Manderlay

Modern cinema’s foremost agent provocateur Lars von Trier ("Breaking The Waves") dispatches the second film in his trilogy of movies about America. As the sequel to "Dogville," "Manderlay" shows von Trier learning from that film’s stylistic mistakes to make an ambitious and thought-provoking allegory about the ways in which "slavery" in America was never truly abolished, but rather converted to a different condition of capitalist hegemony. Elder statesman Danny Glover gives an outstanding performance, as does Bryce Dallas Howard ("The Village") and Isaach de Bankole in this potent piece of lively cinematic dramaturgy.

Not Rated, 133 mins. (A-) (Four Stars)