Terence Malick is one of the great poets of cinema. Stunningly beautiful landscapes, long lingering meticulously detailed scenes, minimal dialogue, and a slow burning narrative are some of his trade marks. These can be strengths but also weaknesses, as it proved here.
At least with A Hidden Life there is a clear narrative and an accessible story, it's just that at three drawn out hours it's an exhausting journey. I stayed with it because occasionally the reward is some amazing and heartfelt scenes and stunning timeless landscapes, the best I've seen him do since Days of Heaven, though there is also a bit too much of a preoccupation with religion - a more recent Malick trade mark. All considering, although this is better than the tedious 'The Tree of Life' it's not up to his better films, such as 'The New World' 'Badlands' or 'The thin red line'.
At least with A Hidden Life there is a clear narrative and an accessible story, it's just that at three drawn out hours it's an exhausting journey. I stayed with it because occasionally the reward is some amazing and heartfelt scenes and stunning timeless landscapes, the best I've seen him do since Days of Heaven, though there is also a bit too much of a preoccupation with religion - a more recent Malick trade mark. All considering, although this is better than the tedious 'The Tree of Life' it's not up to his better films, such as 'The New World' 'Badlands' or 'The thin red line'.