Ah, Lars Van Trier. I wish someone would slap the shit out of him. What the fuck is this arrogant asshole's problem? Why has he got such a hard-on for the U.S.? He comes from Denmark and the American film-going public has certainly adopted him as a major independent foreign filmmaker. Why does he insist in spitting in our faces? This guy needs a swift knee to the balls.

"Manderlay," his latest excursion into biting the hand that feeds him, has the dubious distinction of tackling racism in the U.S. What the fuck would a guy from Denmark know about racism in the U.S.? Why does he think he has a right to make a film about it? Do Americans make movies about the Dutch sitting around in the cold for two hours? This guy is an idiot and this is a topic someone like Von Trier simply does not have the intelligence or the knowledge to handle. His film is such an obvious and ridiculous metaphor that it makes him looks like a infantile bedwetter rather than an astute filmmaker and storyteller.

"Manderlay, a film in "Eight Straight Chapter" (they are also boring, elongated and childish), is the sequel to "Dogville," and is the second film in his "USA" trilogy. The film boasts a wide array of dark skinned actors (many from Europe), the most notable of which is Danny Glover. Playing an Uncle Tom to the Nth degree here, Glover loses any respect he might of gained as an actor by appearing in such a ludicrous and disrespectful film. Here are some of the messages of the film: Black people enjoy being slaves. White people enjoy being overlords. Blacks are lazy, slow, stupid, or at the very least, unwilling martyrs. And that's just scratching the surface.

Oh, then there is the sexual tension of the slave/owner relationship explored here by Von Trier with the delicacy of a truck driver wielding a chain saw. If you want to see a film that explores this notion with more finesse and discreetness, pick up a copy of "Mandingo." With this film, Von Trier backhands race relations in America to the 1970's. Really. Seriously. Someone should knock his dick in the dirt.

John Hurt again narrates but this time his voiceovers go on forever and ramble incessantly without making any sense what so ever. (He's another actor I've lost respect for due to his work with Von Trier). Lauren Bacall (she's old and underused as an actress so I forgive her) appears as the head of a plantation who dies early in the film. Willem Dafoe and Bryce Dallas Howard come on the scene picking up the characters played by Nicole Kidman and Paul Newman in "Dogville." (I have respect for the actors who were smart enough not to return to this series). What kind of an actress is Howard? She's the kind of actress that makes you miss Nicole Kidman. That's how Godawful she is. She couldn't emote a coma.

Fuck it. I'm sick of talking about this film. It's an evil, spiteful, hateful, repugnant, disgusting, ham-handed assault on the American people, both black and white.

"Manderlay" is an utter folly of a film.

Notes:

Also with Jeremy Davies, Udo Kier, and Chloe Sevigny. (How bad do these fuckers need a paycheck?)

The official title of the trilogy is "USA - Land of Opportunities." The last film, "Wasington," is due in 2007.

Filmed in the same style as "Dogville," with a stage setting using tape on the ground to delineate houses and areas of land and words which can be read from an overhead view to explain what each set area is. In a move of sheer brilliance, Von Trier uses a white ground instead of black one in the film.

John C. Reily was cast in the role that eventually was played by Zeljko Ivanek. Reily quit in protest to a donkey being killed for the film. This scene was eventually cut in editing by the director. That's the kind of sick fuck Von Trier is. He kills a donkey for a film and then cut the scene.

David Bowie's "Young Americans" is used over the end credits as it was in "Dogville." I'm a big Bowie fan but to protest his allowing Von Trier to use his song in these films I suggest we all download his next album rather than pay for it. Bowie is another guy who has more than enough money. Hew won't sent Todd Haynes the rights to his songs for "Velvet Goldmine" but he'll sell them to America hater Von Trier? What the fuck Bo? You live in NYC now. You are an American by choice. Don't make me hate you too. Meanwhile, the score music in the film is your standard, typical overwrought tripe.

The film debuted at Cannes. It is scheduled to begin a US arthouse run via IFC in February of 2006.

Viewed at the Paramount Theater during AFF in October of 2005 with my friend Johnny Oh!, who left mid-film, something I've never seen him do before.

Report Card

Script: F

Acting: F

Cinematography\Lighting: C

Special Effects\Make Up: F

Music: F

Final Grade: F