Review of Knight of Cups (2015) by Matt C — 07 Mar 2016

'Knight Of Cups' finds writer-director Terence Malick continuing the visually poetic and imaginatively grandiose style of film-making he began with 2011's critically lauded Tree Of Life and the polarizing Ben Affleck-led 'To The Wonder' but to less efficacy.

No amount of superbly A-list casting choices can make up for the vanity that is both analyzed and maximized in the auteur's latest feature. By turns exhausting, boundless and, to a certain extent, freeing, the jazzy, off-the-cuff nature of the whole production might leave you gasping for air as you are suffocated by gorgeous vista upon vista.

Plot takes a true backseat here as the over saturation of images and Bale seeking existential redemption in each frame as he revisits the loves throughout his life may have worked if it was more cohesive.

We know Malick and Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubeski can craft a pretty picture and stretch the bounds of reality in their work. Unfortunately, this movie doesn't capitalize on the existential nature of the piece in a more compelling way.

Malick definitely wanted to make pointed commentary about the downside of excess and forsaking inhibition but it appears he got carried away with imagery and tone and wound up sacrificing character development.

Additionally, the family drama subplot wasn't given the prominence necessary and seemed shoehorned in as just another obstacle for Rick and his brother. Here's hoping Malick revisits the narrative structure of his earlier work like 'Days of Heaven' and, more recently, 'The New World' to tap into his better sensibilities.