Friday
Feb172017
Thoughts I Had... the "Song to Song" Poster
Friday, February 17, 2017 at 8:00AM Chris here, with a look at the next Terrence Malick flick. Last his other films of the past decade, this year's Song to Song has been long promised and long in the can, and is suposedly related to last year's Knight of Cups (both of which shot back-to-back). This Austin rock and roll based film is another starry dive we know little about - however this time we'll find out soon when it debuts next month at SXSW Fest and releases in the following weeks. The trailer will be here soon, but we now have a vibrant poster to ruminate over. Some thoughts...
Here's what came to mind:
- This color palate and grungy cutout structure makes this look like Terrence Malick's RENT.
- Four Oscar nominees in the past two years. If all goes according to plan (Malick hopes to see his wartime Radegund released this fall), the director will have four films in two years. Bet you missed/forgot Voyage of Time in 2016.
- The four stars listed on the vinyl sleeve as if the record was their own: What kind of album would they make??
- Malick always has at least one notable actor cut from the film entirely and these four get the only mention on the poster. This had a huge cast in filming, so start your guesses.
- In fact, Malick's name is hidden here. Might this one be trying to distance itself from his whispery brand?
Reader Comments (21)
My only thought is why isn't Cate on this poster? Did Malick cut her out? Well I guess I won't see this one after all.
Surprised to see Fassbender getting top billing.
I'm sure Carly Rae Jepsen loves it!
Christian Bale and Blanchett are the biggest movie stars not listed so I'm gonna assume they were both cut or just in very small roles.
Honestly, my first thought was "Wow, Rooney Mara really does have only one facial expression in her repertoire, huh?"
This is the first time I've noticed Mara's resemblance to her sister. I suppose that it's all in the profile.
I used to care about Terrence malick movies, I'm not sure how or when that changed...
Up until Tree of Life, Malick was my favorite director. Five masterpieces over 30 years. My heart broke with To the Wonder, which was an SNL spoof of a Malick movie. Couldn't even make it through 10 minutes of Knight of Cups. He should be forced - Five Obstructions style - to make films within a strict set of guidelines:
- No voice-over. At all. Zilch. Nada. Njet.
- No characters slowly following other characters through wheat fields. Or anywhere else.
- No women spinning in wheat fields. Or on beds. Or anywhere.
- No more soulful walks on beaches gazing at sunsets.
- TELL A STORY! PLEASE! WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!
I kind of miss when Terrence Malick wasn't making movies every year.
The thing that strikes me about this is how much Portman and Mara look like each other. I mean, in "Closer" Portman wore a very similar wig to what Mara is wearing here and the resemblance is almost creepy.
First thought: Where's Cate Blanchett?
You can see official Blanchett + Gosling photos on the film's IMDb page.
I think Cate's definitely in and she's hooking up with Gosling's character only. Hence, not one of the 4 leading characters. But we love her for her scene-stealing, so I'm really excited.
She was the best part of Knight of Cups. A total tornado in just 6 minutes. And here's her genius:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNsCtLdxtKI
I think Fassbender, Gosling, and Mara are just listed alphabetically but basically all have the same billing. Portman probably gets the "with" designation because she has a smaller part but has been famous for far longer than the others and has an Oscar.
I know someone who worked on this. It's not that surprising that Bale (only worked a couple days) and Blanchett (on set approximately a week and a half) have small roles or were cut.
And now I see that @danblackroyd on twitter had the same reaction to Mara's wig that I did so I feel so validated right now.
It's Malick-I'm in. I actually liked To the Wonder, and wasn't as sour on Knight of Cups as others (though it's by far his least film). I wasn't willing to spend $40 to see Voyage of Time (it only played at a zoo in Minnesota), but in a regular theater, I'm there always.
Knight of Cups - vomit.
The trailer is out and there is no sign of Cate :( But I will probably watch this film anyway. The trailer actually reminded me of A Bigger Splash in a way.
Rooney Mara doing her SIDE EFFECTS face... I'm in!!!
I hated Knight of Cups....it's all imagery and no substance. Blanchett was the best thing in it. Wish he would make movies of Days of Heaven and Thin Red Line caliber again. I'll probably give this a miss, the four BIG actors notwithstanding.
I'm going to see it. I liked To the Wonder and Knight of Cups.
Unlike many cinephiles, I like to see more Malick films. Moviegoers used to grouse that he only very sporadically makes a film when he released The Thin Red Line in 1998.
His films are like essay films (for me at least) and they meander and flow and do not conform to traditional storytelling narrative lines. Some say his films are like music videos. Elegiac but still just music videos.
While I love certain films more than others, I am excited for Song to Song -- just another way of creating worlds using a different visual language.
Why wouldn't anyone want to see a Malick film about the Austin music scene with those four stars?
I quite liked To the Wonder, though Knight of Cups was fairly ridiculous - however, I have a low tolerance for films about the mid-life crises of men in show business.