Fun fact: my grandfather's cousin went to high school with Terrence Malick. When I went to her house, she showed me pictures of him in her high school yearbook.
I just found your channel and I'm so happy you chose to touch on my favourite film. Badlands is the absolute sweet point in Mallicks filmography. Mallick's later films maintain an emotional distance from their characters and choose to focus on the higher concepts. This is one of the key reasons i think a lot of his back catalogue is seen as "pretentious" by a lot of people. Badlands on the other hand is so far from pretentious. Its a wonderful and genuine story with an almost childlike whimsy and fascination with its setting. Its a film that is very much presented from Holly's innocent perspective. The violence is over with quickly and is not dwelt on and instead the focus turns to the simple pleasures. Because the actions are seen through the lense of holly, the narration makes sense and helps contextualise her actions a bit more. Its the core relationship, innocence and whimsy that I think draws a lot of people to like the film. It's heavy subject matter but its a purposefully glossy view of it. Its similar to life is beautiful in that sense. I also like how its a film that gives back as much as you put in. It works as a simple film with not much to say and still holds up when you dig deeper and analyse, just like you did. I need to get back to work.
I agree! I feel like he should’ve got *way* more work in the 70’s! Handsome and a great talent. Edit: I don’t think he should’ve just got more movie roles, but I think he could’ve been an icon for his time. I still think Martin Sheen is an icon, he gave us plenty good characters later in life. He also gave us Charlie and Emilio! But young Martin had more potential than “Hollywood” allowed him to reach. That’s just my opinion ofc.
Badlands was my first Malick film. I watched it during summer vacation between ninth and tenth grade. its staggering beauty and simplicity deeply resonated with me even then.
Another great one! One thing people tend to forget is that Malick briefly taught philosophy at MIT, and actually translated some of Heidegger's works. One very important concept in Heidegger is the notion of "being-towards-death" - where authenticity comes from the felt experience of being a being lodged in time, with a particular historicity, relationship with eternity, and orientation towards a final end (death). This is definitely a theme we can pick out in Malick's work! Slightly off topic: Heideggerian studies have enjoyed a recent resurgence in AI research, of all places, very much due to Dreyfus' pioneering (and much critiqued) work in the 70's, that is now generally considered to have gotten it right. I'd love to see Malick tackle a sci-fi AI movie from that perspective.
For sure continental philosophy is definitely woven into his films - and he does believe in some divine redemption but im not sure whether he is classically religious or believes in a Judaeo-Christian God
The Clint Eastwood / Kevin Costner movie "A Perfect World" always reminds me of Badlands. It came out 20 years after and when watching it I was trying to think of what movie it reminded me of. Took me a while to remember. Not sure why these kinds of movies appeal to me so much. Something about the wide open spaces they are set in I guess and the rebellious nature of the characters.
This video was both entertaining and educational. I was taking notes throughout and excited to have found a platform to study more on films. Great video by the way.
Absolutely amazing! The points are spot on and I love the analysis. I got excited when you said the point on America, which I picked up on as the main thesis of the movie and wasn't sure if I was right or not! Also loved the point you said about after Kit shot Holly's father, he catapulted both of them into a wasteland of existential pain. Well said! and very cool that your Grandfather's cousin went to high school with Malick! Whoa!
this film is great. There are three films a saw in tv when I was a kid and for some reason kept in my mind (maybe more but... anyway) one is this badlands the others are Two Lane Blacktop and Minnie and Moskowitz
This film was mostly shot between Rocky Ford Colorado & Trinidad Colorado which are located in the southeastern corner of Colorado. I find the movie to be both fascinating and deeply disturbing. Since I lived in La Junta Colorado which is close to Rocky Ford I was familiar with many of the location including the big fancy house in Bayfield. I lived in La Junta between 1975 and 1979 and it wasn't unusual to come across somebody who was an extra or supplied some of the props, While Colorado is noted for its mountains the eastern plains are as empty and bleak as seen in the movie. I find the movie to be disturbing as I was a child in Nebraska in 1958 when Charlie Starkweather and Carol Ann Fugate went on their murderous rampage throughout Nebraska. I actually met several people who knew the victims. So talk about existential scenes if you must and even romantizing the couple's desperate lunge towards "freedom". What I saw is a murderous rampage which left 10 people dead. Some of his victims were young enough they would have been alive today if not for Starkweather. Real people got killed not card board props cheating his victims of the remainders of their lives.
