Review of Song to Song (2017) by Wayne M — 16 Jun 2017

Terrence Malick is truly a singular film maker. He has made some of the most astonishing films in cinema history. He is a private man who would take huge amounts of time to bring his films to life. Malick still remains private but he is now churning out films quite regularly.

With sporadic results to be sure with his two previous films being seriously flawed but still fascinating. His 'latest' film was actually made 4 years ago but it took a while to go through post production.

I think it was worth the wait. It is a compelling cinematic event that whilst still flawed is an enraptured and stunning film. There is no one working in cinema like Malick. His film are about image, mood, feeling and not based on traditional narrative or movie structure.

I can understand this is frustrating for some people but I believe if you let yourself go for the ride it's a heady trip. Song to Song is set against the Austin music scene and we follow four main characters who are entangled in love and regret.

We drift through their relationships and their bitter regrets. The music scene becomes secondary to the emotions of the main characters. It is a film suffused with sad beauty and raw emotion. It is a film of incredible beauty and impeccable design.

It is film that is ultimately critical of the hedonistic lifestyle and questions the very reason why we love and how we live. A regular theme in Malick's work. It exists to show beauty in life but also the sadness and despair.

He might polarize audiences but cinema would be a different and emptier experience without him.