BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork

Subject: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 07:39 PM

I guess this could have been in the music section, because technically it is a musical, and I would like to hear what any of you may think or know of Bjork's music, but I am esp. interested in how the movie she stars in, Dancer in the Dark, may have struck those of you who have seen it.

I had not heard of this movie, until last night when IFC aired it. I found it fascinating beyond anything I've seen in recent years and incredibly disturbing. I've read that Bjork says she will never be in a film again because of the toll this one took in getting into the full emotions of the character and apparently there was mega-tension between her and the director, Lars von Trier.

As far as the little I've heard of her music, I find it just as fascinating and not easily defined. It's almost as if I am reaching for a cloud which, of course, my hand goes through and the cloud goes on, changing shape, tone, texture, etc. There is a video called Cocoon at her website www.bjork.com.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 08:05 PM

Her screeching reminds me of Yoko OH-NO! I think you're on the right thread here.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 12:13 AM

You must've heard different cuts than I did. I also wasn't talking only of her singing. She composed all of the music for the movie, in fact that was all she was going to do for it, initially. SOme of it was quite beautiful.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: GUEST,JDurbin
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 12:45 AM

I love Bjork, and I loved the film. Glad to see someone else found it as satisfying (though disturbing) as I did. It rather puts the more recent Hollywood blockbuster musicals to shame, IMO (even though I loved Chicago and Moulin Rouge too).

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 04:27 AM

I thought the film was amazing and really affecting. Not many films bring a tear to my eye, but this one brought a huge lump to my throat, and my other half had to leave the room for that final scene as he couldn't bear to watch it. I definitely want to see more von Trier stuff as I find he has a refreshingly different style.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: mooman
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 05:04 AM

Dear Kat,

I found the film very good, and right up there with Krzysztof Kieœlowski's "A Short Film About Killing" as an anti-capital punishment statement, and deeply disturbing and Bjork was very good in it.

Regarding Bjork's music, I have a couple of her CDs and find her quite original and interesting. I don't like every last one of her cuts but she usually experiments with instrumentation and her unique voice to pretty good effect.

Peace,

moo

(P.S. Haven't forgotten my "job" to do...just been incredibly busy!)

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: Peter T.
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 09:58 AM

Weird film, but I can't say it really moved me. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 06:02 PM

It rather puts the more recent Hollywood blockbuster musicals to shame, IMO (even though I loved Chicago and Moulin Rouge too).

Pedantic perhaps, but Chicago was made in Toronto and Moulin Rouge in the UK.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: michaelr
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 07:52 PM

Lars von Trier is a master at disturbing films. Check out "Breaking the Waves" with the incredible Emily Watson!

I thought Bjork's acting was very good... can't get into her music, though.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: GUEST,JDurbin
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 10:52 PM

'Chicago' may have been shot in Toronto (as many Hollywood films are nowadays) but it was produced by Mr. Weinstein of Miramax.

'Moulin Rouge' was filmed in Australia, using Hollywood producers and Hollywood actors. They also produced/directed the 1996 remake of 'Romeo and Juliet' with Leonardo di Caprio and Clare Danes.

I suppose if one wishes to be pedantic, one can make the argument that in order to be considered a Hollywood film, the film must be made in Hollywood. That would be silly, IMO, considering the realities of co-productions between countries, and the prevalence of non-Hollywood shoots for films bankrolled in Hollywood.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 06 Jul 03 - 01:00 PM

Guess I'm silly then.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: GUEST,spritenite
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 12:02 AM

I love Bjork. She's so... Unique.. Hmmm... I haven't seen the movie yet, and Cocoon is a pretty cool vid I suppose, but I've always been partial to Possibly Maybe.

Ciao,
spritenite

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: em gunyou halaas
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 01:26 AM

Steering clear away from Lars von Trier as "a master of creating disturbing films" I would offer that his particular style of film making is revolutionary in it's nature. Check out his other films and DOGMA (his production company's ) manifesto. Quite, quite extraordinary. I would put to you that what Lars Von Trier is attemptimng to do is create fresh/revolutionary/new work out of a very basic/rooted/traditional base. I would say the same of Bjork. Makes me think about traditional music and young generations of traditional music signers and about oral traditions and the inclusion of new voices and ideas and manifestos. Folk music is about folks after all. right?

emily

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: SueB
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 01:48 AM

I thought it was absolutely riveting. Think she's absolutely amazing.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: fat B****rd
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 04:38 PM

I think she's horrible. Misery for me was "Stars in Your Eyes" when Vicky Entwhistle did Bjork doing that SSSHHH song.

Subject: RE: BS: Have you seen Dancer in the Dark w/Bjork
From: Peg
Date: 15 Nov 03 - 02:46 PM

Moulin Rouge was written and directed by an Australian, Baz Luhrmann. Nicole Kidman is Australian. So are a number of the actors in it and most of the designers and crew. So I would not rush to call it a Hollywood film...I think some of the producers hail from Hollywood, but that's more about financing and distribution than the production.

you make a good point in saying one would have to be pedantic to say films not made in Hollywood cannot be called Hollywood films. Many   Hollywood films shoot in exotic locations around the world.