If you need a place to start, watch Cache (Hidden). One of the best mystery thrillers I have ever seen, a subtle slow burner of a film with great cinematography.
“1. Culture of Violence.” This is what is known in historical circles as the legacy of conquest and regeneration through violence. Read Limerick and Slotkin. What you’ll discover is that first effective settlement has a long shelf life.
How someone can consider Badlands a love story I'll never understand. Doesn't the age-gap cringe you out? What's more, I don't think the movie itself says it's a love story. The boy is a psychopath and the girl is impressionable. It's more a coming-of-age movie for the girl than a love story for couple. By the way, Badlands reminded me more of Wild at Heart than Bonnie and Clyde.
This interested me until the jarring shock of the mispronunciation of the word "psyche." Yes, I realize this seems ridic pedantic, but the word is so important. The narrator is otherwise academic and thoughtful, which makes the tiny surprise worse.
I usually pronounce it 'sigh-key' so looking back at the video, I have no idea why I pronounced it 'sike'. Must have been a mental glitch during recording.
It's amazing to me how much you and others read into and make of this film, which, in reality, is just two hours of aimless, themeless, pointless meandering.
@@therobulus Me three. There seems to be absolutely no theme or point to it, it's just seems like an aimless adventure film. The fact that the author of the video finds all these themes in it seems so preposterous to me, seems like reading stuff in that isn't there.
I can understand people that like it, I just couldn't get behind either main character or the story. Kit is a murderous psychopath and only has any charisma with the cops towards the end. Holly is a robot that doesn't really have any inner-conflict, she doesn't feel anything when her boyfriend murders and digs them deeper in a hole. I think if she noticeably starts to change her thoughts or even tries to change Kit into a better person we might've had more intrigue than just an "on the run" type story.
Have been a fan of this for years. Meditative, poignant and utterly authentic American odyssey. Puts a movie like Natural Born Killers to shame, good as that film is. Sissy Spacek's performance is astonishingly nuanced.
![[Video Essay] The films of Terrence Malick: Badlands](/img/1.gif)
Martin Sheen definetly foreshadowed shades of Captain Willard in Apocalypse Now during the bounty hunter ambush scene by the treehouse.
Fun fact: my grandfather's cousin went to high school with Terrence Malick. When I went to her house, she showed me pictures of him in her high school yearbook.
Damn
Essential Films could you do days of heaven next?
then mean street.
That certainly is a fun fact, that's so nice and I really liked the video! 🙃
Did she say what he was like as a person?
I just found your channel and I'm so happy you chose to touch on my favourite film.
Badlands is the absolute sweet point in Mallicks filmography. Mallick's later films maintain an emotional distance from their characters and choose to focus on the higher concepts. This is one of the key reasons i think a lot of his back catalogue is seen as "pretentious" by a lot of people.
Badlands on the other hand is so far from pretentious. Its a wonderful and genuine story with an almost childlike whimsy and fascination with its setting. Its a film that is very much presented from Holly's innocent perspective. The violence is over with quickly and is not dwelt on and instead the focus turns to the simple pleasures. Because the actions are seen through the lense of holly, the narration makes sense and helps contextualise her actions a bit more.
Its the core relationship, innocence and whimsy that I think draws a lot of people to like the film. It's heavy subject matter but its a purposefully glossy view of it. Its similar to life is beautiful in that sense.
I also like how its a film that gives back as much as you put in. It works as a simple film with not much to say and still holds up when you dig deeper and analyse, just like you did.
I need to get back to work.
Martin Sheen was amazing in this. He never got enough film offer's in my opinion.
I agree! I feel like he should’ve got *way* more work in the 70’s! Handsome and a great talent.
Edit: I don’t think he should’ve just got more movie roles, but I think he could’ve been an icon for his time. I still think Martin Sheen is an icon, he gave us plenty good characters later in life. He also gave us Charlie and Emilio! But young Martin had more potential than “Hollywood” allowed him to reach. That’s just my opinion ofc.
