Antichrist. In limited release right now. Definitely in contention for my top ten of the year list. A new “poster” has been released. If you’ve seen the movie, this poster makes a lot more sense.
.
Thanks to /film for the heads up.
47 Comments
Leave a comment
~ Featured ~
-
Feb 01, 2012
Review: Pink Ribbons, Inc.
Director: Léa Pool Screenplay: Léa Pool, Patricia Kearns, Nancy Guerin Producer: Ravida Din MPAA Rating:...
- Machete Kills (3)
- Sean Patrick Kelly: There’s already a poster for it – http://www.comingsoon.net/news /movienews.php?id=86851
- Kasper: Is Trejo really 68? I thought he was somewhere in his 50′s. He’s looked the same for the past 20 years or...
- Cinecast Episode 245 – White People Cure Racism Through Football (11)
- nephums: Campbell Scott also has a recurring role in the USA series Royal Pains and I really enjoyed him on damages
- rot: Beginners is better than the piece of shit that was Thumbsuckers, but it has got a heap of problems. The charm of Melanie...
- Goon: Matt Gamble: I waited for a long time to see Beginners because that trailer made me absolutely positive it would be pure...
- Kasper: You guys probably have listeners from various weird and far away places than you might think.
- Goon: Ha! Andrew – I just flat up gave Ryan The Game, so in a roundabout way you got it from me
- Sean Patrick Kelly: Quick comment about Campbell Scott: I haven’t seen him in many films, but he was the main antagonist...
- The Bourne Legacy: Our First Glimpse (7)
- Andrew James: It did indeed. The novel is far better. And much more ambiguous about Bourne’s identity. I suppose...
- Marina: I wasn’t sold on the idea of a new Bourne movie but man, that trailer rocks it. I’m definitely game.
- Kurt Halfyard: Not sure if this answers your question above, Andrew, but Doug Liman’s original BOURNE movie with Matt...
- Andrew James: I suppose it does. As in his “offspring” or the legacy he left behind. And since Bourne is actually...
- Ross Miller: GOOD POINT, Rick.
- Ross Miller: I think this looks great. I love the Bourne movies – even though 2 and 3 are better action flicks, I think I...
- The Amazing Spider-Man trailer debuts. (6)
- Kasper: Not digging this at all. I was hoping what with them rebooting Spider-Man once more, that they would give it some new...
- Rick Vance: Maybe in small bits, but the action and the humor both look much better done than any of the other three movies....
- Finite Focus: Blowing Up The Photographs (Blow-Up) (3)
- antho42: This is an amazing film. The best scene is the stoic, concert scene.
- Kurt Halfyard: The most accessible film of Antonioni’s filmography. I love this scene, btw.
- Jandy Stone: I’ve always liked Blow-up, but I’m not always entirely sure why. I definitely haven’t looked at...
- My Love for Film in a Snapshot #11 (3)
- Jandy Stone: I almost could’ve written this, Bob.
Movie laboratories are one of my favorite things ever. Metropolis,...
- Jandy Stone: I almost could’ve written this, Bob.
- Review: Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne (1945) (4)
- Jandy Stone: Bresson is only a sometimes thing with me – I love Pickpocket and A Man Escaped, but I really didn’t...
- It’s Halftime in America: Don’t Change Horses Mid-Stream (11)
- Kurt Halfyard: No Idea, but it captures so many vibe; in particular the posed ‘Wag The Dog’ tone that happened to...
- Andrew James: BTW, the picture in this post is hilarious. Intentional?
- Goon: When I saw the ad I just thought “I don’t think I like seeing Eastwood in a commercial” and “Hmm,...
- DVD Review: The Ozu Collection: The Student Comedies (3)
- David Brook: Well Ozu’s style was more Westernised in those days and that image is just a still from one of the films....
~ Recent Comments ~
that. is. amazing.
What’s the big deal?
If you’ve seen Antichrist and are at least aware of Wes Anderson’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox, you would get the joke.
Mildly amusing.
A great inside joke. Apparently, things went really crazy with the Chaos Reigns at Fantastic Fest this year, and I bet there are a lot of giggles going on as this poster does the rounds.
So, what’s the consensus on AntiChrist around here? I usually have a lot of insight into LVT but with this one I don’t really know what to think.
