Dogville

Name: Dogville
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: March 26, 2004
Duration: 178 min
Rating: 60
Cast: Lauren Bacall, Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany

2004

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 218 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 218 Ratings

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Dogville

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Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: March 26, 2004 | R

Starring: Lauren Bacall, Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany

Summary: Lars von Trier explores the concept of goodness in this story of a fugitive hiding in a small town in the Rocky Mountains in the 1930s.

Director: Lars von Trier

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 178 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire Alan Morrison

Argue that von Trier's latest is theatre and not cinema. But at least acknowledge that Dogville, in a didactic and politicised stage tradition, is a great play that shows a deep understanding of human beings as they really are. Read full review

100

Liam Lacey

If nothing else can be said of Dogville, it's a film that is like nothing else. Read full review

Marc Mohan

This unique cinematic experience is a parable of greed and revenge that could take place anywhere. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Dogville isn't for everyone, but there's some intellectually stimulating conversation fodder for those with the patience to navigate the film's rough terrain. Read full review

Peter Rainer

The film centers almost entirely on the faces of the townspeople, which Von Trier frames vividly. There’s nothing static about his technique, but everything else about the movie is dreary and closed off. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

A provocation, a coup de théâtre and three hours of tedious experimentation. Read full review

David Edelstein

The politics of Dogville are on par with a third-rate gangster picture: cheap, opportunistic nihilism, with no enlivening sense of humor. Read full review

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User Reviews

RegOz

Apr 6, 2012

I know this is not a movie that will appeal to everybody, but I personally think this movie is one of the best ones I have since the last decade! NIcole Kidman's performance is oustanding! This is an inventive, original movie that challenges order, and questions humans 'good faith'. AI know this is not a movie that will appeal to everybody, but I personally think this movie is one of the best ones I have since the last decade! NIcole Kidman's performance is oustanding! This is an inventive, original movie that challenges order, and questions humans 'good faith'. A masterpiece. I cant describe it...you have to see it!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

mahdimeshkatee

Nov 28, 2019

one of the greatest movies I've seen my whole life. 3 hours worth every second. a one-of-a-kind film that makes you reevaluate whats good and whats bad and leaves you with so many emotions and sometimes helps you through it. I envy the people who haven't watched it yet, cause they have oneone of the greatest movies I've seen my whole life. 3 hours worth every second. a one-of-a-kind film that makes you reevaluate whats good and whats bad and leaves you with so many emotions and sometimes helps you through it. I envy the people who haven't watched it yet, cause they have one of the most especiall 3 hours of their life to come.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

babaganush96

Oct 8, 2010

Beautiful and inventive. Philosophical and thought-provoking.
Ugly and dull. Boring and mind-numbing.
Both equally justified responses to Lars von Trier's experimental drama Dogville. As the wonderful Bjork once said, you don't know anything until you've tasted all the sweets at the sweetBeautiful and inventive. Philosophical and thought-provoking.
Ugly and dull. Boring and mind-numbing.
Both equally justified responses to Lars von Trier's experimental drama Dogville. As the wonderful Bjork once said, you don't know anything until you've tasted all the sweets at the sweet shop. Go ahead and watch it. Sure, you may turn it off after the first 15 minutes, you may find the rape scenes overboard and you may find it pompous, but you also might, like me, think it is a fabulous portrayal of human behaviour and a brilliantly made film. Just, like the protagonist Grace, take a chance on Dogville. You may love yourself for it.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

ryancarroll88

Aug 27, 2010

Lars von Trier once again returns to his obsession with the idea of the victim and avant-garde style, but this time around the lead actress (Nicole Kidman) is apt for the part, giving a perfect duality between the "damsel in distress" and "femme fatale," and the absence of a set isn't everLars von Trier once again returns to his obsession with the idea of the victim and avant-garde style, but this time around the lead actress (Nicole Kidman) is apt for the part, giving a perfect duality between the "damsel in distress" and "femme fatale," and the absence of a set isn't ever detracting, but just sort of fun (at least to me - more traditional-minded critics were probably crying out in disgust...) Also, rather than simply forcing emotion, von Trier uses his extremism to finish with a question of morality, which presents a harrowing view of humanity and a reconsideration of how we function as a society.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarkAngel

Feb 5, 2013

Inexplicably fine film. A monumental ideological concept elaborated with calligraphic punctuality. Dogville established Lars von Trier as one of my favorite filmmakers of all time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RobertBrogan

Sep 30, 2015

Dogville is a talented work, yes, but is it a great film? No, It's not great. The ending is flat, especially for such a long buildup. It's not wholly a film either. It's not that the stage play thing is wrong, it's fine (especially since the story is reminiscent of Greek tragedy). TheDogville is a talented work, yes, but is it a great film? No, It's not great. The ending is flat, especially for such a long buildup. It's not wholly a film either. It's not that the stage play thing is wrong, it's fine (especially since the story is reminiscent of Greek tragedy). The problem is that it is lacking in light and sound. Maybe that is a good thing since the second half is heavy and long and feels real enough as it is. Still, Dogville is definitely a film to watch for two reasons: (1) an excellent performance by Nicole Kidman and (2) food for thought, one is definitely given a few things to think about. But be warned, this is not a film one watches to be entertained.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

PeterPan

Feb 14, 2006

First of all, I would not call this a film. It is, as others already mentioned, an experiment and IMHO, an insult to real cinematography. Some of you might think that Lars von Trier is a genius and consider the so called Dogma 95 an utlimate achievement in style. I don't. I would First of all, I would not call this a film. It is, as others already mentioned, an experiment and IMHO, an insult to real cinematography. Some of you might think that Lars von Trier is a genius and consider the so called Dogma 95 an utlimate achievement in style. I don't. I would rather consider it snobbish pseudo-elitist garbage that serves mainly one purpose: giving a group of opinionated "intelectuals" a self-validation tool which has to prove their mental superiority i.e. "You morons, don't get real art and never will. Go watch 'Rocky VI' instead. Leave art to us to judge upon." I recommend reading "Emperor's new clothes". You know, it's not really about tailors and clothes.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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56	#56 Most Discussed Movie of 2004
89	#89 Most Shared Movie of 2004