Terence Malick's abstract indulgence, "VOYAGE of Time~ Life's Journey", viewed at the 2016 Venice Film Festival, had lots of fascinating imagery --especially of African animals like giraffes in silhouette, gliding sharks with gaping jaws, and other underwater sea life -- (plus some horribly repulsive other creatures) -- but overall was as Pretentious as it's title, basically incoherent, and massively boring in spite of the interesting imagery --lots of volcano eruptions and lava flows apparently intended to convey the turbulence of Creation -- but this was more of a Big Bust than a Big Bang.
Cate Blanchett's minimal "narration" limited as it was to what amounted to spare Italian inter-titles visually -- ("Madre" repeated over and over... ) was totally unnecessary and served only to trivialize the subject matter.
The other abstract film this week at Venice, SPIRA MIRABILIS, was far more coherent and generally better if abstraction is your cup of tea. Malick got scattered unenthusiastic applause at the end but I think most viewers. were as underwhelmed as I was although there were pools of heated discussions among the cognoscenti outside of the massive Sala Darsena after the screening. It was the most breathlessly awaited film of the week with a turn-away crowd and also the biggest disappointment of the week as well. Certainly glad I didn't have to pay hard cash to see it and had to force myself not to walk out before the end.
Basic Assessment: Cosmic Self Indulgence: More of a Big Bust than a Big Bang.
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Cate Blanchett's minimal "narration" limited as it was to what amounted to spare Italian inter-titles visually -- ("Madre" repeated over and over... ) was totally unnecessary and served only to trivialize the subject matter.
The other abstract film this week at Venice, SPIRA MIRABILIS, was far more coherent and generally better if abstraction is your cup of tea. Malick got scattered unenthusiastic applause at the end but I think most viewers. were as underwhelmed as I was although there were pools of heated discussions among the cognoscenti outside of the massive Sala Darsena after the screening. It was the most breathlessly awaited film of the week with a turn-away crowd and also the biggest disappointment of the week as well. Certainly glad I didn't have to pay hard cash to see it and had to force myself not to walk out before the end.
Basic Assessment: Cosmic Self Indulgence: More of a Big Bust than a Big Bang.
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