Song to Song (2017)

Better Late Then Never

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Terrence Malick have made better versions of this film years earlier. After his 21st century peak in The Tree of Life everything that followed are just residues of that success. Here we've got another set of characters that are lost and longing, but they aren't as interesting as in his previous works - that's the law of diminishing returns. They're just beautiful people filmed in beautiful places murmuring words we've already heard before in a superior Malick film and it is too thematically identical to Knight of Cups.It stars Ryan Gosling who does Gosling things, Michael Fassbender playing like a lesser version of his character in Shame, and other big names like Natalie Portman, Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett. It also featured Patti Smith playing herself and opening up about her real life, but she chose the wrong Malick film.This is a perfect example of self-parody. Malick is too old now to take another long break, and I just wish he still has one film left in him to catch us off guard.

This film was like diving into the minds of the characters, through their love, ambition and confusion. You could never know where your mind leads you it may jump to places you don't expect and that's exactly how Malick has made this film. I can totally understand why some or most people would hate this film, it works only for a few people who probably are like the characters of this film.

Michael Fassbender, Ryan Gosling and Natalie Portman are such seasoned actors that they could convincingly walk around for three hours without any purpose or direction and still sell a story. Rooney Mara on the other hand (try as I may each time to look past the privileged life that gave her a Hollywood career and believe whatever it is she is trying to convey to me) just didn't cut it as the lead actress, she just gave off an aura that she was uncomfortable the whole time which just seemed to confirm that there was indeed no script or that hers was just constantly being revised and shared with no one else but her. When even Cate Blanchett in her blink-and-you'll-miss-her cameo is Oscar-worthy compared to a film's lead actress, there is a problem.

Mostly I try to watch the movies of Terrence Malick and they like this one "Song to Song" are about thought as they are long and drawn out stories of life and choices with interactions as love and interest change with people as much of it is about location and timing.Set in Austin, Texas this picture revolves around the young alternative music scene in which two struggling songwriters BV(Ryan Gosling)and Faye(Rooney Mara)are trying their best to break into the music business with the help from a mogul named Cook(Michael Fassbender). Thru it all the lives of each are turned upside down as to begin with BV and Faye have a relationship that's intimate with sex yet things change when BV returns to an ex flame and Faye starts to explore and try to find out who she is in the bedroom as she runs an experimentation with another woman for some hot passionate sex! Now Cook tries his shake with Rhonda(Natalie Portman) a young waitress yet nothing doesn't really go to float. Thru it all each character makes a discovery about life, love, people, as the experimentation and intersection with one another all leads to a mix of seduction and betrayal as each learn the game of life and see what's in it for them as BV returns to his blue collar roots and leaves the music business.Overall long take and spin on interaction, experimentation, and life choices proving that chance, timing, luck, location and passion all play a part in shaping one as life can be a fun experiment.