Alexander Skarsgård Fans

Travis Keune reviewed Lars von Triers’ film “Melancholia” which was featured at Fantastic Fest. Alexander Skarsgard has the role of Michael in the film.

Here is an excerpt of his review: [box] Writer and director Lars von Trier has shared his own personal experience with depression with the public, so its not surprising that his newest film, MELANCHOLIA, is such a strong representation of what that experience could be like. The auteur filmmaker revealed in an interview accompanying the screening of the film that MELANCHOLIA is not a story of his own account with the condition, but rather that his experience clearly helped him in telling an honest, accurate story two sisters, dealing with two distinctly different types of depression.

One thing MELANCHOLIA certainly succeeds at is dividing its audience, but Lars von Trier has a history of making films that do just this. Generally speaking, his films are either hailed as visionary masterpieces or criticized as pretentious, boring and self-indulgent. My experience lies very much in the center for virtually each of his films, and this one is no exception. I found myself compelled by the intensely accurate portrayal of a character living with depression, and the extraordinary cast as a whole, but also felt the film runs a bit long, which will lessen the impact the film can have on many viewers.

Structurally, MELANCHOLIA is split into two parts, each chapter titled with character’s name whose point-of-view drives that chapter.

Part One – Justine (Kirsten Dunst) is an attractive, successful advertising copywriter who is about to get married to Michael (Alexander Skarsgard), the man of most womens’ dreams, but despite her best efforts, her crippling fight with depression overwhelms her. Partially triggered by he mean-spirited mother Gaby (Charlotte Rampling), her emotionally unavailable and playfully immature father Dexter (John Hurt) and her asshole boss Jack (Stellan Skarsgard), Justine has a sever breakdown that leads to a soul-shattering lever of personal disaster that would send anyone into a deep abyss of self-loathing. The difference, however, is that Justine’s depression is clinical and beyond her control, an experience so many people suffer daily. Much like those in real life, Justine’s family is less that supportive, even down right dismissive, except for her sister Claire.

For the full review please visit We Are Movie Geeks link here:

queen-haq:

Just got home from Melancholia.  It wasn’t enjoyable but it was definitely provoking.  I liked the first half better than the the last and not just because Skarsgard was in the former. 

My heart broke for Michael (Skarsgard) and Justine (Dunst) because he loves her so much but she’s mentally ill and broken and there really is nothing he can do to fix her (which is what he desperately wants).  And she tries to make him happy at first as well, and you definitely get the feeling the wedding is more for him than her, but you can see the toll it’s taking on her and, ultimately, she loses the struggle. 

My favourite character was definitely Kiefer Sutherland’s though.  The man does do sardonic humor oh so well.