The New World (2005)

Terrence Malick's fourth film rolls across the screen with undulating waves of tall grass and murky water that laps right up against the edge of your seat. No other director uses his natural environment in such a profoundly physical way. Nature permeates this film. It's everywhere, and it constantly establishes itself in relation to the characters, helping the characters relate to one another. read more...

Search for streaming:

• Love Story ▶ Yes please
• Moralistic ▶ Yes please
• Production Level ▶ Polished
• Overall Depth ▶ Deep or penetrating
• Pace ▶ Slow
• Takes itself Seriously ▶ Yes please
• Originality ▶ Different or novel for its time

To the Wonder (2013)

Terrence Malick's sixth film in 40 years, To the Wonder has much in common with his previous film, The Tree of Life, though it's more intimate, more immediate. read more...

Search for streaming:

• Love Story ▶ Yes please
• Production Level ▶ Polished
• Overall Depth ▶ Deep or penetrating
• Pace ▶ Slow
• Takes itself Seriously ▶ Yes please
• Originality ▶ Different or novel for its time

The New World: The Extended Cut (2008)

In December of 2005, I saw the 150-minute cut of The New World, which was screened for my critics group for awards consideration. The film as a whole didn't quite sink in until I saw the 135-minute cut a month or so later. I'm not sure if the shorter cut played better for me, or if it took a second viewing to cement the idea that this was a true masterpiece. Now New Line has released an "extended cut," running 172 minutes. My guess is that this new cut has nothing to do with director Terrence Malick. For one thing, it's specifically called an "extended cut," and not a "director's cut." And there's no information on the disc or anywhere else explaining how this cut came about. Malick is secretive and reclusive, but I'm sure that if this were his director's cut, it would be called the director's cut. read more...

Search for streaming:

• Love Story ▶ Yes please
• Moralistic ▶ Yes please
• Production Level ▶ Polished
• Overall Depth ▶ Deep or penetrating
• Pace ▶ Slow
• Takes itself Seriously ▶ Yes please
• Originality ▶ Different or novel for its time

Happy Together (1997)

Wong Kar-wai's 1997 feature was a step in a new direction for the very stylish and always fascinating Hong Kong director. It's a fairly straightforward tale of displaced love and friendship, taking place very conspicuously in Argentina, rather than Hong Kong (during the year of the handover). read more...

Search for streaming:

• Love Story ▶ Yes please
• Production Level ▶ Polished
• Takes itself Seriously ▶ Yes please
• Originality ▶ Different or novel for its time

Chungking Express (1994)

Chungking Express is the fourth film by Hong Kong art-house filmmaker Wong Kar-wai. Quentin Tarantino saw this film in 1994 and, under the wing of Mirimax, developed his own releasing company, Rolling Thunder, thereby making the film available to Americans who have trouble finding watchable Hong Kong cinema. This earns him back the points that he lost with Four Rooms. Technically, this is a 1994 film, but I'm going to count it as a 1996 film under the same rules that the Academy follows. And Chungking Express is one of the best of 1996. read more...

Search for streaming:

• Love Story ▶ Yes please
• Production Level ▶ Polished
• Takes itself Seriously ▶ Yes please
• Originality ▶ Different or novel for its time