To The Wonder

Meditative and reflective, “To The Wonder” is an ethereal glimpse at the emotions of love as perceived by director Terence Malick. Not for everyone and described by one patron as “over two hours of leaves blowing in the wind”, Malick’s latest is much more down to earth than “The Tree Of Life”, but still relies heavily on strong earthly ties like flowers and water. But seeing these images with the subtle scores and delicate nuances brings all brands of emotions from those willing to invest, allowing for one of the most spiritual experiences one can have during a film, the same inflicted by “The Tree Of Life”.

Like a majority of Malick films, most of the actors could have been anyone. Ben Affleck and Javier Bardem are for the most part just stepping off points for the females around them. Olga Kurylenko captures the heart of the revolving emotions perfectly, presenting an almost childish perspective on the essence of love. Her dancing and spinning captures the lively moments well while her looks of sadness are almost devastating to experience. Also, with how little she is present, Rachel McAdams is also able to reflect some of the same reflections, making it that much harder to see her go.

As with most of Malick’s body of work, “To The Wonder” is definitely not for everyone but is a much lighter experience than some of his previous films. For me, these films are a form of church, allowing for a deeper look into not just a body of emotions, but into myself as well.