Interesting...

Rating: Null/10 (22 February 1999)

Problem Number One : When writing a screenplay, one should at least attempt to make it possible for the audience to relate to at least one character. In this film, so many shallow and disoriented characters came and went that I was left grasping for someone to like. Ok, so maybe that's very Hollywood of me. Well, then how about - Problem Number Two : - an intriguing plot. I'm not sure this film had a plot. A message, yes. In fact, a very well contructed and beautifully presented message. However, that is not enough to fill a three hour film. Problem Number Three : The excessive and unnecessary cameos. John Travolta and George Clooney were not needed and distracting. Unfortunate is the word that comes to mind. Problem Number Four : The voiceovers and "memory" sequences. Again, excessive and distracting. Perhaps if we were allowed to be sure who we were rooting for, the memories would have been more effective. But, the focus switched seemingly randomly, and so they didn't work. Nick Nolte was excellent, and the cinemetography was fantastic. Perhaps Malick should watch a few Fellini films before his next attempt at "art".