"Days of Heaven" - Director Terence Malick stars Richard Gere, Sam Shepard, Brooke Adams, Linda Manz
If you know Malick films, they are slowpaced and beautifully filmed. The cinematography in this film particularly stood out - really stunning! It swept one away to the midwestern wheat fields - "amber waves of grain". Also, you get a superb sense of America and poverty and struggle during the Great Depression. In this way the film reminded me of "Grapes of Wrath", a great book and another fine film. The young girl's narration is interesting enough, but the only criticism I would have is why she speaks such poor English grammar, when her brother, who is played by Gere, speaks much better grammar. Perhaps the kid did not have any education and he had been schooled. That was the only explanation I could come up with. The other thing I found annoying was the lack of character development. Most things were either subtle or hinted at. I am not sure that is really a drawback - it is probably just a personal preference. I thought the film was a fine one and I would rate it highly, probably a 8 out of 10, but I hate rating with numbers. You need patience to watch it and it is not for everyone. It kept my interest. I like other Malick films such as his newest film "The New World" and particularly "The Thin Red Line". His films have been called poems; I feel that is true. He is definitely an interesting story-teller and director, and his films stay with you and make you think long after viewing. I believe he wrote the screenplay, as well, but don't quote me on that one. His work seems unique to me in film-making. I applaud him for that. Sound track to "Days of Heaven" is really wonderful - done by the famed Enric Morricone. I like his scores very much. The music stood out in this film - fine score and an emotional element. If you like films about Americana you will like this one and the stunning scenes. The characters are good, acting quiet, thoughful and well done. The landscape is a character in itself, which makes it interesting. I liked the fact that no character was all good or all bad. All seemed intricate, as in real life.
Hi Vintagepiper,
I just noticed your review on "Henry V" - a page before this. I had to step in here to comment and defend one of my favorite films. Which version did you see - the Kenneth Branagh or the Lawrence Olivier version? I adore this film - the Branagh version. I have seen it at least 10 times and own it, absolutely one of my favorite films. I have read the book and it is nearly exactly the original text. If you know Shakespeare the French scene is in the book, also the one at the end when Henry woes Kate. It is quite easy to see what is going on....visually to understand it. I can't imagine you giving it a 5 out of 10, but you are entitled to your opinion. On Amazon it is always showing up on "my favorite films" list way at the top, if not first. In my own opinion it is a perfect film and I would rate it 10 out of 10 - hands down! It was highly acclaimed when it first came out. It won many awards, not that that really means anything, but still consider - Shakespeare films never receive their due accolades. I heard the Olivier film plays up the war and the glory of war since it was presented during WWII. I have not seen that version. The Branagh film looks at both aspects of war - both sides of the coin, the fear and the horrific aspects of war, the sadness and the heartbreak. It is the human qualities in the play and film that most attract me. When Henry walks through the camp at night secretly disquised and speaking with his soldiers he comes down from his kingly throne and is so human you want to weep for him. There is only one difference in the text of the Branagh version to the Shakespeare text, that I know of, and it is near the end, right at the close of the battle. The narration by Derick Jacobi is superb. All the acting is first rate. It is a fine film and long after it leaves you pondering what it must have been like to accept the responsibility of being a king.
