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Summary: This movie will change your life.
Review: Dancer in the Dark has got to be one of the most fascinating and life-changer movies of all time. Bjork plays Selma, the immigrant from Czechoslovakia. She's been working at a tool cleaning place and has been saving up all of her money, about 2,200, for her sons surgery, so he doesn't have the same vision problem she has ( she's about 3/4 blind, but doesn't tell most people.) A man comes over, and Selma exchanges secrets with the officer next door, David Morse, and tells him that she's blind. He pretends to leave and shuts the door, so since Selma is blind, she thinks he's gone, but she gets out the money out of her secret place with him watching. He steals the money, and Selma goes to his house the next day. He says it was his, considering Selma was so poor that they've been paying rent for her. They get in an argument, and The officer holds a gun up. THe officer grabs for the box of cash while Selma tries to grab the gun and shoots him in the leg. He's glad-he's tried to shoot himself before, but didn't have the courage. He asks her to shoot him more, until death. His wife walks up, and runs to get the police. Selma loves musicals, even though she can't really see them, and always has a great imagination about musicals, always dreaming and performing in her mind. After she killed the officer, she had a happy or sad (however you define it) musical image in her mind. The police bring her into court, and a trial will occur. They find her ____________. This movie will shock you; it's so powerful and controlling. There is nothing like it. Lars von Trier has done an absolutely amazing job directing this movie, and on the DVD edition, the commentary is just unbelievable. It's incredible how one plastic case with a CD in it can change your life. Forever. You will be thankful for what you have, and this movie teaches you so much and is so wonderful. Please, Please go rent/buy this movie. I'm not saying you WILL like it; it depends on who you are, but I don't think you need to be an adult to see it and understand, but there are a few parts which can be unbearable to children, but I'm under 15, and very mature for my age, not liking most of the teen movies and liking the sad yet brilliant movies more. So, no, this is DEFINITELY not a family movie, and let me warn you, if you don't like sad movies, you should still see this, just be prepared to cry, because it is SO emotional and sometimes it can be torture, yet beautiful torture.
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Summary: It's a New Ballgame!
Review: No matter how many films you've seen, you've never seen a movie like "Dancer in tne Dark". Cinema film production has a whole new set of rules. Director Lars von Trier casts an hypnotic spell with his hand-held PC Digital epic that seduces the eye and intoxicates the ear. Icelandic super rock star Bjork stars(in only her second film) as a Slavic emmigrant to the Northwestern U.S. in 1964, with her bespectacled son in tow. Both suffer poverty and failing eyesite. As Selma, the mother, Bjork weaves a soulful, heart-wrenching performance throughout this seminal musical-comedy tragedy. She sits in a darkened theater watching Warner Baxter and cast in 1932's classic "Forty-Second Street", and dreams of dancing in a musical herself. Her multicolored singing dream sequences are perhaps the highlight of this instant classic. I had to buy the soundtrack CD immediately. You will too. French actress Catherine Deneuve and acclaimed hoofer Joel Grey co-star. The Academy Awards voted "Crouching Something" best foreign film for 2000. Nobody spent millions promoting "Dancer in the Dark" in Hollywood. Not enough people took a chance on a risky new cinematic art form. The years to come will broadcast their folly. Want to sing along in joy? Want to cry real tears? Do you want an all-new DVD experience? Yes, you do.
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Summary: Breaking the Waves Part II
Review: Danish director Lars Von Trier, who gave us BREAKING THE WAVES, one of the most thought-provoking and controversial films of the 90s, tops himself with this stunningly original film, already one of the most discussed films of the new decade and winner of this year's Palme d'Or at Cannes.Icelandic rock performer Bjork (winner of the Best Female Performance award at Cannes) is Selma, a Czech mother working in Washington State in the 1960s, scraping together the funds necessary for an operation to stem the impending blindness of her son Gene, a degenerative disease to which she herself has already fallen victim. As her blindness progresses, Selma finds escape in the happy worlds of her deluded daydreams which are influenced by the highly-stylized Busby Berkeley musicals on which she was weaned. Unlike those films, however, this film is not a musical but rather a very grim, emotionally enervating film peppered with the several incongruous musical numbers which are Selma's reveries. The musical numbers work beautifully, however, as welcome relief to not just Selma but also to the viewer who is dragged by Von Trier through every brutal scene in Selma's increasingly pathetic life. (If you saw BREAKING THE WAVES, you'll know exactly what to expect.) The film is certainly not without its faults. Von Trier's insistence on shooting in digital video (and then transferring to film) results in a much less resolved and very unfilm-like image, especially when magnified on a huge cinema screen (this is not a problem at all on the DVD). Furthermore, his insistence on obeying the Dogma tenet of realism by overuse of shaky hand-held cameras is annoying at first, though the realism it introduces is appreciated by the end, especially when contrasted with Selma's musical fantasies which are shot almost completely with stationary cameras, and with much more color. Finally, the viewer is required to suspend disbelief through some huge plot holes along the way, especially near the end. Despite these flaws the film is an emotional powerhouse which will leave patient viewers rewarded, albeit emotionally drained. At its center is the extraordinary performance of Bjork, a newcomer whose voice and face are as expressive as any seasoned actor working today. She is also the contributor of the music in the film's amazing musical odysseys. An incredibly powerful film.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant
Review: This is my first Lars Von Trier film. At first, I was disoriented and the film took some getting used to. But Bjork's beautiful portrayal was completely entrancing and awe-inspiring, and the film had me hypnotized. Why Bjork wasn't nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards I'll never understand. This film also should have been nominated for Best Picture. I certainly think that it was the best one I'd seen all year. Emotionally devastating yet heartfelt and wonderful, Von Trier's film connects with the audience and leaves you to sit, stunned, marveling at the film you have just experienced. As Rolling Stone said, "You've never seen anything like 'Dancer in the Dark.'"
