Nymph()maniac Vols I & II

NYMPH()MANIAC VOLS I & II

  

Director : Lars Von Trier
Year : 2014
Genre : Erotic Drama
Rating : ****

 

Concluding was has become known as Lars Von Trier's highly controversial and enigmatic ''Depression trilogy'', 'Nymph()maniac' is a two part explicit drama that contains all of the usual tropes of a Von Trier melodrama while combining it with unusually graphic sexuality. Starring Von Trier regular Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgaard, (a wildly miscast) Shia LeBoeuf, Stacy Martin, Jamie Bell, Willem Dafoe and a host of other stars, 'Nymph()maniac' is a four long saga that explores human psychology, sexuality, physicality and desire while still maintaining the same verbose and philosophical, almost parodic paraphrase that has given Von Trier his name. 

While parading the streets during the middle of the night, Seligman (Skarsgaard) is shocked to find the bruised and bloodied body of woman lying in the road. After taking her back to his apartment and bringing her back to consciousness, Seligman endeavors to uncover the truth behind how and why she was treated so terribly. What unfolds is a dramatic and perverse saga as Joe (Gainsbourg) reveals the truths about her life as a self diagnosed nymphomaniac. Chronicling many of her various sexual exploits, the film switches time and place continuously as Joe describes in graphic detail every aspect of the hedonistic illness that has taken a hold of her psyche.

While the film works as a tongue in cheek drama about sex and the strenuosity of relationships, it sadly fails as a piece of true cinema. Told over eight esoterically named chapters, 'Nymph()maniac' feels a lot more episodic and incidental that it's superior predecessors 'Antichrist' and 'Melancholia' and this can prove to be somewhat overbearing, certainly during the more overtly sexual and (possibly) misogynistic scenes. At four hours, 'Nymph()maniac' is far too long and while it's imagery and themes rival that of any of Von Trier's best work, it still lacks the heft and power of works like 'Melancholia' or 'Breaking The Waves'. 

However despite it's various narrative and casting flaws, the movie still works astonishingly well thanks to Charlotte Gainsbourgs riveting narration and the (almost unanimously) stellar work from it's supporting cast, especially newcomer Stacy Martin whose performance is sincere and incredibly brave. It's extremely graphic moments are simultaneously sensual and comical and while it's controversial nature may prove to be the pictures ultimate undoing, Von Trier's playful directorial style helps to dilute the disturbing content and very dark subject matter. Morose, funny and unprecedentedly explicit, 'Nymph()maniac' is the volcanic culmination of a career that has continued to defy convention and dares to bring both audiences and the art of traditional movie going to it's knees.