I will say it completely failed to shock me. I guess that’s the downside to every single human being on the planet telling me how shocked I’ll be months in advance. Fuck critics, seriously.
It’s very artfully composed though. I appreciated that. I feel like I need to see it again but I just don’t want to.
I’ve halfway convinced myself it’s actually the closing chapter to LVT’s America Trilogy.
The bullet point reaction to Antichrist (My full review is here: http://www.rowthree.com/2009/09/07/tiff-09-review-antichrist/ )
* Wonderfully shot and oozes atmosphere
* Borderline parody in its shrill hysterics (there is precedent for this approach, Cronenberg’s Videodrome)
* Full blown parody of art-house symbolism in its talking animals, particularly the Fox.
* Performances are fearless, but characters are props more than people, and being able to relate to them or understand them is darn near impossible.
* The shocks are there to poke people, not for any narrative or even atmosphere reasons. Seasoned moviegoers may wince but will hardly be ‘OMG!’ shocked at this film, but genuine surprise if you didn’t know better would certainly be the reaction to the films more lurid images.
In total, the movie is scary and atmospheric and cinematic and gross and fun as hell. Turns torture porn (Saw, Captivity) and art-house implacability (Picnic at Hanging Rock, Charisma, etc.) on its ear. You’ll get as much entertainment (and that is the films chief purpose in my eyes) as you are willing to let LVT do his thing.
@ In total, the movie is scary and atmospheric and cinematic and gross and fun as hell
I’m in complete agreement until you threw in “fun as hell” and then I’m lost. It’s kind of pedantic.
What do you think of AntiChrist as the final to the America Trilogy.
Dogville being about Christ’s coming to earth, crucifixion, resurrection followed by God’s wrath (revelation)
Manderlay being Christ’s reign on Earth following resurection. And at the end setting up a confrontation with the antichrist.
AntiChrist continues the confrontation as some kind of parallel to Eden. The nameless female character being the latest incarnation of Grace.
I don’t know about capping off the trilogy, but AC perfectly melds the art of cinema with the horrific that I seriously think this movie will be in my top 3 of the year. The camera work, editing and cinematography alone has standing no where near any of it’s peers in theaters this year.
It is truly something different and wonderful – and that is the kind of statement that gets me to back any film.
PS – I agree with everything in Kurt’s bullet point review above.
“fun as hell” in a sort of ironic hipster way. The experience itself is kind of punishing (and yea, a tad pedantic hither and yon) but if you step back for just a moment to grasp its ‘OMFG’ tone, it is kind of funny.
@ It is truly something different and wonderful – and that is the kind of statement that gets me to back any film.
I think this is Kurt’s bad influence on you.
Not at all. I’ll back nearly anything that is something different and interesting – if it’s done halfway decently.
And wow, I just think AC is beautiful film making. I don’t think it’s really all that scary. It’s just… interesting and hypnotic in a way. The performances rock, yes. But it’s the beauty of all the camera work and aural stuff going on that gets me. I can’t wait to see this again on the big screen when it hits Minneapolis next week.
Kurt, I’m afraid I just don’t know what you mean.
@Rusty, “Dogville being about Christ’s coming to earth, crucifixion, resurrection followed by God’s wrath (revelation)
Manderlay being Christ’s reign on Earth following resurection. And at the end setting up a confrontation with the antichrist.”
I think you are RRRREEEEAAAALLLLLLLYYYYY stretching it.
…I mean I can sort of buy the martyr/crucifiction and even resurrection Dogville (Where does the ‘revenge-wrath factor into that though? Confused). And I don’t get that read of Manderaly at all.
@ Rusty, “Kurt, I’m afraid I just don’t know what you mean.”
Chaos Reigns, Rusty, Chaos Reigns.
Really? Watch it again.
Honestly, I keep forgetting that the rest of the world has yet to catch up with me on this and realize that LVT’s America Trilogy is obviously a satirical take on Catholic Doctrine.
Consider:
Supposedly Dogville is about imigrants. But Grace is an extremely poor analogue for immigration. First of all she has blond hair and blue eyes. She is clearly of greater economic means than the towns people, and that factors in prominently to the story’s end.
Also, how can one person represent immigration. It doesn’t even make sense.
Now think about this. Grace keeps talking about her father, and what’s going to happen when he returns.
The titular dog of Dogville is named “Moses” and when Grace arrives he’s run away.