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Summary: Bjork in the doldrums...
Review: As a long-time fan of Bjork's music, I had eagerly awaited the release of this film here in D.C. I still can't believe how disappointed I was when I finally saw it. An interesting comparison can be made to 'The Blair Witch Project.' For one, both films have bitterly divided filmgoers into isolated camps. For those who complained bitterly about 'The Blair Witch Project' and its use of shaky, hand-held cameras, be prepared for more of the same here. I wasn't particularly bothered by TBWP's camera work but found Von Trier's virtually unwatchable. He never seems to focus on the action (or the actors) at hand, and seems to decide his shots on a whim. If you enjoy this chaotic, cinema verite style of filming then you'll enjoy this. But while I feel this worked in TBWP, (afterall, those were supposedly student filmmakers) I feel it makes for an unpleasant, distracting, filmgoing experience in a professionally made production. I had hoped for great things from Bjork's music, but was sorely letdown on that count as well. Her songs fail to lift the film into the surreal, blissfully happy realm Selma seems to retreat to when confronted with adversity, and never provides the much needed respite from her otherwise dull, depressing life. I found the songs jarring and unpleasant, and none of them had any discernible hooks. In addition, the decision to have the actors (other than Bjork, of course) sing during these musical numbers was a woeful miscalculation, as few seem to possess any real singing ability. The script is manipulative, nasty and brutish (but, unfortunately, not short). The excruciating courtroom scenes were so predictable and one-sided that it seemed that much of the film had been written more as an angry screed attacking the American criminal justice system and less as a compelling drama documenting a woman's mistreatment here in the U.S. Von Trier clearly lacks the grace and subtlety that could have lifted this film into a higher place. If you find pleasure in revelling for hours in one calamitous event after another befalling a heroine who continually makes foolish decisions, then by all means, you should see this film. If, however, you find this sort of boorish, amateurish filmmaking annoying and a waste of your time and money, treat this one like the plague. By the time the film ended, I was among, perhaps, seven filmgoers remaining from a high of forty to fifty at the start. And for good reason.
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Summary: Don't be afraid of brilliance!
Review: I was so excited to see in my mail box last night, my DVD of Dancer in the Dark had arrived! It was total magic. I finally get to see what everyone has been talking about . This movie is exhausting and coming home from a tired days work I was totally glued to the TV after being so enthralled by what this movie does to your senses. At first, this movie looks like a boring documentary (with the exception of the beautiful overture and the colorful tapestries you see at the beginning). But then this movie turns and turns and turns again, from one glorious scene to the other. The musical numbers are like nothing you have ever seen in a musical. Raw, deafening and most of all SURPRISING! I think in the Hollywood hey day, musicals simply became all too familiar and predictable. This movie annihilates all of that by slapping you with the most shocking dance and music sequences ever created. The story is uncomfortable and very real. I kept thinking of the "Blair Witch Project" with the camera-how it moves, adding a sense of realism and how the dance sequences are shooting from 100's of different angles. Bjork's music (or should I say Selma's music) is something of a revelation for our times since musicals are supposed to be innovative and unique (think about it-how long has it been since you've actually seen a musical that is innovative and unique?). What this movie capitalizes on is that Bjork holds all of those qualities and more. But what makes this movie really work is it's dark and ultimately harsh story, continuously threading musical numbers and showing this faux hopefullness that Selma very much wants to embrace but can't. She can't because of the abrasive world she lives in and the sad reality that keeps her from her hopes and dreams for her son. This is not the Sound of Music or Xanadu or Grease or West Side Story or Gigi or that gawdawful musical South Pacific. Although this movie has the essence of all of those movies it's different because the story isn't decorated with candy coated songs or a boring and frilly Hollywood story. This musical is the real deal and delivers something that makes a huge reinvention of a timeless idea that somehow in the 70's and 80's got seriously skewed. With that said, this DVD rocks my socks off! The sound of the musical numbers is sheer ear candy with my home theatre. I jumped out of my seat when the first song arrived with Selma in the factory. "I've Seen it All," is a masterpiece of songwriting and it should've gotten the Oscar but how can anyone compete with Dylan? "Scatterheart," is breathtaking and when you see the scene with Bjork and David Morse you'll understand what I mean. "The Next to the Last Song," will most certainly make you cry, it did me and I am a rugby player, go figure:) The extras are plentiful as with all of New Line DVD's, this has plenty of extras to play with and the documentaries are very thorough and most of all, INTERESTING! After all was said and done, I finally went to bed at around 2am having seen something that was completely worth every penny in buying. This film will remain a classic and although it didn't make millions of dollars in the theatre, it certainly has made a difference to those who continue to dream of the new great musical of the future. Peace!
