The Dog Bares It's Teeth

I watched this movie night before last. While not quite as strange at Frau Lobster's ordeal with Koyaanisqatsi, I wasn't quite ready for this. It was strange.

T and I have been on a Nicole Kidman flick kick lately and this was one we taped on IFC, one of the 220 channels we rarely watch. (We're simple folk, we like the Food Network and the Speed Channel. Within 10 minutes, T was up and on his way to Lowe's but I watched for the whole 3 hours. Fascinated. In a horrified kind of way.

If not supported by a magnificent cast including Nic, Paul Bettany, Ben Gazzara, Patricia Clarkson, Lauren Bacall, Stellan Skarsgard, Phillip Baker Hall, Blair Brown etc. this film would have been completely, Uck. I believe real movie reviewers use this term all the time: Uck.

No one wants to look in the mirror, Lars von Trier.

I spent a lot of time thinking about this movie after it was over -- as much as I remember thinking about The Piano. This is not a summer blockbuster. It makes your brain hurt.

Some artists paint pictures that are beautiful and soothing. Like Monet, the college watercolor print king. And then some artists paint ugly things because -- well, life can be ugly. Something like "Order No. 11", Guernica or anything by de Kooning. I guess they're all good in their own way.

If you get a chance, watch it sometime. Or if you've seen it, let me know what you think.