Melancholia (Lars von Trier, 2011)

[Nothing]

To me, Antichrist is the quintessential Red One film in terms of showcasing its capabilities if utilized optimally.

To me, The Social Network is the quintessential Red One film (as of this date), for highlighting just how ugly the old sensor really was - and how much work still needs to be done before the Red or any other digital camera can rival the qualities of celluloid. Nb. the best-looking footage in Antichrist was shot with the Phantom, not the Red.

[James Mills]

To me, The Social Network is the quintessential Red One film (as of this date), for highlighting just how ugly the old sensor really was - and how much work still needs to be done before the Red or any other digital camera can rival the qualities of celluloid. Nb. the best-looking footage in Antichrist was shot with the Phantom, not the Red.

Holy crap, I always thought Social Network was shot on 35mm! That just proves how right you are, it doesn't really get any better than that... I was adamant in claiming that I thought it was cinematographically the best shot film of the year, and the fact that that it was all done on the Red ONE (much less forgiving than 35mm) makes it that much more impressive.

And I also had no idea that the Phantom was even used on Antichrist, thanks.

[HistoryProf]

i was one of the more vehement detractors of Antichrist here, but this looks beautiful. I didn't think LVT was capable of getting me excited about a film after all the balls he's pulled away mid kick, but i'm actually looking forward to this.

if nothing else, he can put together one hell of a trailer.

[Max von Mayerling]

That's not to say that the film doesn't achieve any real resonance, because I think it does. It's like Black Swan, in the way they both achieve an emotional power through sheer, blind conviction, even if things do get pretty ridiculous.

This observation clicks with me. On some level I didn't really like either film very much ... but at the same time I was swept up by both of them. And I certainly laughed and I'm sure they wouldn't have been shocked that I was laughing. Attaching that stone to his leg in Antichrist was just so completely over the top. It was like beckett-style slapstick. Especially coming after that blow to the nuts.

Count me in as captivated by this trailer.

[mfunk9786]

As someone who loved Antichrist despite some revisionist observations, I can say that this trailer has me extremely excited. If Antichrist is a psychology lesson for/from the severely depressed and pessimistic, here's your crash course on religion. Von Trier seems to have gotten better at putting his emotions on screen, however horrific and sometimes surely embarassing.

[Tribe]

Indeed, that is a gorgeous trailer. Does anyone have any inkling of what the story is beyond the movie beginning with the end of the world? And why is this reminding me of Tarkovsky's The Sacrifice?

[domino harvey]

Bunch of stills

[mfunk9786]

So even if this film ends up being a total mess, it's still going to be the most gorgeously shot movie of the year. Nice. I love the final image, by the way - I can only imagine what von Trier is suggesting. "The Earth itself is about to end; bum yourself out, Small Soldiers girl."

[Zot!]

Is that FUCK tattoo on his knuckle for real or just a promotional tool.

Movie looks fantastic.

[Orphic Lycidas]

Magnolia Pictures has announced a November 4, 2011 U.S. release date for Lars von Trier's Melancholia, an end of the world drama starring Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, Alexander Skarsgaard, Stellan Skarsgard, Udo Kier, and John Hurt.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/24417" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[domino harvey]

Damn, that's soo far away. Cmon another country, put this out in the interim

[mfunk9786]

A major plus of Magnolia putting this out is the fact that there'll likely be a HDNet Movies sneak preview airing a month before it hits theaters. Even though I always fucking forget to check for them and miss out.

But it'll almost certainly be out on Blu-ray or DVD somewhere else around the world before its theatrical release here.

[eerik]

August release in Estonia.

[mfunk9786]

October release on the Earth's moon.

[ianungstad]

I would take any US release date for Melancholia with a grain of salt. Mark Cuban is in the midst of selling off Magnet/Magnolia and his Landmark Theaters chain. If a sale does occur; the new owners could tinker with the release date or dump the picture altogether. Will be interesting to see if anyone buys Magnolia. I'm sure they are running the company "business as usual" until they find out if Cuban has decided to sell or not. Will be interesting to see what happens. When Overture films got bought out by Relativity, they ended up just dumping the remaining release slate. This Must Be the Place had a distribution agreement with Overture but now is desperately looking for a deal at Cannes, likely at a fraction of the advance Overture had offered. Anything can happen....

[Alan Smithee]

I realize you're just saying 'anything can happen' but I believe Von Triers a fairly bankable name who uses movie stars and drums up lots of press. This movie won't get dumped.

[Zot!]

And this is probably as mainstream a film as he's ever attempted.

[Jeff]

I realize you're just saying 'anything can happen' but I believe Von Triers a fairly bankable name who uses movie stars and drums up lots of press. This movie won't get dumped.

That's true, but of course the same could be said about Terrence Malick and Tree of Life. When Apparation shuttered, it got bounced around and sat in limbo until another studio could pick it up and give it a release date. This isn't quite the same since Magnolia isn't closing for the time being, just looking for a buyer. I'd agree with Ian though, that any release plans that they announce should likely be taken as very tentative.

[bunuelian]

I'd think Kirsten Dunst would be far more of a draw than Von Trier's name in the US, assuming they can aim their marketing at the cineplexes with the sci-fi globe of doom, emo-wedding imagery and widespread Dunst cleavage.

[Nothing]

Has Lars lost his edge?

It would appear that Lars is asking the same question:

They showed me a mock-up of a poster and some stills and a trailer for "Melancholia", and I went, 'I don't know this film. ' 'But this is the one you made. ' 'I certainly hope not, ' I said. It consists of a lot of over-the-top clichés and an aesthetic that I would distance myself from under any other circumstances. I hope that under all of that, a film is hiding that I actually have some love for. It reminds me of those Luchino Visconti films I always enjoyed that were like whipped cream on top of whipped cream. I went overboard, blasting Richard Wagner. I made the film with a pure heart and I couldn't have done it better, and everyone did a good job. But when I see clips from it, I think, 'I'd be damned. That was unpleasant. ' I'm usually madly in love with everything I do. I 'm probably the most self-satisfied director you'll ever meet. But this film is perilously close to the aesthetic of American mainstream films. The only redeeming factor about it, you might say, is that the world ends.

\:D/

[mfunk9786]

Lars Von Trier is going to have to work really hard to be any more appealing to me as a filmmaker and a personality right now.

[zedz]

Oh that crazy Lars! (canned laughter)

[knives]

Well, this means the movie might actually be good.

[domino harvey]

Sounds like Von Trier is gunning for my usual "Oh Godard" response

[Alan Smithee]

Indeed. Whatever the outside response is to one of his films Von Trier will inevitably say the opposite. When people were calling for his head at Anti-Christ he said it was the best film he's ever made AND that he was the greatest filmmaker in the world. AC is not his best film even though it is very good. This is just a sign that people are going to like Melancholia. At the press conference Von Trier will hang his head, declare it a failure and burn his prize.