Rating of
3/4
Young Couple on the Run
Unknown - wrote on 04/29/14
'Badlands' is a first for me. It's the first Terrence Malick film that I actually liked. I've found his other films to be long, drawn out, pretentious, and just plain boring. So, I was surprised when I was entertained by this small little gem of a movie. It's a simple story about a young, naive couple who run from the law while on a killing spree. The two main characters are different, in that they know their deeds are terrible but they are disconnected from these violent acts. They seem disconnected from what we perceive as 'normal' life as a whole and at the same time understand it. This is found in the off-and-on narration by Sissy Spacek's character. Both share this commonality and I guess that's what brought them together. The relationship seems relatable, despite this aspect. After the initial first murder, the rest plays out like a road movie. The couple encounter new people. Some they kill, some they don't. Most for little reason other than covering their tracks (which in hindsight isn't the best method). Many scenes prompt more reasoning through subtlety. Makes it worth at least another viewing.
