Nymphomaniac: Volume I has dropped a little in IMDB ratings, but is still holding quite high, so it was pretty inevitable I would see it this week. The quickest cinema to get to, where it's showing, is Curzon Soho, so I went there today. This is according to Google Maps (who have a swish new look, check it out! Only problem is the homepage now defaults to North America, and there isn't a way to change that.) Because I went at lunchtime, I got a cheap early bird ticket, yay! I saw they would give a 15% discount for booking Nymphomaniac: Volume II at the same time, and, had it been at the same rating or in the next group down, I might have done that. But it's two levels further down from that, which means there are films to see first, so I skipped it. I was a little late, but didn't miss any trailers, which is good - I enjoy them. And I saw a few I hadn't seen before - for films whose ratings are too low to be of interest, but hey. The cinema was about half full, but I had to sit closer to the screen than I like. Still, I was ok.
This film is causing a bit of a stir. Well, it wouldn't be a Lars von Trier if it didn't! There are some people who just won't enjoy it. First, of course, we have those who simply disapprove, on the basis of the title, the reputation of the filmmaker, and maybe the trailer. Well, they know they won't like it and they'll stay away anyway. Also, if you don't like hard rock, you may be put off by some of the soundtrack - although it's not too intrusive. Finally, if you were expecting a bonkfest, seek elsewhere. There is nudity in this film, there is actual sex - it's not simulated, apparently they brought in pornstars for the genital closeups. But the purpose really isn't titillation.
The story, written and directed by von Trier, centres around Joe, played by Charlotte Gainsbourg. She is found, battered, bruised, and bloody, lying unconscious on the ground, by Stellan Skarsgard, who lives nearby. She refuses his offer to call an ambulance or the police, saying she's a bad person and it's her own fault. So he brings her home, tucks her up in bed with a cuppa and some cake, and asks her what happened. She tells him that he needs to hear the whole story to understand, and he's willing. And so we embark on the story of her life, complete with flashbacks.
She, of course, is the nymphomaniac of the title. We are introduced to her late father, Christian Slater, whom she adored. Shia LaBeouf appears repeatedly as one of her more significant partners. Much has been said about his bad acting, and indeed I'm glad he doesn't have a bigger role - but he's ok for what's necessary. Uma Thurman shows up in an interesting scene, as the wronged wife whose husband has just left her for Joe - so she decides the best strategy is to follow him to Joe's flat, with their three little boys, to show them the "whoring bed". It's quite amusing, in an excruciating way, because Joe had been trying to dump him, and decided the easiest way was to tell him she was only doing so because she knew he'd never leave his wife. So, before she knows it, he's at her door, suitcase in hand, moving in. Followed, quite unexpectedly, by his family. Followed by the hapless lad that she had invited round for dinner that evening, who knew nothing about any of this..
Ah well, easy come, easy go - she has a whole list of others! I was particularly taken with the scene where she explains that she has so many on the go that she can't keep track of names, never mind relationship status. So, when she comes home to an answering machine full of messages, she makes a list, and for each, rolls a die. The number that she throws determines how she responds to the message. From 1, which requires a gushing response, 2, which is still positive but less enthusiastic, through to 5, which is complete rejection, and 6 - no response at all. Well, it helps her get through them..
I had great fun watching this. I believe the second film is darker, and I think that's mostly what's in the trailer, which is why I got the impression it was depressing. Maybe it's the young lady who plays the young Joe, who never really looks depressed, the way Charlotte Gainsbourg tends to by default. Maybe it's the surreal touches, like Stellan Skarsgard's constant interjections about fly fishing, which gets him much more excited.
I also remember a reviewer scoffing at the implication that this is a feminist film. There is a line in the film about "the power of women", and I'll say this - it is interesting to contemplate how a similar film, with a male protagonist, would be received. Suppose you have an attractive young man with a high sex drive, who cannot keep from sleeping with as many women as he can manage (and that's quite a lot). People might disapprove - but would they disapprove quite as much as when Joe does the same? Would they have the same attitude when he couldn't remember girls' names, or didn't bother to call them back? Or had several on the go at once? It's an interesting one.
Had a Chinese after, in Wan Chai Corner restaurant again - well, I was passing! - in glorious sunshine. Then took a very packed Tube home. Tomorrow, there is an interesting play on, but as usual with these things, it's sold out, bah humbug. And it's the last day. So it's looking like a film again - one I would have gone to last week, except that its rating slipped, but none of the higher-rated films are showing tomorrow. And so the winner is.. drum roll please.. Non-Stop, where Liam Neeson plays an air marshal aboard a plane where the passengers are being bumped off one by one, and he's being framed to look like he's behind it. Julianne Moore plays a passenger, the flight attendants are Michelle Dockery and Lupita Nyong' o. Should be fun - as they say, planes are claustrophobic environments, full of slightly nervous people at the best of times, so perfect for a thriller. And apparently, this is nearly as non-stop as its name!
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