Preview: Melancholia (2011)

Synopsis:

Two stories of marriage and marital turmoil set against the approach of a bright and mysterious star in the night sky.

• Poster: B; C

Review:

Taking one of the more interesting images from the trailer and putting it on the poster is a good design choice even if most people won't be able to understand the metaphor depicted.

This poster lacks the imagination of the first poster and the crackling finger tips just doesn't feel appropriate for the film and its admittedly bizarre subject matter.

• Trailer: B

Review:

The trailer oozes art, which isn't necessarily a good thing if you want to appeal to a mass audience. But I doubt that's the intention considering how little business Lars von Trier does at the U.S. box office. Matter of fact, I might almost suggest keeping the random people from attending and appealing to the intelligentsia may be the best option for a film like this. It looks fascinating either way.

Oscar Prospects:

There's been talk of Kirsten Dunst repeating her Cannes win for Best Actress with an Oscar nomination, but the film's bizarre look and feel will probably keep most voters from watching it and while the Cannes judges specifically looked past von Trier's poor taste anti-Semitism joke, the Academy's members aren't so easily forgiving. What helps von Trier is that hasn't stopped them from honoring Roman Polanski...

Release Date:

• November 11, 2011

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (October 2, 2011) Original

-Wesley Lovell (November 6, 2011) New Poster