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The New World | |||
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SHADOWS ![]() | ||
R E V I E W B Y R I C H C L I N E |
dir-scr Terrence Malick with Colin Farrell, Q'Orianka Kilcher, Christian Bale, August Schellenberg, Christopher Plummer, David Thewlis, Yorick van Wageningen, Wes Studi, Raoul Trujillo, Michael Greyeyes, Jonathan Pryce, Irene Bedard, John Savage, Noah Taylor, Eddie Marsan, Ben Chaplin release US 25.Dec.05, UK 27.Jan.06 05/US New Line 2h29 ![]() Listen with your heart: Kilcher, Farrell and the Powhatan ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() It's based on historical records from the first British settlers in Virginia in 1607 about their standoff with Powhatan natives. John Smith (Farrell) breaks the stalemate, going to live with the tribe, getting to know the chief (Schellenberg) and falling for his daughter Pocahontas (Kilcher). But the Europeans still don't trust the "naturals"--or each other. Eventually, John Rolfe (Bale) discovers a way to profit from tobacco, and he also discovers Pocahontas. Malick plays down the plot to concentrate on the collision between Europeans and native Americans, and the resulting creation of a new world. All character interaction plays into this theme, as does Emmanuel Lubezki's lush cinematography, which lingers on water, trees, grass and clouds as if they're telling us something. Indeed they are: the balance has been tipped. In this filmmaking style, performances seem somewhat superficial, but the cast add depth through glances and internalised emotion. Dialog is limited to short bursts of conversation (sometimes in unsubtitled Algonquin), with frequent voice over that adds to the dreamily poetic tone. Farrell is good in a difficult role, Bale augments his character with moments of jarring insight, and Kilcher is a true discovery--engaging, earthy and powerfully emotional. Everyone else is fine, although most roles are essentially cameos. This film is work of art, not a traditional narrative feature. Malick is exploring the clash between nature and civilisation, the way the earth destroys and regenerates, the wonders of discovery and the mysteries of love. It's an ambitious project, but he captures images and sounds (including a magnificent score) with insight and a lasting resonance. Sure, the Powhatan society couldn't have been this idyllic ("Why do you want gold? Do you eat it?"). But when Pocahontas discovers the purity and balance in carefully manicured England, you'll believe that maybe she can indeed paint with all the colours of the wind.
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![]() ![]() Ryan, River Falls: Donna R Carter, Wisconsin: "I haven't read my history books in a long time so I couldn't verify accuracy but I imagine there was considerable fiction blended in with the facts. Beautiful cinematography. Very well cast and well acted. Colin Farrell made a great John Smith (and he definitely had his hunky moments!). Q'orianka Kilcher (only 16 years old? Wow!) is graceful and beautiful, and was a perfect Pocahontas. Christian Bale as John Rolfe, and Christopher Plummer as Captain Newport, were also perfect fits for their roles. Everything appeared very authentic. It was a rather long, slow-moving film with only a few bursts of activity. It did drag at times, but it was also wrenchingly beautiful." (26.Feb.06) | |||
© 2005 by Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
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