or he is talented but for whatever reason has chosen to make films which by their nature, and the way he has made them, completely disregards IMO any talent he may have.
That's what he's doing. And he's doing it on purpose. Here's a trailer for Europa made in 1991.
It looks pretty good. I liked the scene with the blood (perhaps a reference to The Shining?) and it certainly lookls a million times better than any of the films I've seen of his. The plot, which I looked up on wikepedia, looks interesting.
It's seriously stylish, something he now regards as fake, so we're lumbered with Dogme 95 and Dancer in the Dark, or God help us, Antichrist.
Bizarre that he would go from what looks like a good thriller to the Dogme nonsence. However it's his choice. Like with sportsmen, I think that film directors should be judged only on what they achieve, rather than what they are capable of achieving. If Von Trier is going to spend the rest of his career making films like Dancer in the Dark or Antichrist (which I have would rather stab myself in the eye with a knife than see), and since these are the only films of his I've seen, then I can only conclude that IMO he's a hack. Obviously he doesn't care what I think, in fact I don't think he cares what anybody thinks and probably takes a particular delight in those who hate his films, but I've had enough Von Trier to last me ten lifetimes.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
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Bizarre that he would go from what looks like a good thriller to the Dogme nonsence.