Terrence Malick's latest film "To the Wonder" starts in Paris and makes its way somehow, magically to the wheat fields of Oklahoma. It's more linear, straight narrative than "Tree of Life" ... I'd say it's Tree of Life-lite. There are some similar themes: sacred/profane, physical/spiritual, but in To The Wonder there is ironically, less wonder and an even bleaker representation of love, life and everything else. Javier Bardem has about a third of the film, his voiceover, his struggles as a priest, seeing to the troubles of people who will always be troubled. The rest of the film is Ben Affleck and his circuitous route from single man, to family man, to single man seen through the eyes of a french woman he takes home to Oklahoma (why would she ever leave Paris! What a nut!). He has a bit of a back story, she has a bit of a back story and somewhere in there Rachel McAdams swims through to let us know it isn't the women's fault Affleck can't sustain a serious relationship. So. To summarize: many struggles, bleak landscape, beautifully shot, magnificently shot, Oklahoma never looked so amazing, Mont St, Michele, likewise. Visually, superb, but I expect no less. The music/soundtrack could have easily been the same soundtrack for Tree of Life, very similar with the angels and the classical-heaven type of theme. Malick just isn't a big fan of dialogue. Loves the voiceover though. And as much as I love everything he does and probably always will, so far the last couple of films are poor imitations, ghosts really, of Days of Heaven. Makes me want to go see that for the first time all over again. What a masterpiece.
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