tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post5780322695865512752..comments2024-03-28T06:14:54.076-04:00Comments on And So It Begins...: Nymphomaniac: Vol. IAlex Withrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-43228524998192125592014-03-31T21:06:20.161-04:002014-03-31T21:06:20.161-04:00Yep, that's part of the fun of LvT... experien...Yep, that's part of the fun of LvT... experiencing what kind of crazy shit he's come up. I don't love all of his films, but I always appreciate them. I thought Nymphomaniac was definitely a worthy experiment. Bold, certainly.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-43645972802873429732014-03-30T07:44:07.078-04:002014-03-30T07:44:07.078-04:00"I found Nymphomaniac: Vol. I to be a bold, m..."I found Nymphomaniac: Vol. I to be a bold, mostly worthy experiment. It isn’t as accomplished as some of his other features (it lacks the emotional depth of Breaking the Waves and Dancer in the Dark, the fury of Antichrist, and the complex beauty of Melancholia)."<br /><br />I couldn't have used better words to describe it. I feel the same about the three previous von Trier's films you've mentioned. This one was entertaining but I didn't have the emotional impact other von Trier's films had on me, like those mentioned and Dancer in the Dark. And I was talking about von Trier with a friend the other day, as she asked me what I thought about Nymphomaniac and I exactly told her that it was "another bold and unique" experience. I think bold is like the perfect way to describe what he does. I feel the same as you do, I'm always interested to see what he's come up with this time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-72452824494860875172014-03-20T12:52:21.971-04:002014-03-20T12:52:21.971-04:00It’s all a matter of scale. Thousands of people do...It’s all a matter of scale. Thousands of people downloading The Amazing Spider-Man 2 isn’t going to financially hurt Marc Webb. Thousands of people downloading Fruitvale Station <i>is</i> going to financially hurt Ryan Coogler and his producers. There’s a line somewhere in that margin that has (some) people either encouraging sales or promoting downloads. I’m not an authority on setting that line. I’m just a guy who prefers to stay on one side of it. Sorry if that seems “silly” to you.<br /><br />(For the record, I've downloaded films before. Mostly when I was younger. Today, it’s simply not something that interests me. Also, I have never once publicly discussed my “hard line” stance on this topic. Nor do I have plans to beyond this comment thread. This Anonymous fellow brought it up, so I felt it warranted a response.)Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-75311513327079011642014-03-20T12:30:31.223-04:002014-03-20T12:30:31.223-04:00This topic has been beaten to death, but I'll ...This topic has been beaten to death, but I'll go ahead anyway. It's a fallacy to think that because people download a movie that that decreases the revenue the makers gain (at least to the degree the way you are using numbers would suggest). If I were to have to pay to see each and every movie I watched, I would quickly go broke. I do pay for some of the movies I see, but the truth is, if I had to pay for everything, the makers would not get any more money from me, I just wouldn't be able to watch as many films.<br /><br />Now you obviously intend to watch and pay for Nymphomaniac, which I encourage. But your hard line stance against downloading seems silly to me.Jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02178989467720714215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-47134330213685806142014-03-14T13:38:50.683-04:002014-03-14T13:38:50.683-04:00That's awesome man, glad to hear someone else ...That's awesome man, glad to hear someone else praising it. I enjoyed my time with it as well, but was surprised it didn't "go further," which is something it sounds like he accomplished with Vol. II.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-26942100982814846432014-03-14T11:22:18.468-04:002014-03-14T11:22:18.468-04:00I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I was h...I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I was hooked from the beginning. On the strength of Vol. 1 alone, I'd probably put this just behind Breaking the Waves and Dancer in the Dark. Can't wait for Vol. 2!Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-65330908020163533452014-03-14T10:30:29.389-04:002014-03-14T10:30:29.389-04:00Ahh very interesting. So it's not like you hat...Ahh very interesting. So it's not like you hate LvT, you just didn't enjoy this one at all. I guess that's what I was getting at with the intro to my review... you just NEVER know what the hell this guy is going to do. I enjoy that fear, even if I don't always enjoy the results. But yes, I'm very much looking forward to talking about this and MANY more films in person!