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

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 206 Ratings

See All

8.3

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.3	Your Score
8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 206 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Dogville

Now Playing: Dogville

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

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

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

SEE ALL 39 REVIEWS

Write a Review

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

JoshC.

Jan 14, 2007

From the gooseberries in Ma Ginger's garden to the German Hummels Nicole Kidman's Grace collects throughout her stay in Dogville, everything in Lars Von Trier's "Dogville" is a symbolic gesture of some kind. Narrated by John Hurt, this acerbic "illustration" of a small From the gooseberries in Ma Ginger's garden to the German Hummels Nicole Kidman's Grace collects throughout her stay in Dogville, everything in Lars Von Trier's "Dogville" is a symbolic gesture of some kind. Narrated by John Hurt, this acerbic "illustration" of a small town's curious notions of entitlement unspools as a Christian allegory by way of Mark Twain or Dr. Seuss. Von Trier understands that the root of American aggression is the arrogant elite's subjugation of the culturally underprivileged. The director walks a fine line: Dogville isn't anti-American, but anti-oppression.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TrevorL.

Feb 28, 2007

Somewhat long, and at times frustrating. The frustration is erased by one of the most satisfying endings I have seen. It is not a happy ending, but one that immediately feels right. I did find the lack of sets somewhat distracting, which prevented me from giving a higher rating. The acting Somewhat long, and at times frustrating. The frustration is erased by one of the most satisfying endings I have seen. It is not a happy ending, but one that immediately feels right. I did find the lack of sets somewhat distracting, which prevented me from giving a higher rating. The acting is all top notch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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

SEE ALL 34 REVIEWS

55	#55 Most Discussed Movie of 2004
90	#90 Most Shared Movie of 2004