With his latest film, MELANCHOLIA, Lars Von Trier confirms his place as my favorite living director.  Every time I see one of his films, I feel as if I get him and he gets me.  Now he's a chronic depressive, afraid to fly, with a tendency to say the wrong thing at Cannes and elsewhere, so what does that really say about me?  Unusual worldview, maybe.

It doesn't matter whether you like him, hate him, or never heard of him, Lars has made what someone called the most beautiful film about the end ...
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I can see why the critics are split on SHAME, Steve McQueen's (the other one) latest starring his muse of sorts, Michael Fassbender.   It's the kind of film that is truly a downer, but not necessarily in a good way.  Not even the glorious albeit brief sight of the stars privates could save the day.  It's a movie about sex that isn't in the least sexy, titillating or whatever description you might expect.  I'm the type who likes to cry at films, and I even like to be saddened deeply.  I'll off...
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