Before I begin, I would like to note that Lars Von Trier is one of my favorite writer/directors in the history of movies. Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, and Dogville are wonderful movies. Each one is unique in film style and the stories have a gripping downward spiral. Lars Von Trier knows how to make actors seem like people. The people in his films are not actors, but they are real people living real lives. He even made Bjork seem believable.
Now, Manderlay picks up the moment Dogville ends, with different people playing the same characters. It is also the same kind of studio set as Dogville. This time, however, Lars uses his space a little better. Bryce Dallas Howard, unfortunately, plays Grace in this film, and she seems to be reading her lines and "acting." It is difficult to remove the fact that she is the stand-in for Nicole Kidman who chose not to play this role again.
The story line is not as gripping as Von Trier's other films. I watched this movie, it held my interest, and it had some nice twists, so I gave it a *7*. But, Lars Von Trier disappointed me. I want to think about his movies afterward. I want to feel what the characters feel. I want to cry as Dancer in the Dark and Breaking the Waves warranted. Manderlay is just a good exercise in film...an exercise that has been done before.
Now, Manderlay picks up the moment Dogville ends, with different people playing the same characters. It is also the same kind of studio set as Dogville. This time, however, Lars uses his space a little better. Bryce Dallas Howard, unfortunately, plays Grace in this film, and she seems to be reading her lines and "acting." It is difficult to remove the fact that she is the stand-in for Nicole Kidman who chose not to play this role again.
The story line is not as gripping as Von Trier's other films. I watched this movie, it held my interest, and it had some nice twists, so I gave it a *7*. But, Lars Von Trier disappointed me. I want to think about his movies afterward. I want to feel what the characters feel. I want to cry as Dancer in the Dark and Breaking the Waves warranted. Manderlay is just a good exercise in film...an exercise that has been done before.