lars von trier - nymphomaniac

One of the best things about LvT is that he speculates, tries on arguments, takes them as far as they can go (and then some...) then revisits them in later films, tries on something opposite, or slightly askew. Of course, when he fails, when he builds a whole film around bullshit, worthless ideas, as in Manderlay, it all falls flat, flatter than almost anybody else falls flat. But taken as a whole, his filmograpy is all the more vital for it.

Besides the obvious "whoring bed" scene, I almost did a spit-take at the reprise of the Antichrist prologue. Despite his rep his movies are often very funny.

i always thought that part in the end of dogville when one the gangsters holds up a baby and the other one machine guns it was lars' idea of a funny visual gag.

Lars' idea of a funny visual gag is Udo Keir popping out of a vagina. With him on that.

yes! one of the most indelible images in a movie ever. also CHAOS REIGNS is supposed to be at least kind of funny, right

really liked part 1 of the director's cut (it's split on netflix the same way the theatrical release is). everyone describing that part as a comedy p much otm. can definitely see why those who dislike it feel that way.

gonna watch part 2 today. have read descriptions of the thing that everyone found unwatchable, and tbf, it sounds pretty fuckin intense. (not to mention a completely unrealistic depiction of the entirely safe reality of that procedure, but when did LVT care about strict reality when trying to make a point or provoke or both? briefly considered watching the cut version of part 2, but fuck it I'm committed now

The whole point of the unwatchable thing is how unsafe that procedure becomes when it isn't done legally and officially. It's pro that procedure.

right, I didn't think he was against it. just fired it up now, so I'll know soon enough what it's really like.

overall I like this more than dogville and dancer in the dark so far, quite a bit less than melancholia (an all time fave for me)

(on a side note, udo kier's facial expressions continue to be nothing less than hilarious)

finished it. understand why people would find certain bits offensive (and share in that feeling for a few of them), or why they'd find the whole thing maddening. but kind of extraordinary overall.

considering that not that many movies explore or critique nice-guy/dishonest misogyny a la what seligman does at the end, I appreciated this movie for going there and then having joe just say fuck it and clipping him

acting incredible by and large, especially gainsbourg and stacy martin but also uma, christian slater, jamie bell

shia labeouf's scenes were relatively painless at worst and well-handled at best, which for him is a start

Director's Cut >>>>

much harder to watch than the original but, for me, much more rewarding

yeah I'm glad that's the one I chose from the start. got the sense there was as much contextual stuff cut from the US release as there were extreme penetration closeups, violent scenes etc

Finally watched this (the director's cut). All through part 1 I was convinced that Joe was dead and we're watching a metaphorical judgement - her entire life passing before our eyes. I don't know if I could make the same argument after part 2, but killing an evil god/angel/whatever before running down the stairs into hell seems pretty on-brand for LvT.