Terrence Malick is one of my favorite directors. His curious and compassionate voice is an anomaly in film and it constantly challenges the complacent approach to visual storytelling.
I would agree his films have Gnostic undertones—especially in The Thin Red Line. The contrast between private Witt’s unbending tenderness to all life with sergeant Welsh’s strained apathy connects with the caring and indifferent forces in nature, too. Not to mention the more acute contrast of Colonel Tall with Captain Staros.
The divine spark is in all but one must acknowledge it before they can master it. The Thin Red Line is my favorite Terrence Malick film!
I remember when I first saw the trailer for Tree of Life, I must’ve been maybe 14 years old. I immediately felt it was a movie I had to see, and I watched it for the first time right after our childhood dog, a golden retriever named Annie, passed away. It was a very sad time, and I found it very moving and also fitting. All these years later I can say no film has moved me more, and it has helped me to be more aware of the glory and the grace in the world that is always there, shining through.
Have you happened to see A Hidden Life? Would be curious what you thought about that one. Also apparently Malick is working on a new movie now, that will include some stories from the Bible.
As an Aussie, when are you coming and where ?? I doubt you are coming to Adelaide where I live but if you are doing any public events, I will try to attend.
I could listen to Bing all day. His duet with Louie Armstrong of ‘Gone Fishin’ warms my soul. (I’m not lazy, just blessed with a lack of ambition!). ‘Socks Don’t Match’ always makes me smile too. My old man always teared up at the end of ‘Going My Way’ when Fitzgibbon sees his mother. Good ole Bing.
None taken! Just waxing a little nostalgic at his mention. Would love to see your movie made, but with actors on strike, it may be a while. Oh, if by any chance you can see a footy match while in Australia, that would be amazing! Other than baseball, it’s the only sport that keeps my attention. Found it randomly some years ago on a uhf station in the middle of the night while probably rocking a colicky child.
What an outstanding script with clear homages to Graham Greene and Evelyn Waugh. I suppose you have already received an enthusiastic letter of appreciation from the Holy See and a generous offer by Mel Gibson to develop the script into a Hollywood blockbuster.
Speaking of Mr. Gibson, I am very interested in your opinion of The Passion of the Christ. I dare to guess that you probably liked Jim Caviezel's performance, but if this movie had truly mesmerized you, you would have already referenced it somewhere in your works.
For all the vile Gibson's bungled fealty to historical accuracy (actors speaking an Aramaic no one would have spoken), his casting a Swiss-Irish actor as the titular Jew in first-century Palestine tells you all you need to know about that film.
Oh, I don't intend to defend Mel Gibson at all. (Let's only hope that his remorse was somewhat genuine). And you are absolutely right that the choice of actors contradicts his claims for historical accuracy. (Though, to be honest, he also chose a Bulgarian actor to play Pontius Pilate rather than an Italian one and he employed plenty of Italians in that movie). I was just discussing the quality of acting. And I thought that DBH in particular likes Jim Caviezel after his role in The Thin Red Line.
Terrence Malick is one of my favorite directors. His curious and compassionate voice is an anomaly in film and it constantly challenges the complacent approach to visual storytelling.
I would agree his films have Gnostic undertones—especially in The Thin Red Line. The contrast between private Witt’s unbending tenderness to all life with sergeant Welsh’s strained apathy connects with the caring and indifferent forces in nature, too. Not to mention the more acute contrast of Colonel Tall with Captain Staros.
The divine spark is in all but one must acknowledge it before they can master it. The Thin Red Line is my favorite Terrence Malick film!
Also Badlands in which the last shot is the plane carrying Kit, who has received the death penalty, flying into the sun
I remember when I first saw the trailer for Tree of Life, I must’ve been maybe 14 years old. I immediately felt it was a movie I had to see, and I watched it for the first time right after our childhood dog, a golden retriever named Annie, passed away. It was a very sad time, and I found it very moving and also fitting. All these years later I can say no film has moved me more, and it has helped me to be more aware of the glory and the grace in the world that is always there, shining through.
Have you happened to see A Hidden Life? Would be curious what you thought about that one. Also apparently Malick is working on a new movie now, that will include some stories from the Bible.
I watched The Tree of Life like 200 times during lockdown lol (I didn't have a job then...)
It was pretty crappy time, but the movie kept me somewhat uplifted through those months.
Made me almost wish I'd been brought up Catholic.
As an Aussie, when are you coming and where ?? I doubt you are coming to Adelaide where I live but if you are doing any public events, I will try to attend.
I could listen to Bing all day. His duet with Louie Armstrong of ‘Gone Fishin’ warms my soul. (I’m not lazy, just blessed with a lack of ambition!). ‘Socks Don’t Match’ always makes me smile too. My old man always teared up at the end of ‘Going My Way’ when Fitzgibbon sees his mother. Good ole Bing.
I intend no disrespect to Bing.
None taken! Just waxing a little nostalgic at his mention. Would love to see your movie made, but with actors on strike, it may be a while. Oh, if by any chance you can see a footy match while in Australia, that would be amazing! Other than baseball, it’s the only sport that keeps my attention. Found it randomly some years ago on a uhf station in the middle of the night while probably rocking a colicky child.
Evelyn Waugh and Graham Greene, but worse. It really should be a series. I would really love not watching it.
What an outstanding script with clear homages to Graham Greene and Evelyn Waugh. I suppose you have already received an enthusiastic letter of appreciation from the Holy See and a generous offer by Mel Gibson to develop the script into a Hollywood blockbuster.
Speaking of Mr. Gibson, I am very interested in your opinion of The Passion of the Christ. I dare to guess that you probably liked Jim Caviezel's performance, but if this movie had truly mesmerized you, you would have already referenced it somewhere in your works.
I regard it as a comically vulgar piece of pious kitsch.
Still, some of the acting was very good. Caviezel in particular poured all of himself in that role. Apparently, it cost him his Hollywood career.
For all the vile Gibson's bungled fealty to historical accuracy (actors speaking an Aramaic no one would have spoken), his casting a Swiss-Irish actor as the titular Jew in first-century Palestine tells you all you need to know about that film.
Oh, I don't intend to defend Mel Gibson at all. (Let's only hope that his remorse was somewhat genuine). And you are absolutely right that the choice of actors contradicts his claims for historical accuracy. (Though, to be honest, he also chose a Bulgarian actor to play Pontius Pilate rather than an Italian one and he employed plenty of Italians in that movie). I was just discussing the quality of acting. And I thought that DBH in particular likes Jim Caviezel after his role in The Thin Red Line.
I was not objecting to the quality of the acting. Just the film.
After months of sometimes having regretted that I subscribed after reading this you are completely absolved. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time.
I require no absolution.