Melancholia

Melancholia (2011) starring Kirsten Dunst, Alexander Skarsgard, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling. Directed by Lars von Trier. Depressed newlywed Justine (Dunst) behaves badly at the reception following her wedding. When she learns that a previously unknown planet named Melancholia is hurtling towards Earth, she's not afraid. "Earth is evil," she says. "No one will miss it." Her sister Claire (Gainsbourg), however, is petrified that Melancholia will smash into Earth and end life as we know it. Unfortunately, von Trier is the sort of artist who will make a science fiction film and blithely ignore the science. The planet Melancholia flies by, then turns around for another pass -- simple physics will tell you this is an impossibility. I found this movie unsatisfying on many levels. Except for Justine and Claire, the characters are mere sketches. Relationships are poorly structured, or unexplained. Justine's new husband gives up and leaves; why? The Earth is destroyed; who cares? Von Trier joins Terrence Mallick among the directors whose films I will hereafter avoid. (The disc does not offer English subtitles, but is saved by closed captions.) Grade: C+