“The New World”
Starring: Colin Farrell, Christian Bale, Christopher Plummer, and Introducing Q'Orianka Kilcher
4 stars out 4
A lingering effect will last as the remains of Terrence Malick’s poignant and sincere love story fades into black as one 2005’s best films, which I think hasn’t been exposed enough to nationwide audiences. It will be true as audiences either embrace or find it as 2 hour plus bore fest in desperate search of meaning.
I didn’t imagine “The New World” getting so much right, talk about a movie that accomplishes emotional feats without too much dialogue, this is that movie. It’s a love story between John Smith and Pocahontas, as Smith and his crew sail the shores into Virginia in 1607 as they possess there new land and hope to further prosper from trading and planting. Smith immediately transcends into the vast beauty and wonder of the newly discovered forests and valleys, as him and his men are immediately at odds with the fellow Indians that already live among them.
The film is honest and playful in a way, as first we see Smith as possible an outlaw or rebel as he is almost hung upon arrival, we then see his true nature as he tries to save and preserve his love for Pocahontas, favorite daughter of her father with many wives and children. She is young, innocent and played beautifully by newcomer Q’Orianka Kilcher, who is the center of the film as we later see.
Malick is so intelligent and responsible for his work, being that it’s light-years away from the recent epic-dramas. His work is always the same, as we know to except a film that seems like a long lost poem, swept away in nature and finally found and told. “The New World is so alive in it’s intentions as it skips the violent clichés and is what it’s supposed to be, this love story between two people, searching for meaning and companionship. This is exactly the kind of role Colin Farrell needed to accept to wash the bad taste of his Alexander the Great portrayal out of everyone’s mouths. He is gentle, bold and we’ve never seen this side of him. Christopher Plummer and Christian Bale are good in supporting roles as Plummer plays the settlers captain, and Bale coming into the film later on with a solid performance in the 20-25 minutes that he’s given.
There is so much to explore here as we are blown away as this past world comes into a crystal clear perspective, I found myself looking in awe at the screen several times as the feelings, and ideas were pure and vibrant. We follow this young women’s discovery of two loves in her life as she tries to understand her surroundings and nurture her feelings into actions as she lives so poetically and unknowingly of the word life.
“The New World” surpasses a lot of films this year mainly because it transcends you far beyond your dreams, as a cinematic escape into a far off land that was once breathed in and favored as life was lived out as two cultures inevitably clashed for understanding and survival.
Most of the main critics have praised the film, announcing Malick as the constant visionary and master of his trade, who will peek out of his hole and make a film every couple of years. The film he has made here with undertaking cinematography will be remembered by me for a long time.