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-85562090508943046162014-03-13T19:21:49.553-04:002014-03-13T19:21:49.553-04:00This is the first film from him I actively dislike...This is the first film from him I actively dislike. I really liked Dancer in the Dark, and appreciate Dogville and Antichrist. Especially Antichrist. Not the biggest fan of Melancholia I admit, but there are some extraordinary elements in that film. Dunst is sublime, for one. Yeah, my dislike for LVT is somewhat unique to this film. Andy Bucklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15655573933693289124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-58329274535339512552014-03-13T17:44:05.955-04:002014-03-13T17:44:05.955-04:00Like I've said, I'm not even going to begi...Like I've said, I'm not even going to begin to argue with people over the validity or worth of this movie. The very existence of a LvT film dictates polarization. I fully understand why you didn't like this film, but I can also understand why other people <i>do</i>. And I also agree that, no matter what the movie is, people will always talk about a Lars von Trier film simply because it's a Lars von Trier film.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-767790549695375402014-03-13T17:15:34.566-04:002014-03-13T17:15:34.566-04:00Puagh, I can't say I think the same at all. I ...Puagh, I can't say I think the same at all. I found the movie sensless and unjustified. All of Seligman's methafors are absolutely stupid and have no real grounds, it's like LVT wrote the film in a weekend. <br />Gainsbourg is not even inspired, and the rest of the cast's work also forgettable. (Except for Thurman and Martin, I loved their scenes.)<br />I actually liked The Idiots and Dancer in the Dark, and I LOVED Melancholia, (I've still yet to watch Antichrist), so I really went to watch this one very open-minded. But I just couldn't click with the movie's intentions. I really think it's a disappointment and people are just talking about it because it's LVT and famous actors are on it.<br />I've already watched Volume II and it's actually more of the same. Or worse. I don't know. I only liked the ending, the rest of it was also sensless. Oh, how I hate those metaphors!Eloi Bigashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00866919781841843332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-29067015346822322572014-03-13T16:23:06.313-04:002014-03-13T16:23:06.313-04:00Ahh same here. Maybe we'll get lucky and Crite...Ahh same here. Maybe we'll get lucky and Criterion will pick it up.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-71532934217813249262014-03-13T16:19:24.308-04:002014-03-13T16:19:24.308-04:00The uncut director's cut was released at Berli...The uncut director's cut was released at Berlin Film Festival, so hopefully it will eventually find its way to dvd. I hope they don't cop out, and only release abridged version on disc.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-59825552747197690952014-03-13T16:10:45.336-04:002014-03-13T16:10:45.336-04:00I think I added that line in my review because I&#...I think I added that line in my review because I've been seeing a lot of "WHAT'S THE POINT OF THIS MOVIE?!?!" hate speech. Which is really kind of a lazy question. But anyway, I do buy that Lars made this film to live out his own sexual fantasies. In fact, I think you're absolutely spot on there.<br /><br />I would love to see the director's cut of this flick. Wonder if we'll ever have a chance?Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-16086780389025308872014-03-13T16:06:54.841-04:002014-03-13T16:06:54.841-04:00It's funny, I actually saw you bashing this on...It's funny, I actually saw you bashing this on Facebook literally five minutes before I was going to start watching the film. Knowing how much you and I agree on flicks, I was like, "Oh Christ, what am I getting myself into?"<br /><br />But really, when it comes to LvT, I think our normal tastes go right out the window. Which means I totally get why we don't agree on this one. My biggest fault with it were those coincidences you're talking about. It almost felt like Trier couldn't think of another way to move the story along, so he came up with something cheap and obvious and tried to save face by having Joe explain that coincidences do happen and blah blah blah.<br /><br />From what I'm hearing about Vol. II, it doesn't sound very interesting. But then again, Antichrist has a lot of those qualities you just mentioned, and I really appreciate that film. Who the hell knows, you know? I fully understand your hate for Nymphomaniac, and wouldn't dare try to argue why you <i>should</i> like it. When it's LvT, all bets are off.<br /><br />(I am curious though... are you a fan of his other films?)Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-84306662375524863272014-03-13T15:42:27.301-04:002014-03-13T15:42:27.301-04:00Hmm. I really didn't like this film. At all. I...Hmm. I really didn't like this film. At all. I saw Part I and Part II back-to-back and I am intrigued by what you think of Part II. Usually when you watch a film by LVT, no matter what you think about the subject matter you can still admire the filmmaking at work. Here his approach to this story was angering. <br /><br />I knew I wasn't on board with it in Part I, but at least it has a sense of humour at times, and was a fascinating study of a young woman discovering her addiction. Part II is just brutal. Really ugly stuff. Lots of self abuse, seeking out violence for pleasure etc. I found the sex pretty confronting (way beyond Blue, and even Stranger by the Lake) - and interesting that LVT used porn stars and then digitally added in the actors.