To the Wonder (2012)

You spin me right round baby, right round

Neil and Marina are in love.  Then they're not.  And there's a priest.  And some twirling around.  Like every other Terrance Malick film, this one is gorgeously shot.  It is atmospheric and fluid.  Sadly, it is also tedious and boring.  About halfway into it, I was already wishing it was over.  Don't get me wrong, I am big fan of Terrance Malick and think he is brilliant.  Lots of pointless twirling, an overdose of voice overs, and not much story cause this one to fall way short of Malick's past masterpieces.

I usually don't quote other critics' reviews, but I came across two reviews that sum up the film really well, so I couldn't resist.  Michael Posner called it "a project that veers perilously close to self-parody."  Another review from John Anderson, likened the film it to a perfume commercial. 

Disappointingly, To the Wonder only gets 2 out of 5 Poblanos!

Director: Terrence Malick

Writer: Terrance Malick

Starring: Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko, Javier Bardem, Rachel McAdams

Rotten Tomatoes: 44%

Metacritic: 58%

The Tree of Life (2011)

Feeling that transcends film
Childhood memories and family tensions populate Terrance Malick's Cannes favorite.  The plot meanders through time, but emotion holds center stage.  Brad Pitt shows his acting prowess as the father of three young boys.  A great display of film as art which invokes many emotions.  Recommended if you like The Thin Red Line.

Ambitious, transcendent, thoughtful, and impacting, Malick's The Tree of Life produces 5 out of 5 Poblanos!


Director:  Terrance Malick
Writer:  Terrance Malick
Starring:  Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain
Rotten Tomatoes -  85%
Metacritic - 85 out of 100