Amidst the wash of imagery and sound in Terrence Malick’s film is a portrayal of humanity’s search for meaning and grace. The parallels between the journey of Christian Bale’s Rick through the bacchanalia of contemporary America and John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress are stated quite clearly, but most importantly these parallels frame Rick’s awakening from a life of selfish pursuit as a journey, an intentional action in which each step along the way leads him to a clearer and clearer understanding. Yet, its confessional nature does not result in a film certain of itself. Instead, this is Malick at perhaps his most experimental, seeing what he can uncover with his roving, unsettled camera. The film does not serve merely as a lesson of spiritual and moral re-enchantment for Rick, but potentially for the viewer as well.
—Anders Bergstrom
- Directed by: Terrence Malick
- Produced by: Nicholas Gonda Sarah Green Ken Kao
- Written by: Terrence Malick
- Music by: Hannan Townshend
- Cinematography by: Emmanuel Lubezki
- Editing by: A. J. Edwards Keith Fraase Geoffrey Richman Mark Yoshikawa
- Release Date: 2015
- Running Time: 118
- Language: English
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2017 Top 25 Films on Waking Up — #24