Disappointing

Rating: 5/10 (12 February 1999)

I waited in line to see this film when it was in limited release. I am familiar with Mallick's work and was really excited about this film. I wanted to leave 45 minutes into it. Between the hideous narrative device and painfully long sequences of symbolic imagery involving leaves, I was amazingly dissapointed. The camera work is dazzling, the scenery is beautiful but the story and simplistic message is embarassing. It took me a long time to realize the film had many narrators because the language and intonation was the same for everyone. I wanted to love this film.