After another year of dealing with Wake Tech Community College's frustrating registration process, I figured the only way to celebrate my first full time year at college would be to start another edition of My Mission with Melancholia, Lars Van Triers ode to depression amidst the end of the world.

I had forgotten what it means to watch a film by Van Triers. His last movie, Antichrist, was unsettling to say the least. Now, Melancholia isn't as in your face as Antichrist, but it is still an experience that not everyone can appreciate.

The film is told in two parts, with each segment focusing on one of the two sisters, played by Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsburg respectively. Part one is Dunsts' segment, taking place on her wedding day. We first see her and her groom share a humorous moment on the way to their reception where their limo driver struggles to navigate the properties winding roads. It's a deceptively cute moment, as we quickly learn that Dunst suffers from a deep depression that's only fueled by her barely there parents, both of whom ignore their daughter's obvious plea for help. Oh yea, did I mention that there is a planet called Melancholia that's been hiding behind the sun and is on a potential crash course with Earth? Because that's happening too.

Of course, that element of the film takes a back seat to the study of depression and the affects it has on our loved ones. Dunst is devastating here, showing absolutely no fear in what is easily the best work of her career so far. She goes from glowing and gorgeous to vicious and hallow to empty and defeated in seconds. Truly remarkable.

Part two focuses on Gainsburg as she struggles with helping her sister after the fallout from the wedding as well as the possibility of the world ending. This was my favorite part of the movie. Overall I enjoyed Dunst's work more in the first part, but Gainsburg is just as good as Van Triers focuses is sight on what it means if you knew the world was going to end.

Melancholia is a deeply affecting and almost lyrical film. Lars Van Triers uses visuals sparingly but effectively, creating a sense of awe that seeps into the rest of the movie. Not for everyone to be sure, but if you're willing and patient, it's well worth the ride.


Next, I put in Good Night, and Good Luck. George Clooney's second film as writer/director. This go around, Clooney tackles Edward R. Murrow's stand against Communist hating Joseph McCarthy and his baseless tactics against anyone and everyone who opposed him.

I think I'd have to say that this is my favorite movie that Clooney has directed so far. I love just about anything Clooney anyways, but here he has a focus that is truly impressive. From tone, pace, performances, camera angle. Clooney nails everything here, delivering a riveting story, never worried that the outcome has been known for 50 years.

Special mention must go to just about every cast member here. Of course David Strathairn is amazing as Murrow, and was awarded an Oscar nomination for his work, but everyone in this movie is fantastic. Sure, it's easy to say that when Robert Downey, Jr., Jeff Daniels, Frank Langella, Patricia Clarkson and Mr. Clooney himself are in the ensemble, but they all bring their A-game, making themselves believable in the time period and adding to the films documentary like approach.

Also, the musical interludes added in are simply delightful. No real surprise since Clooneys aunt was the great Rosemary Clooney. Still, it's an unexpected inclusion that pays off in spades. Well done, sir.



For whatever reason, I've really had the urge to watch Parenthood lately. Not the recent TV show mind you, but the original movie starring Steve Martin. It's one of the those movies I saw 100 times when I was 7, but had absolutely no idea what was going on. I laughed at Martin of course, because well, that guy is funny. Luckily enough I picked up the blu ray not too long ago and decided to give it a go today.

Thank christ I did man, after two pretty serious dramas, I was in the mood to laugh and there are more than a few here. What was even more gratifying though, was catching onto to everything that went right over my head as a kid. This is a pretty honest movie about family. Not one member is left unexposed, just as it is with any regular family. Especially love the vibrator scene.


Also, any movie I watch nowadays that deals with marriage realistically in even the most minor way seems to hit me a little closer.

It also makes me dread having to hang out with our kids friends' parents. UGH.


Anyway, a great rediscovery from Ron Howard's early directing career.


Finally, I end this evening with Trainspotting, Danny Boyle's second movie about the ups and downs of heroin addiction in Scotland starring Ewen McGregor, Kelly Macdonald, Robert Carlyle and Johnny Lee Miller.

I had forgotten how funny this movie is. Apparently upon its initial release it was chastised for glorifying drug use, which if you actually watch the film its obvious that is not true at all. Rather, it just so happens that some seriously funny and weird shit happens when you're high. Also, you get into quite a few situations that involve feces for some reason.

I digress.


While showing the not so ever lasting ups, Trainspotting is not afraid to show the inevitable downs and does so in equally clever and harrowing ways. McGregor's cleansing scene is so surreal that it really gives a sense of what it's like to come down from such an addiction whereas other movies about addiction just show our main character screaming and throwing up. But Boyle is intent on showing us just what it's like.


McGregor's work is impressive as well, especially considering that his character really isn't a good person by his own admission. McGregor somehow makes you root for him, even when he is at his most detestable, such as getting his clean and sober friend in on the high.


Well, it seems as though I've hit a bit of a wall. I've watched four great movies today, though all are quite serious in some way, shape or form. So I think for now I will put in Jurassic Park on blu ray and have a beer.

Tomorrow I am seeing Snow White and the Huntsman so I'll get on here sometime before the weekend and give you fools a dose.

Until then, suck it.