Day 200 Nymphomaniac: Volume II [2013]
Screenplay Lars Von Trier
Director Lars Von Trier
Cinematography Manuel Alberto Claro
Music Mikkel Maltha
Leads Charlotte
Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Mia Goth, Willem
Dafoe, Jamie Bell
Production Artificial Eye, Film I Väst, Heimatfilm, Les
Films du Losange, Zentropa Entertainments
IMDb 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes 60%
If
I’d had a choice I’m not sure I would have watched the second instalment of Nympho,
but I’m trying to finish things that I start, and I had to see what von Trier
had left for me to rip into. Volume II continues with Joe recounting her
libidinous life to Seligman and brings about new challenges and excitement.
Among other things these include motherhood, sadomasochism, sex therapy, debt
collection and a young lesbian lover. There is supposed to be an abortion scene
amongst all that too, which certainly would have created extra layers of
emotion to Joe’s character, but the version I watched didn’t include it.
Shia
stuck with us in this one and his accent hadn’t improved at all, though his
acting was proficient otherwise. I didn’t understand why they used he
and Gainsbourg together to show them grown up. It made her look like she had
aged a hell of a lot more than he had. Knowing von Trier this was intentional –
but then why use a different actor for an elder Jerôme towards the end? We get
introduced to a new character P (Goth) by L (Dafoe). Dafoe is one of my
favourite actors, so I was sad his part in this was so small and P’s was so
large. P’s character was erratic and confusing and I found myself checking to
see how long the film had left during her scenes.
A
true reviewer would have sat down with a six pack of red bull and a 24-pack of
crisps to watch the 5-hour-plus directors cut of von Triers trilogy-ending spectacle.
I am glad I did not. Taboo is clearly von Trier’s main weapon, but I think he
concentrates too hard on shocking people and so the film loses any substance. For
instance, his new film The House That Jack Built brings with it sadistic
gore – I fear that von Trier is only famous for being a devil’s advocate
within the movie world – the Piers Morgan or Katie Hopkins of Hollywood - not a good moniker to own. Having
said that, with Nympho, I can understand where he is coming from. The
story is born of reality rather than fantasy, and Joe’s affliction is one that
genuinely affects people all over the globe, and sex is life, so why can’t
films contain this amount of nudity and taboo, when they are a reality in daily
life? It’s something to think about at least. Work of art or big budget porno?
Acting 3 / 4
Writing 2 / 4
Cinematography 2.5 / 4
Music 1.5 / 4
HWF rating 1
/ 4
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