She arrives to help but is eventually treated with scorn and hate.
Lastly, “grace” is christ’s gift; salvation through grace.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_grace
When grace leaves the shed to join her father in the limo (resurrected from the grave and ascending to heaven to sit by God’s side) the argument they have is between Grace who wants to forgive the town, and her father who wants to inflict his wrath upon them. Her father wins out and the ensueing chaos is representative of Revelations.
In the bible revelations is followed by Christ’s thousand year reign over earth which brings us to Manderlay.
Grace arrives at Manderlay looking to show up her father. This time instead of a humble servant she arrives as king with a squad of goons (four cherubim and a flaming sword) to enforce her will.
She frees the slaves who don’t wish to be freed. Over throws the corrupt ruler and tears down Mam’s law (the characters are clearly saying Man’s Law.)
Her reign comes to a fiery end due to some shadowy figure on the periphery who I would assume is supposed to be either the Antichrist or Satan.
The film ends having set up some confrontation between Grace and her nemsis supposedly to be hashed out in a film called Wasinton.
Man, God, Sin: Some scholars believe that the cross represents man’s seperation from god by sin. So the cross image of the cross is woven into the titles through the series.
This is Catholocisms (well, all of christianity really) misanthropic message. That mankind is unworthy and sinful. That free will is our curse, that we must be ruled over by some divine dictator and his temporary representative the Church.
Grace is a character similar to Voltaire’s Candid. A bumbling do gooder who is constantly proven wrong by the story. She thinks she can save mankind, that they deserve “grace” but they keep screwing it up via their sinful nature. So her father has to step in and set things straight with the iron fist of wrath.
(god’s plan is great, it’s us human being who keep messing it up)
Good god, I’m supposed to be working.
@ Not at all. I’ll back nearly anything that is something different and interesting – if it’s done halfway decently.
I’m not saying it’s not a sincere opinion. But I do think it reflects Kurt’s influence.
He puts a lot of emphasis on novelty and a film’s academic subtext often times over story and artistry: Southland Tales, Happening, Pontypool.
It’s probably the thing I find myself most at odds over with Kurt. For instance all that subtextual stuff in regards to Dogville works for me because LVT is good story teller. He comes up with a dramatic situation and good characters and tells it in an interesting way. Same with BSG. I really appreciate the political subtext but I appreciate it because it plays second fiddle to the story and characters. Kurt’s made it clear he feels the opposite.
If you’ve ever gone to any kind of art school you quickly develop a lot of cynicism toward pure novelty. The world is full ambitious types with big ideas who can’t quite bring it all together, they’re a dime a dozen. I’ll take execution over lofty ideas.
I completely agree. I’ll take artistry, style and story over some message or “academic subtext” any day of the week. That’s what I think AC has going for it in spades. I’m not sure what exactly it’s trying to say and I don’t really care. It’s the visual style and tone/mood the film sets that works for me.
I’m like that with music too (always have been). Even though I know a song’s lyrics word for word and can sing it at the drop of a hat and know it like the back of my hand, I rarely stop to consider what it is I’m actually singing (with a few exceptions). I really only care about the beat, melody and instrumentation. Lyrics/poetry mean almost nothing to me.
Maybe not as black and white as you make it there Rusty, but more or less correct. There has to be some kind of half-way decent execution to the thing though.
@ Maybe not as black and white as you make it there Rusty, but more or less correct.
I don’t think I’m making it out to be black and white. I’m not saying you’re one dimensional. It’s just a general pattern I’ve observed.
It’s as much a statement about me as it is about you.
touché!
I don’t speak french.
“So, what’s the consensus on AntiChrist around here?”
“Honestly, I keep forgetting that the rest of the world has yet to catch up with me on this and realize that LVT’s America Trilogy is obviously a satirical take on Catholic Doctrine.”
So were you interested in talking about Antichrist, or just wanted another opportunity to spout off this theory for the millionth time? It’s getting a little old.
Antichrist for me was shocking and shaking (I saw it way back when, in december 08, without knowing anything but the director and the title, so no hypemachine, thank god), but fell well short of its obvious role model, Viskningar och rop.
@ So were you interested in talking about Antichrist, or just wanted another opportunity to spout off this theory for the millionth time? It’s getting a little old.
