Knights Of Cups (Terrence Malick, 2015):USA

Reviewed by Felix Palmqvist, Santa Barbara, 2016. Arlington Theater

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One of the weirdest and most boring films I’ve ever watched.  But There was something that kept me interested even tough it was really slow pace and long takes and almost no action going on what so ever. But I think the combination between really nice cinematography and good framing, camera work, interesting and nice looking locations. Some ways the film reminds me of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The way the narrator voice over on the shots of rich and important people talking and partying, dutch angles and strange framing, forget all you know about rule of thirds, rack focus what not.

Everything in focus, shot on a really wide lens all on steady cam. Which had you just floating around the subjects in kind of a third person perspective. This way you’re able to look at what ever you wanted. I think the director want you to interpret the film and look at it your own way and create your own feeling to it, maybe you can relate thoughts and situations to your own life.

It’s directed by Terrence Malick, he is famous for making these kind of self-interpret-films. With Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett in the cast. Christian Bale as main character, no name was introduced, and Cate Blanchett as one of his lovers.

You get introduced to Christians life style with fancy parties, lots of girls, money and famous people. You get to follow him in a third person view as he party at an LA rooftop, drinking from a cup, after that he starts to question his choice of lifestyle and the people he surround him self with. Don’t the cup he drinks from has something to do with the title of the film to do. As I said before, the film is all about your own interpretation.

All together, music, cinematography and acting turns into a confusing mix of interesting artistic feelings that make you want to keep watching even though there’s barely any storytelling or exiting action shots. Came for Bale, stayed for the cinematography.


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