Making use of writer/director Terrence Malick's freewheeling, dream-like style almost to the point of parody, To The Wonder - which stars Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko, Rachel McAdams, and Javier Bardem - is all style and little substance; rather odd, for a director who usually has so much to stay. The biggest problem here is that Mallick has apparently fallen too much in love with his own filmmaking techniques. We float around for almost two hours here, weaving in and out as the characters (none of whom seem "real") resort to humourless, sombre voice-overs. The film, which explores the relationship between a couple who move from France to Oklahoma to start a new life together, clings to all those Malick trademarks - but whereas the majority of his other films are emotionally engaging, To The Wonder feels bland and empty. So much so, in fact, that by the time it's all over, it doesn't leave you with anything to linger on. There's a feeling that Malick was instead so focused on creating an atmosphere, he forgot everything else. After all, atmosphere isn't the only thing you need to make a good film; you need a story, too.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
