Top 15 of the 2000s: #4

We're getting closer. Who knows, maybe we'll eventually get done with this damn thing! Alas we come to #4, and let me preface this by saying that if you thought #5 was a downer, you ain't seen nothin' yet. How much more bleak can my selections for this list get? Let's find out. Number 4 on the countdown is none other than...






#4. "Dancer in the Dark" (2000) by Lars Von Trier: The year 2000 seems to have been a strong one (this being the third entry from that year), and what better way to top it all off than with one of the most bleak, but also most powerful films of this, or any decade. I've mentioned the misogyny arguments made against Von Trier before, so I won't go into much detail with this film, despite its unrelenting hardships that it throws upon its protagonist. What I will comment on is how damn moving this story of betrayal is, not to mention how shockingly well-acted the central role is. You may remember the 2001 Oscar ceremony, where internationally renowned Icelandic pop singer Bjork made headlines (and more than a few Worst Dressed lists) when she showed up wearing the now-infamous "swan dress". Turns out, THIS is the movie she was there to support, because she was nominated for Best Original Song. What's a shame is that she herself wasn't in contention for Best Actress, because under Von Trier's direction, Bjork gives what may just be the most powerful female performance of the decade. Her character, an increasingly sight-challenged Czech immigrant, is immediately one we can feel for, and Von Trier manages to evoke strong emotions without yanking at our heartstrings. Whether it's through conversations with neighbors or friends, or listening to her in a courtroom (you'll have to see the film for yourself to understand why), or watching her burst out into bizarro fantasy musical numbers, we develop a connection to Selma, making her unbelievably unjust trials and tribulations all the more devastating. The punishments Von Trier inflicts on Selma are almost unbelievably cruel, but the amount of emotional release at the finale is so overwhelming, so staggering in its emotional devastation, that it's difficult to not be impressed with what Von Trier have pulled off. Aside from Bjork, there are excellent performances from Catherine Deneuve as Salma's worker and friend, David Morse as a less-than-honest neighbor, and Siobhan Fallon as a prison guard, making surprising impact in very limited time on screen. But the film ultimately belongs to Bjork, who, even if she never ever acts again, deserves to be remembered for this performance, and less for a questionable dress.

Final Grade: A+

Best Performance: Bjork

Best Scene: