Review: To The Wonder

I've realised that there are two universes - the "real" one and the one that Terrance Malick inhabits. He used to inhabit the same one as you and I, you see, back when he was making films about teenage murder sprees and war, but as his affinity for nature has grown, he's slowly fallen off the face of our world and into his own one. There are many people that would quite happily give up and join the "Malick"-verse, but unfortunately, I am not one of those.

The film follows the turbulent relationship of Neil (Ben Affleck, minus beard and any distinguishable facial expressions) and Marina (A wistfully beautiful Olga Kurylenko) as the initial lust and beauty wears off as they move to America together. Aside from this main tangent, there is also a storyline (a kind word for a film with pretty much a complete lack of plot) which features Javier Bardem as a Priest who's lost the faith. Oh and Rachel McAdams pops up for a bit as a Cowgirl ex-flame of Affleck's with some issues of her own.

The theme of nature vs love, one that was explored in Malick's last feature, Tree of Life is in full-force here. Marina, a combination of Mad Men's Megan Draper and the eponymous Betty Blue, has a deep connection with nature - as demonstrated  by the fact that she spends a good 3/4 of the movie frolicking in various fields - but, then again, she also has a deep connection with Ben Affleck. (enter snarky comment about Ben Affleck here) In the Malick-verse, this is a true dilemma, hence the need for it to be made into a film lasting almost two hours. It's a shame, as there are moments in the film focusing on the relationship and how toxic it is that are actually quite beautiful, and I could even compare with some of the less harrowing scenes of Blue Valentine. But the beauty of these scenes is immediately juxtaposed by yet another scene of Marina wandering into a field open-armed and staring in awe at some glory of nature.

Every single shot in To the Wonder is stunning, there's no denying that, but eventually you have to wonder whether, whilst Malick planned the film, he spent all his time deciding how each intricate detail of every shot would look, and then let the plot, or rather lack of one, fall into place afterwards. While I prefer a film with a good meaty plot, there are times when I'll accept style over substance, but sadly this isn't one of them. Everything about the film just feels a little too self-indulgent, and while this is a man who's had a long career, you'd think that he'd still want to make a film that would appeal to audiences - and judging by other reviews, I know that there are people out there who love this film, so I might be totally wrong - rather than just himself. So, for the time being anyway, I think I'll stay back in reality, where people hate nature and would rather live in a concrete jungle, than float around the endless fields of the Malick-verse.

Grace Barber-Plentie