DOGVILLE
Swedish director Lars von Trier takes us back to the Depression, but unlike "Seabiscuit, " there's no big race or even a dog!
3 stars (1st view) / 3-1/2 stars (2nd view)
[(2003)Denmark-Sweden-France-Norway-Netherlands-Finland-Germany-Italy-Japan-US-UK/2004 USA release] - (2 hrs.57 min.)
Directed, written and photographed by Lars von Trier
Lead Characters/Cast
Narrator - John Hurt
Grace - Nicole Kidman
Tom Edison - Paul Bettany
Vera - Patricia Clarkson
Jack McKay - Ben Gazzara
Chuck - Stellan Skarsgard
The Big Man - James Caan
Partial Review:
Last October, when I first saw "Dogville" at the New York Film Festival, I felt this film was easily the best comedy that director Lars von Trier ("Breaking the Waves") had ever made. Since that time I've seen von Trier's much funnier documentary "The Five Obstructions" and have also had the opportunity to see "Dogville" again recently, during this much more intensified political climate.
Lars von Trier is basically showing the world a side of America that we usually try to suppress, and instead replace with pictures of starving peoples in third world countries. Very rarely does CNN reflect on starvation in the USA thought it readily trains its cameras on Africa, South America, Bosnia, etc. etc.
In a way, it's not really a satire that von Trier has created, but merely a device that allows him, as the outsider, to hold a mirror up to America and say, there you are without the make-up, without the mask, the ugly America in all its glory.
So don't shy away, be proud to be an American while knowing in your heart the honest truth that the media refuses to show us about ourselves.
Supporting Characters/Cast
Bill Henson - Jeremy Davies
Mrs. Henson - Blair Brown
Gloria - Harriet Anderson
Ma Ginger - Lauren Bacall
The Man With the Big Hat - Jean-Marc Barr
Tom Edison Sr. - Philip Baker Hall
Martha - Siobhan Fallon Hogan
Ben - Zeljko Ivanek
The Man in the Coat - Udo Kier
Olivia - Cleo King
Jason - Miles Purinton
Mr. Henson - Bill Raymond
Liz Henson - Chloe Sevigny
June - Shauna Shim
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