Melancholia

  This is my first look into the mind of Lars von Trier, and it did not disappoint.  Melancholia is the story of two sisters, both of whom suffer from mental illness, who are dealing with the realization that a recently discovered planet is going to collide with Earth in the near future.  There have been a lot of films about the end of days, but I guarantee you will not see any other quite like this.  Von Trier is a visual master who brings such a unique vision to this film, especially in the first eight minutes, which basically tells you what the plot of the movie will be.  Images of yarn, horses, whittlling, golf courses, lightning and dying birds drench the screen in colorful, animation-like style.  The film is broken up into two parts, one that focuses on Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and the other that centers on Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg).  I enjoyed Claire's part a million times more, since it dealt more with the impending planetary collision and less on the depression of the sisters.  Kiefer Sutherland, John Hurt and Stellan Skarsgard chip in to add incredible depth to the cast. 
  This film is not for fans of mainstream narrative and vanilla style.  It takes patience and assiduity ($20 word).  Von Trier pushes the envelope in many ways, and I know of at least one person who called Melancholia something like "dreadfully awful."  I loved it.   
  Next up for me is Antichrist, von Trier's previous film that turned heads three years ago.  Willem Dafoe and Gainsbourg play a couple who move to their cabin in the woods to mourn the death of their son.  I've heard a ton about this movie and am ready to see just how unbelievable it is.