After making two much-praised films in the 1970s—Badlands and Days of Heaven—writer-director Terrence Malick retreated into seclusion for two decades. Lately, he has grown increasingly productive with less critically acclaimed films such as To the Wonder and Knight of Cups. In a meandering, semi-improvisational fashion, Song to Song serves up a romantic roundelay set against the Austin, TX, music scene. Cook (Michael Fassbender) is a bigwig in the business, attracting Faye (Rooney Mara), an aspiring singer-songwriter, who has hopes of advancing her career. Cook also sees promise in handsome BV (Ryan Gosling), another songwriter, but BV shows an interest in Faye, leading to a pallid romantic triangle. To add to the complexity, Cook seduces pretty waitress Rhonda (Natalie Portman), while BV, in response to Faye's dalliance with Cook, connects with lovelorn Amanda (Cate Blanchett), and Faye moves on to experimentation with sultry Zoey (Bérénice Marlohe). All of these story threads are tossed together, and any discernible chronology takes a backseat to long, rambling scenes of characters traipsing around the Texas capital while reciting pretentious interior monologues in voiceover. Yet another movie suitable only for absolute diehard Malick fanatics, this is not recommended. (F. Swietek)
Song to Song
Broad Green, 129 min., R, DVD: $26.99, Blu-ray: $29.99 Volume 32, Issue 5
Song to Song
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