Terrence Malick is a fascinating oddity of cinema. After making two highly acclaimed features in the 1970s, he disappeared for two decades before returning sporadically until the 2010s, when he suddenly completed six features at a rapid-fire pace. This sudden burst of productivity did have a negative effect however. When a new Malick film was reviewed every handful of years, his visionary filmmaking style was exciting. However, getting a new one every year makes the…
By: Nick Ferwerda Song to Song is tough to summarize. Then again, I expect nothing less from Terrence Malick. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker is known to make, what can be considered, poetic films that consider plot as a secondary function. Honestly, I’m okay with that. It’s different and, every now and then, it’s refreshing.
Even long-time fans of Terrence Malick’s particular style of experimental filmmaking might find his latest effort Knight of Cups verging toward self-indulgence.
By: Addison Wylie Terrence Malick is a filmmaker who marches to the beat of his own drum. His unorthodox work has made audiences ponder, and his unique direction and screenwriting has challenged the actors he’s worked with. He’s certainly a one-of-a-kind with a sixth sense for beauty. I imagine collaborating under his mentorship would provide an artful view of how to express yourself using poetic language and imagery. However, the point of being a protege…
By: Addison Wylie For a while, Atlantic. was the most relaxed I had felt at this year’s festival. Incredibly shot sequences of Fettah windsurfing across the infinite drink eased me into a trance. Its angelic score cradling the audience is the final nuance Atlantic. has that completely sends us into adoration with these moments of Jan-Willem van Ewijk’s tranquil tale. Alas, Atlantic. follows a bothersome and oddly common theme at this year’s TIFF. Atlantic. eventually drifts…
In celebration of Wylie Writes’ brand spanking new Facebook page, I’m giving away a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack of Terrence Malick’s enchanting To The Wonder courtesy of VVS FILMS and Touchwood PR. I’ve hailed To The Wonder, a film starring Olga Kurylenko, Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem, and Rachel McAdams, as one of the best of the year and an absolute pleasure to watch. I also plan on re-visiting Malick’s ambitious character study in an upcoming webisode of Does It Float?. The giveaway…
By: Addison Wylie Fresh off his enigmatic Oscar nominated The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick hits theatres (and VOD in the USA) with To the Wonder, a character study of sorts – but even I have a hard time calling it a straight “character study”. The film is a character study in the sense that Malick’s film has a loose story and a small ensemble portraying fictional people written by the complex director, but To…