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The New World (2005) 8/10
Terrence Malik’s long and rambling The New World is at times maddeningly dull and so decidedly pretentious that it frustrates you. The story lacks focus and the pacing could easily have been tightened. And yet, this does not detract from the fact that The New World is a most remarkable film, a near-masterpiece, even. Not surprisingly, at least one review has hailed it “a welcome act of artistic lunacy and a messy masterpiece that deserves a life well beyond the current awards season.”
The New World is the film The Last Samurai would have been if it had a better director, better cinematographer and a good leading actress. Although the plot seems at time to simply meander, this romantic tale about the star-crossed lives of Pochantas and John Smith is relentlessly intruiging. And that is mainly the result of newcomer Q’Orianka Kilcher who performance is simply a tour de force. Hard to believe that this young actress can be so good, but seriously, i’m frankly amazed that she wasn’t nominated for at least a best actress Oscar. If Keisha Castle-Hughes could get a best actress nomination for Whale Rider, why not Kilcher? Especially when this year’s Oscars have some dubious nominations, like Judi Dench and Keira Knightley? In fact, Q’Orianka Kilcher puts in a better performance than current Best actress favourite Reese Witherspoon. Simple thought excercise: Imagine Resse Whiterspoon in Walk The Line, multiply the awesomeness factor by 2 and you roughly get Kilcher’s performance in The New World. It is no understatement to say that this 15 year old single-handedly carries the film on her shoulders, acting alongside veterans Colin Farrell and Christian Bale, no less. She has that right mix of youthful spirit and playfullness in the first half, and that reined in melancholy in the second half.
Visually, The New World scores, and the background cinematography is one of the most vivid and beautiful set in years. It is as if Malick had discovered an untouched Eden to film this film in. And stylistically, although Malick is fond of opaque and existentialist scenes, the film manages to flow in spite of Malick’s excesses. Granted, the film plods at times and the second half is decidedly weaker, but there is a certain brilliance behind The New World that is hard to deny.
Pride And Prejudice (2005) 7/10
Jane Austen’s timeless tale is once more adapted to the big screen. While the best Austen adaptation remains Ang Lee’s 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility, Director Joe Wright’s film remains commendable effort. At the very least, its much, much better than Bride and Prejudice, a film that would leave Austen purists foaming in the mouth.
The set design and period costume effectively transports us to the Victorian milieu, and the strong ensemble cast shines, including Keira Knightley, who is good, but not that good as to deserve a Best Actress Nomination. As for the plot, who isn’t familiar with Austen’s Pride and Prejudice? Thus the plot moves in the way i expected it to move.
An enchanting film that shines with solid performances and directing, albeit a tad predictable.
