“Melancholia” (Lars von Trier, 2011)
It’s the end of the world as only that crazy Dane can tell it … but really it’s about Justine’s all consuming depression and her reaction/acceptance to the “end of all things.” I have re-watched this since it came out on video and I thought it was even better the second time around. Charlotte Gainsbourg is excellent as Justine’s sister, Claire. Kirsten Dunst, as Justine, is pretty amazing in this movie. It’s a damn shame that the Academy didn’t show her any Oscar love this past year. She at least deserved a nomination.

“The Skin I Live In” (Pedro Almodóvar, 2011)
Almodóvar does “horror” … or does he? An elite plastic surgeon (played by Antonio Banderas) has a beautiful woman (played by Elena Anaya) held captive for his experiments with a new synthetic skin. What unfolds is a story of madness, suicide, murder and revenge. “The Skin I Live In” has horrific elements to it but to simply call it a horror movie would be missing the point. I think it’s more of a character study and about how sometimes we can’t (or won’t) let ourselves escape from the past. It’s another excellent film from one of my favorite directors … and the less you know going in, the better.