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Summary: BEST MOVIE EVER
Review: My description isn't as long or deep as everybody else's, but here it is. This movie is so inspiring. It has wonderful music. If you want to see a good movie that's really worth seeing, then watch Dancer in the Dark. Watch it if you are ready to think you will die crying. It is soo sad, but the message(s) it's trying to get across are very well made clear. I think for somebody to not like it, they have to be crazy. I can understand not liking how it is depressing, but anybody would have to admit that it is a very very very good movie. Well produced, unbelievably well acted. Bjork is the best! Her music is so touching. When she sings "I've Seen it All" I could feel the whole movie audience lapse into sadness. People were crying from the very beginning of the movie. Watch it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Summary: I am as split as the critics
Review: I am just as undecided about this film as the critics are. While watching it, I often felt it was remedial and boring, yet there were moments when I was truly blown away. The soundtrack is wonderful, as is Bjork's performance, which is what everyone else is saying. But of equal brilliance is von Trier's vision, which you must give credit to even if you dislike how he went about actually directing it. The script is possibly the film's one true weak point. The exposition is great, and the ending is haunting, but when von Trier is leading us, swerving madly, from points A to B, is where most viewers decide to get off. A few rewrites and no doubt this film would have dethroned "Breaking the Waves" as von Trier's masterwork. The court scene is ridiculously outlandish, and the plot points that lead to the court scene border on laughable, but the emotions resounding throughout the film during those scenes are so powerful you feel guilty for criticizing them. I have yet to decide if this is a good thing. I'm giving the film 5 stars anyway because no matter how bad some aspects of a work can be, sometimes the brilliance behind it is so strong and pure it overpowers it in the end. This is a bleak, often dull tragedy for the digital age, punctuated by moments of beauty and power. Those being, in descending order: I've Seen It All musical number(undeniably the film's artistic peak) Selma's "crucifiction"/Next to Last Song Selma and Kathy's scenes in the theatre The murder scene Cvalda musical number Overture(not really part of the film, but powerful all the same) If you're a fan of dramas in the traditional sense, you're going to hate this. But if you are ready and willing to try something new, or already a fan of Dogme 95 style films, don't miss DANCER IN THE DARK.
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Summary: Simple, yet a masterpiece.
Review: I have always thought that what makes von Trier so amazing to watch is the fact that he strips his art (and yes, his movies are art) of all pretense and complexity, but is able to convey a very valuable and pertanent message. Dancer in the Dark is the perfect picture to represent this. The main character, Selma, expemplifies goodness to the extreme. What a consciencious person should be. What a protective mother should be. What a good neighbor should be. However, Bjork brings this angelic character into our reality so convincingly that Dancer becomes a heart-breaking and uplifting (you must listen to the lyrics of the last song playing through the credits to understand why) fable about integrity vs. petiness. The music plays such an important role in the movie that I would also suggest purchasing Selmasongs, the soundtrack. It will allow you to understand this amazing character on another level.
Rating: 
Summary: Superb acting, wonderful soundtrack, horrible film
Review: As many reviews before mine stated, Bjork is a wonderful, touching, inspired actress, Deneuve is a superb supporting actress (and still one of the most beautiful women in the world!), the rest of the cast, fantastic. I feel compelled to write this review because I'm warning all who have not seen it, DO NOT see this movie unless you feel like crying your eyes out and enjoy that stomach turning haunted feeling. I felt emotionally robbed and completely empty at the end. I had to sit in the dark of my living room wondering what compelled this director to make such a brutal movie. Half way through, my boyfriend had to get up and leave cause he couldn't handle it anymore. I had horrible dreams when I was finally able to get some sleep! Yes, I know not all movies have a sappy sweet ending or a point in which everything turns around for the protagonist but this was just beyond belief. I feel so bad for Bjork, I wonder if she knew what she was getting into when she accepted this role? It must have been the toughest roll to play, I know I'd need therapy if it was me playing the part of Selma! The only other film I might be able to compare this to is "Boys Don't Cry," which I thought was great seeing as how it was based on a true story. But it left me feeling the same as "Dancer in the Dark," empty and full of grief. On and up note, I'll say it again, Bjork is a great actress and I really hope to see her in more films. As for von Trier, I'm steering clear of anything else he's done.
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