132 of 151 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
LONG BUT WORTH IT (AND IT'S NOT ANTI-AMERICAN!), April 3, 2004
Von Trier has never been to America and has been known to have said that he is afraid to visit the U.S. With this in mind, it seems a little audacious if not viciously self-indulgent to make a film about the ugliness of human nature set in an American village.
Critics have pounced on this feature of the movie, accusing von Trier of anti-Americanism. I feel such paranoid jibes completely miss the point: although Dogville is set in a fictional village in the Rockies during the Depression-era, it really could be any place, any time. It is anti-human-ugliness. The tagline reads "A quiet little town not far from here", and the sparse stage set reinforces that point. The viewer's imagination is meant to fill in the gaps, making Dogville their home town for nearly three hours.
The theme veers around Grace (Nicole Kidman) arrives, seeking shelter from pursuing gangsters, the natives are reluctant to help. With the assistance of a local 'philosopher' (played by Paul Bettany), she eventually persuades the inhabitants to relent, and they grant her a two week trial period. During the fortnight, she manages to win the villagers over by performing good deeds, but gradually they begin to take advantage of her kindness and the rot sets in.
This is an extremely long film, but it is definitely worth the effort. It is an allegory of staggering proportions, it deals with virtually every aspect of humanity and some of the most fundamental questions people can face, whilst maintaining a lightness of touch that makes the mental workout more than bearable. Did it have to be 3 hours? No. But nor did the Matrix or LOTR or the Titanic.
So empty the tank, order a pizza and coke, and settle down for 180 minutes of cinematic genius.
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Disturbing and Brilliant...Most Unique Film I Have Ever Seen, December 1, 2005
I've gone back and forth between thinking that this film is incredibly sick and incredibly brilliant. I still can't make up my mind, so all I can say is that is the most unique film I have ever seen: a very sick and amazing film, showing the darkness of the human heart when there are no rules to protect its victim. It starts out very slow, but gets good after 30 minutes (it is nearly 3 hours long). The violence of this film surpasses Pulp Fiction, but in a much more subtle way (if I was to say any more I would give the whole film away). The symbolism is worthy of analysis...a film student could write for days about what they see in this film...and afterwards, your mind will be racing and trying to make sense of it all. This is, in my opinion, the best work Nicole Kidman has ever done.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth the time spent, October 28, 2004
This is not a short movie, nor is it a glib movie. It's not easy to watch either. It is a well-acted, well-written, beautifully staged movie.
The fragility of Grace, the stupid condescension and arrogance of Tom and the thoughtless sheeplike behaviour of the townsfolk are so well portrayed that despite the minimal set, the viewer is pulled right into this mean old town.
This is not an anti-American movie. The fact that it has been called so says more about America than it does about the film. This movie is a global allegory for greed, fear and ignorance.
...and you gotta love the ending!!!
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