worked in Hollywood, movie scripts, a high paying gig, that he did not much care for. While in Paris, Gil is working on his novel about a ‘nostalgia store’ owner. At this point, even as a member of the audience, you find yourself painfully bored with Gil’s present life. Around midnight, Gil goes out on a walk; an old car approaches him. A car filled a lively, rambunctious group of folks, on their way to a party. They ask him come along and reluctantly accepts the invitation. Arriving at the get-together, he notices something strange. Everyone dressed in old clothes, Cole Porter is playing the piano. He is surrounded by people who resemble his literary heroes, but these people cannot be real. Oh, but they are. Gil figures this out, and he is not really freaked out. He takes advantage of this opportunity. Coming back to visit, several nights in a row.