The New World Review [2]
Posted by Chad Webb on 01.27.2006
The invisible director crafts an artistic feast for the senses.
Capt. John Smith: Colin Farrell
Pocahontas: Q'orianka Kilcher
Capt. Newport: Christopher Plummer
John Rolfe: Christian Bale
Powhatan: August Schellenberg
Opechancanough: Wes Studi
Wingfield: David Thewlis
Capt. Argall: Yorick Van Wageningen
Pocahontas' Mother: Irene Bedard
Savage: John Savage
Directed and Written by Terrence Malick
Running time: 130 minutes
Release Date: December 25, 2005
Rated PG-13 for some intense battle sequences.
Reviewed by Chad Webb
Be prepared for an unusually formidable experience in Terrence Malick's The New World that contains varying reactions of laughter, incredulity, and revulsion from the audience. It commands that one gaze deeper beyond the surface, as Malick's pristine vision of the environment and civilization should be cherished to the absolute maximum. It is a raw, yet rhythmical illustration of a familiar tale that children and adults alike will fondly recall. After the script lay concealed on Malick's shelf for almost thirty years, this miraculous achievement, that is not eye-catching for all, is one that should be admired instead of simply viewed.
The year is 1607, and John Smith travels with a small fleet from England across the Atlantic to arrive on the shore of a strange new place. Immediately, they are greeted by a group of Native Americans that are called "the Naturals", and they are uneasy about these new people, but assume that they will be leaving soon. The goal of the English is to institute the first settlement of Jamestown, Virginia. One teenage girl stood out from the rest of the tribe, and her name is Pocahontas, but that name is never uttered in the film. Smith and Pocahontas establish a profound fondness for one another that exceeds the chasms of language and culture. She saves John Smith from being executed, but the mayhem between the English and the Naturals challenges their feelings and the bond they have developed. Due to the inevitability of war, Smith is ultimately forced to make a difficult decision regarding his relationship with Pocahontas. After John Rolfe enters the picture and war seems imminent, a dilemma arises that questions whether or not the love linking John Smith and Pocahontas will stand the test of time.
The domination that Q'Orianka Kilcher conveys with her innocence and splendor is astonishing, as is her ability to form chemistry with Farrell and Bale. This is about her voyage through two different lifestyles, and her inquisitiveness propels her to plunge farther into the customs of the new group that has caused the utmost havoc with their attendance. Her solemn, but jocular demeanor is as intricate as the affection that she shares with the gentleman whom she becomes involved with. The passion Pocahontas acquires for Smith is not contemporary, but wholesome and automatic. She is only 14 years of age, but her performance is that of an Oscar winner.
The imprudent and rugged manner in which Colin Farrell operates as John Smith, displays a man that is definitely not chivalrous or polite, but he possesses feelings of love nonetheless. This role marks his most substantial representation to date because Farrell maneuvers from the battle scenes, to the intimate moments with Kilcher effortlessly as if it were he in another life. The reverberated emotion that is manipulated by Farrell during his excursion exposes how superlatively he and Kilcher blend. The newest Batman sensation, Christian Bale, escapes the suit to prove his abilities are persistent and wide-ranging. As John Rolfe, Bale encompasses a dependable, trustworthy, and assiduous farmer with confidence and sophistication.
Writer and Director Terrence Malick outrivals all others at being an enigma, who some think lives in an apartment in Austin, Texas. His career spans 33 years in length with four films on his resume, and he has started his own production company called Sunflower films. For a reclusive that has not granted interviews for many years, he is one of the most adept and calculated filmmakers alive. Perhaps he is too ambiguous and hazy in his delivery for the casual moviegoer, but his gift for sculpting fine art in film reveals his prophetic qualities. What separates him from other filmmakers is the fact that he was inspired by the storytelling of books like the Nancy Drew series. People have described him as private, but intellectual, and his perfectionism is now very apparent after he pulled the film out of theaters for editing.
What is most peaceful is the poetic voice over narration that places one deep inside the mind of the characters. Along with the glorious cinematography of Emmanuel Lubezki, the spectacles and sounds are enlivened with the precision of a master surgeon. The crunch of the ground beneath, and noises of nature are eloquent and captivating. The masterful score of celebrated composer James Horner unites the innovative stroke of Malick with a refined musical opus that is sweet and soothing.
Do not be fooled because this is not the 1995 Disney classic that features Vanessa Williams singing "Colors of the Wind." Much like 2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick, The New World is a fabulous and visually artistic piece of imagination to marvel. I sat in awe at the spectacular visuals in space as Kubrick's grand masterpiece expanded, and that same sentiment was felt throughout The New World as my senses exploded with amazement. The Thin Red Line was Malick's previous work in 1998, but any comparisons in prose connecting his two most recent films are sharpened with The New World.
The expedition of Pocahontas is carried out to its extremely remarkable conclusion that presents a faithful portrait of this unique woman, whose saga is legendary. A lot could be said concerning the carefully motivated and sometimes puzzling approach of Terrence Malick, and even though the progression might be lingering, the medley of breathtaking scenery and sound is expressive with fascinating allure that should hypnotize the audience. Releasing The New World seven years after his last film is rapid speed for the 62 year old filmmaker, but the purity of this historical romance epic will prevail as unparalleled, and solidify his wizardry.
The 411: Since the longer version was sent to the Academy, this might not receive any awards, which it deserves in certain categories. Despite that, this film is such a creative and fantastic sight for film junkies. I can see why the film turns some off, but it is certainly worth a look just to make an educated decision. It is ingenuity like this that causes me to love movies, and I deeply hope Terrence Malick makes more films. The New World would have been a worthy change to my top ten list of 2005.