<br /><br />I am rambling. Didnt dig the flick - I called bullshit on it pretty early. I didn't believe that people could behave in such a way, nor that these two opposing people would find themselves in the same room and have these discussions. I was like Seligman when he pulled up Joe and said 'no no no, I don't believe the coincidences in this story'. Maybe I am just sheltered haha. We will have to discuss more in person :-) Andy Bucklehttp://thefilmemporium.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-74529897352437233042014-03-13T15:02:34.043-04:002014-03-13T15:02:34.043-04:00You question what purpose (if any) Nymphomaniac se...You question what purpose (if any) Nymphomaniac serves, and I'm not sure either. Maybe Lars von Trier is just opening for a discussion about addiction, as scenes present both sides of the argument. For example on the one hand feeling sorry for the helpless addict, and on the other hand showing reckless behaviour that causes suffering to others.<br />Also, probably Lars von Trier made the film for kicks, wanting to live out all his sexual fantasies or nightmares on camera :)<br />There's so much to digest in one sitting, so I think it will take a rewatch to really get to grips with what it's all about. When I say rewatch, I mean I want to see the director's cut. (I saw the abridged version earlier this year)Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-51722549740727806332014-03-13T11:05:23.733-04:002014-03-13T11:05:23.733-04:00I think there are certain aspects of this film tha...I think there are certain aspects of this film that people who appreciate film will, you know... appreciate. He does a lot of amusing things with text, for example, that is unlike any other style of filmmaking I've seen.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-48610927196705785482014-03-13T11:04:22.658-04:002014-03-13T11:04:22.658-04:00Honestly, that's not a bad approach at all. Th...Honestly, that's not a bad approach at all. The waiting is kind of a bummer, for sure. I really hope you like this one, but something tells me you will.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-42783723941231234582014-03-12T20:25:44.506-04:002014-03-12T20:25:44.506-04:00hmmm seems like this one will be polarizing. i'...hmmm seems like this one will be polarizing. i'm not much of a von triers fan, tho i appreciate his approach to film. definitely gonna watchCandice Frederickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16195801629178470295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-81760830633981792362014-03-12T18:29:07.607-04:002014-03-12T18:29:07.607-04:00I'm definitely going to see this but... I will...I'm definitely going to see this but... I will rather see both films in one entire viewing no matter which cut of the film it is. Besides, I want to see both parts back-to-back and then give out a formal opinion. I did that with <i>Che</i> in early 2009 when I went to the roadshow screening, I will do the same with <i>Nymphomaniac</i>. After all, I'm kind of a film purist and a hardcore von Trier fan. He's Mein Fuhrer.thevoid99https://www.blogger.com/profile/03055459287396592446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-33267394140239337502014-03-12T14:34:01.736-04:002014-03-12T14:34:01.736-04:00When that music started in the beginning, I said, ...When that music started in the beginning, I said, "Oh boy... here we go." I actually thought LaBeouf was pretty good in this film. I've always liked him as an actor, but he's never been nearly as great as I suspect he THINKS he is, you know?Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-1862792527545398582014-03-12T13:48:31.631-04:002014-03-12T13:48:31.631-04:00I started laughing so much. Oh and about Von Trier...I started laughing so much. Oh and about Von Trier finding Martin, the thing that amazes me the most is how he managed to make LaBeouf semi-attractive, even with that accent, in this film. What a mindfuck that was :/ :/Nikhathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-24431892051769548702014-03-12T13:43:08.133-04:002014-03-12T13:43:08.133-04:00Ha, no kidding. And how bout that music? Fucking h...Ha, no kidding. And how bout that music? Fucking hilarious.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-22219559944267081182014-03-12T13:42:25.145-04:002014-03-12T13:42:25.145-04:00Oh the point where he ended the first one- now THA...Oh the point where he ended the first one- now THAT'S a cliffhanger! Amazing.Nikhathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-7973278989009965572014-03-12T13:37:36.662-04:002014-03-12T13:37:36.662-04:00I loved that you liked this one so much. Von Trier...I loved that you liked this one so much. Von Trier's chapter names are always incredible; it's so cool that he has the balls to split his films up that way. Martin impressed the hell out of me in this film. Where the hell did LvT find her?Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.com