Well… I keep bringing it up but no one really acknowledges it either way. So I’m kind of forced to keep bringing it up.
Like when you say “I got new shoes” but no one responds. So you end up repeating yourself again and again until finally someone says: “yes, new shoes! We get it!”.
But if they just said “Oh yes, I see” in the first place then you wouldn’t have kept repeating yourself.
You see my dilemma.
It’s something I’d like to discuss but no one seems to have any opinion. So, Henrik what do you think about it?
And yeah, I’m interested in hearing what people have to say about AntiChrist. Though I don’t have much to say myself. Like I said, I don’t really know what to think.
I did think of both Cries & Whispers and Persona as well.
What did you find to be the main parallels.
And since you’re french could you please translate Kurt’s comment for me?
I can’t translate it, I have no idea what it means.
Well, Cries and Whispers (do you prefer the english title?) deals with tragedy, through a slow, stylized world where pain and grief hangs over the characters heads, and has disturbing scenes of self-mutilation. I wrote to mr. Trier after seing Antichrist, that I felt he had gotten the mood and the physicality of Cries and Whispers, now he only needed the depth. I find antichrist to be a shallow, gorgeus movie without any real human beings in it to make it truly relevant.
“Like when you say “I got new shoes” but no one responds. So you end up repeating yourself again and again until finally someone says: “yes, new shoes! We get it!”.”
Some people wouldn’t bring it up unless somebody asked.
yeah, but the point is that if you bring it up then you’re looking for some feedback. If no one says anything then you’re left wondering if anyone heard you.
obviously if you have rubbish shoes then you don’t bring it up.
As for the Von Trier thing. I have not seen Dogville and I gave up on Manderlay half way through. Not a fan of that style. So I can’t comment – that’s why I “ignored” you.
But if the people you are talking to are of the impression that your shoes are rubbish, even though you clearly do not think so, they might shut up out of sheer curtesy.
I think I should say at this point that I haven’t seen the movies you talk about, I saw the opening 20 minutes of Dogville and went to bed.
Are you guys serious that you don’t know what touché means or are you being facetious (i.e. playing dumb) again?
I don’t know the literal translation but I’ll bite.
touché = “you win” or “I give up.” “Good show.” “Good comeback.”
Usually one would say this when defeated in a duel of words.
@ touché = “you win” or “I give up.” “Good show.” “Good comeback.”
Usually one would say this when defeated in a duel of words.
I was being facetious. It means “touched”. So Kurt was saying he found my remarks touching.
fabulous poster.
Rusty’s got it. “Good Show” or “Hit!” is the usual (and yes, in this case my intended usage)
I thought you meant that you were touched emotionally. hmm.
I was playing along with Rustys facetious joke (a pretty horrible joke, but who am I to ruin the fun). I also am not french Andrew
.
How the hell does ‘Touché’ mean good show? It originated I believe, because in fencing whenever somebody got touched (which in fencing means you got owned and lost and you are now behind in score), the judge would say “Touché”. I sincerely doubt it would in any context mean “Good Show!”.
Well, you would be wrong Henrik, Touché is often said in fencing not by the judge, but by the other fencer, the one that was hit, as if to say, yea, you got me, which in an optimistic and pleasant camaraderie can be easily stretched into “Good Show!”
Touché!
So Kurt, any thoughts on my Dogville theory? Have I quelled your skepticism? Or am I just spinning my wheels like Mike Rot?
I am putting together an Amazon order for a few films, and Manderlay is on the list, so I’m due for a revisit of both that and Dogville. I’m sure the theory will be on my brain while I watch it again.
I still remain skeptical in the theory, but would agree that America and Religion are themes in most of LvT’s films from Breaking The Waves onward….
I just rewatched Manderlay a couple weeks ago… surprised how much of it I forgot since theatrical viewing. Somehow it uses the same basic punchline of the first film but does it even better. Both viewings made me laugh out loud at the whole William Dafoe seeing how Grace is doing bit.
I really hope he finishes this trilogy.
America is a pretty big theme in my favorite movie of his, Europa.
Sadly, that one (Europa) remains a blank spot in my LvT filmography, along with The Boss of it All
Funnily, those are probably my two favorites. I laughed my ass off at The Boss of it All when I saw it. It wasn’t quite as good on second watching, but I think that’s because we used it up quoting it all the time.