A solid week for releases see’s Lars Von Trier’s apocalyptic Dunst starrer take the Pick of the Week.

PICK OF THE WEEK: MELANCHOLIA (Lars Von Trier, 2011, DEN/SWE/FRA/GER)

The “enfant terrible” Lars Von Trier made more headlines for his comments rather than his films last year as his now notorious Cannes press conference for this film managed to make him a marked man by some festival folks and it’s funny that this comes in conjunction with what is probably one of the least controversial films the Dane has ever made, a relatively straightforward tale of depression and the end of the world with Kirsten Dunst playing a depressed woman who literally seems to will a previously undiscovered planet, the eponymous Melancholia, to come crashing into the Earth.

While not the  critic baiting kind of stuff that Von Trier has become so well-known for, there’s still much to talk about with this film. Dunst, who went on to win Best Actress at Cannes, puts in one of the best performances of her career, veering wildly in emotional states in some sort of hyper manic-depression, acting like a force of nature at moments and a zombie in others but never feeling like she’s really “playing” this, it all just being a very natural telling of the role. She’s surrounded by a top-tier cast also with Charlotte Gainsbourg becoming the lead character as the film goes on and losing her mind in a far more subtle but no less effective way, Alexander Sarsgard doing a wonderful line in looking like a deer in headlights and Kiefer Sutherland’s smug, all-knowing character getting kinks in his armour throughout and becoming the most pathetic character in the whole film.

While a little too long at over 2 hours, with a sense of meandering in the wedding sequence which does feel a little self-satisfied, the film as a whole is a success with amazing visuals, great performances and a sense of the surreal and harrowing which Von Trier now specialises in.

The Blu looks to be pretty solid with what should be some stonking video and audio and decent looking extras including a commentary with Von Trier which should prove enlightening, interviews with the director and cast, and an almost hour long look at the studio Von Trier has built in his homeland. At around £12.99 online, if you’re a fan this is going to be a bit of a no-brainer, and for any fans of visually rich, thought-provoking cinema, you’ll do well here.

RED STATE (Kevin Smith, 2011, USA)

I think Kevin Smith is an idiot who should learn to shut his mouth but putting my opinion of the man himself aside, I was somewhat stunned to discover that I actually enjoyed his self-financed “horror” Red State quite a bit. While not the film I was expecting, it being more a siege movie than anything else, it’s the most visually striking of Smith’s films to date with digital cinematography which should lend itself well to Blu and an often closed-in, claustrophobic feel which I got on board with. The film’s “bad guy” played by Michael Parks is also a force of nature, relishing the as always wordy dialogue Smith gives him and managing to convey the charisma that the religious leaders in the real world Smith is basing him on very well.

The film is certainly not perfect with a wandering narrative that never quite nails down what it’s really “about” and an awful closing 15 minutes which undoes a very brave narrative choice Smith takes but it’s an often inspired and well-made film which shows that Kevin Smith still has some stuff to say, I just wish he speak his mind about so much crap!

While not as packed as many Smith releases, the UK blu of Red State still has a fair bit including a Smith introduced Making Of, material from his now infamous speech post-screening at Sundance last year, deleted scenes and an interview with Michael Parks rounding out the package. For around £11.99 online it’s a must have for fans but for the curious, it’s going to be more of a rent.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Two-Lane Blacktop: Monte Hellman’s cult road movie gets a Masters of Cinema release which I’m looking forward to blind buying at some point.

The Change-Up: Horrifically reviewed comedy which I actually thought was OK enough.

Dark Star: Much delayed but apparently finally arriving disc for John Carpenter’s debut.

Punishment Park: Peter Watkins’ infamous mockumentary also gets a Masters of Cinema release.

Hostel Part 3: Perfectly serviceable DTV horror which does enough of interest to warrant a watch for the so inclined.

The Debt: Well-cast thriller which I’ll get round to watching at some point!

Roger Dodger: An early role for Jesse Eisenberg comes to Blu for the first time.

30 Minutes or Less: The latest role for Mr Eisenberg which will be decent Friday night rental fare.