Malick Series: first of four: Badlands

Fall has been a bit sporadic for events though I think I found a groove with Terrence Malick. Upon seeing Train Dreams last month, so much called to me. As I dove into reviews and interviews with Clint Bentley (director), I kept finding references to Malick's work. With the voice over narration not quite committing the sin of exposition (minus the final sequence which I felt unfortunate), cinematic expressions of the natural world, elliptical narration, and character depth I knew it was time to turn towards his work. Admittedly I did not know much about him, besides his affiliation in “New Hollywood" overlapping the French New Wave and German ‘New Cinema’ as well as his most commercial success, a A Thin Red Line.

I have started reading "The Magic Hours: The Films and Hidden Life of Terrence Malick" and have been quite enthralled. His films launched the careers of so many: Martin Sheen, Sissy Spacek, Richard Gere, Sam Shepard, Adrian Brody, and his approach to film as art exemplifies the pertinence of the auteur. Quite reclusive from public life, one of his last interviews (1979) sums up him enigmatically:
“He leads a double life of the artist: resolute, constant and acrobatic in a way that maintains and strengthens his inner balance".

I thought it would be fun to do a series of films by the same director to go deeper in their canons and give some points of comparison. So this winter we will watch 4 of his most lauded films: *Badlands (*December), *Days of Heaven (*January), *A Thin Red Line (*February), and *Tree of Life (*March). This will also help me plan ahead so we can retain the consistency of last Spring.

Badlands (1973) is his first feature. Set in 1950’s midwest and based on an infamous killing spree, Badlands' first act poises it as a straightforward crime drama. Though as it skillfully unfolds, Malick's surreal, satire emerges so subtley that I was suspended in delightful disbelief. The cinematic and musical compositions, auto-biographical metaphors, and pertinent social commentary are interwoven that make it uniquely Malick.

Please come to this discussion group having watched this film. I may offer some discussion prompts before the event. If others want to add to the discussion thread feel free to do so.

Extra credit: read "The Magic Hours: The Films and Hidden Life of Terrence Malick" along with me this season as we connect to his films via other layers.

We will meet at the Dirty Truth in downtown Northampton. Wednesdays they have wine flights so we can taste through a few wines by the glass and see where we get to! RSVP required (capped at 8)