The Mystery of Malick and His Movies

Even at their respective ages of 76 and 81, Woody Allen and Clint Eastwood seem to be as prolific as ever. Since the year 2000, Eastwood has directed 11 films, some of which have been among his most acclaimed. Allen one ups even Eastwood in this department, having directed 12 films in that same period of time (the quality of these films outside of “Midnight in Paris,” is questionable). Regardless of quality, it is hard not to impressed by the work ethos of these two cinematic titans, who have been producing films at this rate their whole careers. Terrence Malick is the antithesis of these gentlemen. His film career dates back to 1973, when he released his debut feature “Badlands.” In 2011, he released “The Tree of Life.” It was only his fifth feature. That’s right, five films in 38 years. So no, his output does not mirror Allen or Eastwood, or Martin Scorsese’s or Steven Spielberg’s either. The quality of this output may not only mirror these fine filmmakers, however. Indeed, it may even outdistance them.

Malick’s five features include “Badlands,” “The Tree of Life,” 1978’s “Days of Heaven,” 1998’s “The Thin Red Line,” and 2005’s “The New World.” All of these films are arguably masterpieces in their own right. Malick’s films usually center on man’s relationship with God, and feature weighty negotiations of the forces of good and evil. Yet to label his films as character driven would be somewhat misleading. If anything, characters seem to be used as props in the Malick universe. Citing “The Thin Red Line” as an example, characters often appear and disappear from the film without explanation, and the narrative focus has a tendency to shift in an unorthodox fashion. Malick employs an unusually high amount of voiceover work in his films, and oftentimes, it’s hard to determine who is doing the talking.

The real star of a Malick film is his camera. Even when Malick’s narrative approach can be frustrating, what keeps the audience engrossed is his glorious, unique cinematography. No one shoots a film like him. He doesn’t his use as camera as just a tool to highlight the speaking actor. Rather, he uses it as an explorer of nature, the nature outside and the nature of the human soul. Using some of the best cinematographers the industry has ever had to offer, Malick continuously produces stirring and jaw-dropping images of outdoor life, images that even enlighten those that would consider themselves anything but a nature enthusiast. He does this as a means to connect the audience to our surroundings. The camera dances to the bombastic sounds of the classical music Malick employs, concocting sequences that can leave an audience breathless.

For a filmmaker whose style is utterly and unabashedly cinematic, it’s something of a surprise that his background was not in film. Malick was a Rhodes Scholar who graduated summa cum laude from the University of Harvard with a degree in philosophy. His education permeates through in his cinematic personality, as the voiceovers in a Malick film are characters verbally contemplating the ways of God and nature. After dropping out of Oxford, Malick instead decided to pursue filmmaking, and wrote drafts on several Hollywood productions, including “Dirty Harry.” After directing his two features in the 70s, he didn’t make his third film until 1998. Little is known about the reasoning for the decades long absence, or what he did in the meantime. In fact, Malick is a notorious recluse, who demands that the contracts he signs with the studios producing him films include a clause stipulating that no photos of him of on set are allowed. His public appearances are rare. He has been nominated for three Oscars in the past, yet has never shown up for a ceremony. When “The Tree of Life” won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Malick was not there to accept the prize. He is as enigmatic as the films he makes.

Thankfully, Malick’s output will increase rather rapidly it seems. He is currently in post-production for a film scheduled for a 2012 release, and he has two screenplays that have been greenlit. As far as his most devoted fans are concerned, as long as the quality remains constant, he can take as long as he needs. Movieroomreviews.com has great info on actors such as Clint Eastwood and movies such as The Tree Of Life.