I cannot fathom what the studio executives thought upon seeing this for the first time. Absolutely unbelievable. Certainly one of the greatest war films ever made. Terrence Malick is a true master of the craft.
Side note: I double featured this with the original theatrical trailer just to see how the hell they managed to market it. There was clearly some trouble.
After not particularly liking Magnolia the first viewing, but very much enjoying it the second, I can attest that this film is even better the third time. Some of PTA’s best music use in any of his work. I absolutely adore how it accompanies the opening sequence, the final shot, and obviously the sing along section. Also, I’m really glad to have gotten the theater experience with people who clearly hadn’t seen it before. Heard at least one “What just happened?” at that part. Fantastic stuff.
One could call it the Citizen Kane of Orson Welles’s filmography.
Seriously though, I’m so happy to rewatch this after going through some of Welles’s other films. What an achievement. Incredibly shot, with some of the best use of both shadows and miniatures that I’ve ever seen. Really great use of make-up as well. And damn, Welles himself can really act. Unbelievable film.
