8 Movies From 2013 That Completely Went Over Audiences' Heads

2. To The Wonder

Although it is probably Terrence Malick's weakest film to date, the latest from the legendary director hardly deserved the largely negative reception it received, as many have even gone so far as to say that Malick had made almost a parody of his previous work. To the Wonder's sluggish pace, near lack of dialogue, and religious themes have alienated it from critics and audiences who don't seem to grasp the brilliance lying under its gorgeously photographed exterior. To the Wonder appears to be, and was marketed as, a romantic film featuring a love triangle of sorts that alternates between Paris and the plains of Oklahoma. Although at a certain level that's what the film is about, to reduce To the Wonder to such a simplistic formula undermines the very complexities that underlie all of Malick's films, as well as the metaphysical questions that have driven his narratives and stories. To the Wonder examines love in its spiritual, religious, and physical forms, evoking the biblical Song of Solomon while also showing the struggles that such emotions cause in people. The breathtaking visuals, the lyrical examinations of profound issues, the trancelike effect that all of Malick's films inflict on viewers, and the comforting conclusions he comes to, have appeared to go completely unappreciated in a film that few seemed to enjoy. Like all Malick films though, To the Wonder is likely to only grow in stature in coming years as more of its mysteries are uncovered.