Badlands (1973)

A slow and detached look at

adolescent love and violence,

 through the filter of innocence

 and youth.

I ranked Terrence Malick #1 on my directors I need to see more of list, now I can finally see if he is in fact worthy of the anticipation. Badlands was Malick's debut and is often considered one of the most visually powerful films of the early 70's, certainly no arguments here on that front. However the question with all of Malick film's is whether or not there is any substance behind the beauty.

In the case of Badlands the answer is certainly yes, however the story's execution may alienate some. The film is quite slow, and does not have a defined timescale. The entire film could take place over the course of two months, or two years. For many this can be disorienting, or even frustrating. However the film focuses more on chronicling emotions within a relationship than chronicling the events of a murder spree. More of a study of feelings than a study of murder.

Conveying these emotions are Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen. Martin Sheen is absolutely phenomenal here. His almost feral mannerisms, innocent outlook on things and intense distance all come together to form an all time great performance. The intense distance in particular reminds me of Ryan Gosling in Drive (2011), perhaps the former inspired the later. Apart from Martin Sheen's captivating performance, Sissy Spacek brings the most contentious element of he film. Whether you hate or adore the film will likely come down to her performance. She shows little emotion and acts as the film's narrator Some may find her unbelievably precocious and annoying, a waste of an otherwise great actor. Where's others will find a subtle greatness in her expressions, and her voice a nice addition to the films superb sound design. I did not really fall into either of those camps, personally finding her slightly irritating but still recognising some clever subtlety from her inflections. 

The film's pace is another fascinating aspect of it's effect. It is very slow, again lacking a cohesive timescale to keep the audience grounded. The film is structured more like a 'road trip', the characters travel from one place to another, and the focus is more on what they encounter and their reactions than anything else. This sets the film apart from other film's about similar subject matter, and contributes to it's very unusual tone. It seems Malick took more inspiration from films like Easy Rider than Bonnie and Clyde. The pace changes the narrative from one about a serial killer and his girlfriend's rampage across America, into one about two young and confused lovers and their desperate attempts to find a place in the world. Whether you enjoy the film or not depends on your acceptance of this unconventional tone and perspective.

The film's minimalist soundtrack also emphasises this innocent and juvenile atmosphere. Large stretches of the film go unscored, again pushing the focus on what were are seeing rather than why we are seeing it. When the soundtrack does appear, it sounds almost like a lullaby or a nursery rhyme. Almost giving the film a fairytale vibe in places.

Finally, as with all Malick films the visuals are king. The naturalistic lighting and colour palette give this film a clean fresh feel. Again, despite the subject matter, gore and violence are never the focus here. The film also puts great focus on nature and landscape, with inumerable shots of such scenery overlaid with narration from Spacek. The film is simply gorgeous, and regardless of how you hold the film's other elements, they show a clear visual mastery from mister Terrence Malick.

Overall, despite some grievances with the pacing, tone and Spacek, I really enjoyed Badlands. I did not get what I expected from this kind of subject matter, and am hungry for more from Malick. A great introduction to the guy's work.

By Jack D. Phillips

A Zoom Film Review