Muzman on 19/12/2011 at 21:11

---

I've not seen it, but one of the more interesting dimensions I've heard talked about is that the central character (Dunst) is a depressive and the story is the depressive experience expressed literally (in a Von Trier kinda way, apparently outdoing himself yet again in operatic over-the-top-nes): that you/they are bringing everyone else down, sucking away people's thin grasp on optimism, ruining everyone else's lives by not enjoying the things you're supposed to, to the point where they start taking it personally and even (if they are inclined to see the world like this) blaming, directly or otherwise the depressive person for causing terrible things to happen.
(this seems to cut in several directions in the film: depressives often think the world revolves around them in a negative way, then other self important people around them can reinforce that. Setting the thing at a wedding, the supposed happiest day of someone's life, but is actually a tense ritualistic social occasion about anything but the individual whose day it supposedly is (which is also why Von Trier has dealt with weddings a few times, but anyway...))

I don't know how it all really works in the film of course. But someone pointed out this theme somewhere, and based on what I've seen of it and read about it, it seems kind of genius. It's not something sane people are likely to grasp that easily though.

Rug Burn Junky on 19/12/2011 at 23:55

---

What about John and George?

Harvester on 21/12/2011 at 23:19

---

Just saw Bridesmaids. As far as raunchy comedies go, I found it way funnier than The Hangover 2 and it even makes a somewhat successful attempt at emotional resonance. Now only to watch Horrible Bosses to see how that one compares. Oh yeah there was also Bad Teacher, which I also liked, but I liked Bridesmaids more.

Scots Taffer on 27/12/2011 at 00:09

---

The loose connective tissue that holds together the jaw-dropping and ridiculous set-pieces in MI4 seems less thought out than any of the others - at one point they ask Hunt, "Where to now?" and he replies "India" with the trademark grin, they collectively shrug then hop on a jet - but the effort has been put in where it matters the most. The Burj Khalifa sequence is perhaps the only scene I've ever watched where my palms were as sticky as the protagonist's. I wish I'd seen it on the IMAX for that part alone.

Scots Taffer on 28/12/2011 at 01:53

---

Martha Marcy May Marlene is fucking brilliant. Finally, an Olsen sister worth talking about.