'Antichrist'

'Antichrist' (NR) (adults only) **1/2

Writer and Director: Lars von Trier
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg

I admire the audacity of Lars von Trier because he doesn't play by the rules and he doesn't shy away from controversy. His films are hard for me to grasp because lately he had become self indulgent and insufferable. His last movie "Dogville" made the short list of movies I have ever wanted to walk out of mostly because it was excruciating to follow and not because I was offended. Lars von Trier's "Breaking the Waves" is one of my all time favorite movies and one of the most powerful films I have seen. So I know that I like what he brings to his movies and that he is not afraid to push buttons. I wanted to like his newest "Antichrist" because of it's boldness and it's breathtaking first half but then I think the movie got away from him. Not because of the graphic sexuality or shocking gross out scenes but I felt the story got off track and didn't make it's point of view clear.I needed just a little sense of closure. I still don't know what point he is trying to make and there are baffling, loose ends. I don't mind movies that leave you hanging and answering questions but you have to make some points connect.

This bafflement is not a bad thing though and there is much to recommend this but be forewarned. It deals with the death of a child as husband and wife played by Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg have to deal with their grief. The movie is divided into a prologue,chapters and then an epilogue. This is not a movie for the weak of heart for it's scenes of self mutilation and violence between the couple are tough. There are things in here that I have never seen before and I have seen a lot of graphic sex and violence in movies. These scenes didn't bother me except for two scenes that really made me ill. Though if you are adventurous and you like dark material you might actually find this great. The first half of the film is painful but beautiful and the movie is beautiful to look at. I found it haunting, stimulating and compelling and I was intrigued by what von Trier was trying to establish in story and tone. The performances are very brave and incredible by Dafoe and Gainsbourg. Willem Dafoe always seems to lean towards dark, heady stuff and I love that he rarely goes the Hollywood Blockbuster route. He is an intense actor and he is very good here. Gainsbourg also gives a brave and powerful performance. The pain she has to endure, physically and mentally as does Dafoe, is brave and she handles the material brilliantly. So I found the performances amazing, the story challenging and interesting but I didn't come away with a feeling of closure. Von Trier is truly an auteur and he has a bold voice and I love the surrealistic touches here and the challenging material. I am ambivalent about this movie but I want to see it again and maybe a second viewing will be what I need to finally embrace it.