@@virgie4715 I agree.
I wouldnt call it underrated, I've heard nothing but praises about this film. And it deserved every single one of them.
A Badlands review? It must be my birthday!!! 😊😊 thank you, keep up the good work
Badlands was my first Malick film. I watched it during summer vacation between ninth and tenth grade. its staggering beauty and simplicity deeply resonated with me even then.
Waited for someone to discuss in depth about this movie; thank you!
Lazarus23 same
I also have a review of this movie Mine has less plot and isn't as smooth but maybe you can check it out
Another great one!
One thing people tend to forget is that Malick briefly taught philosophy at MIT, and actually translated some of Heidegger's works. One very important concept in Heidegger is the notion of "being-towards-death" - where authenticity comes from the felt experience of being a being lodged in time, with a particular historicity, relationship with eternity, and orientation towards a final end (death). This is definitely a theme we can pick out in Malick's work!
Slightly off topic: Heideggerian studies have enjoyed a recent resurgence in AI research, of all places, very much due to Dreyfus' pioneering (and much critiqued) work in the 70's, that is now generally considered to have gotten it right. I'd love to see Malick tackle a sci-fi AI movie from that perspective.
holy shit
Damn, I'm a philosophy student who love Malick's movies and I didn't know that. Thanks for the info!
For sure continental philosophy is definitely woven into his films - and he does believe in some divine redemption but im not sure whether he is classically religious or believes in a Judaeo-Christian God
The Clint Eastwood / Kevin Costner movie "A Perfect World" always reminds me of Badlands. It came out 20 years after and when watching it I was trying to think of what movie it reminded me of. Took me a while to remember. Not sure why these kinds of movies appeal to me so much. Something about the wide open spaces they are set in I guess and the rebellious nature of the characters.
This video was both entertaining and educational. I was taking notes throughout and excited to have found a platform to study more on films. Great video by the way.
I was hoping you were going to do this film. Thanks. Keep on the good work.
Absolutely amazing! The points are spot on and I love the analysis. I got excited when you said the point on America, which I picked up on as the main thesis of the movie and wasn't sure if I was right or not! Also loved the point you said about after Kit shot Holly's father, he catapulted both of them into a wasteland of existential pain. Well said! and very cool that your Grandfather's cousin went to high school with Malick! Whoa!
How does it have anything to do with America? It's just two young people who go on a run together. What's the connection with America as a whole???
This is a superb piece of work
Bruce Springsteens album "Nebraska" was highly influenced by this movie
Grayson Plumpton it's a great album.
Its was influenced by real life murders that this was based on
Taika Waitiki was heavily influenced by this film as well. Though it’s nothing like his films.
Malick has made so few films but yet each film he has made has had such a profound impact.
Wonderful analysis
So good actually I saw this movie with the two primary women in my life and they both loved it!
My favorite of all Malick's work.
This movie was filmed in my hometown of Las animas Colorado
you just confirmed my malick obsession lol
Do the 1981 Lawrence Kasdan film, "Body Heat"!
Badlands beats all the classics, just a great film
this film is great. There are three films a saw in tv when I was a kid and for some reason kept in my mind (maybe more but... anyway) one is this badlands the others are Two Lane Blacktop and Minnie and Moskowitz
The beauty of our fallen world, stained further by the sins of a depraved couple.
Original Sin.
Are you going to do Synecdoche New York?
Well done !!!
Great video! Nice one
Fantastic review, subscribed
I think Holly and Kit dancing reminds me of dirty dancing.
Edit: sorry for such a weak response to such a wonderful video 😂 but you said it all! Lol
Citizen Kane please
Aidan McAlevy I think that's a given
This film was mostly shot between Rocky Ford Colorado & Trinidad Colorado which are located in the southeastern corner of Colorado. I find the movie to be both fascinating and deeply disturbing. Since I lived in La Junta Colorado which is close to Rocky Ford I was familiar with many of the location including the big fancy house in Bayfield. I lived in La Junta between 1975 and 1979 and it wasn't unusual to come across somebody who was an extra or supplied some of the props, While Colorado is noted for its mountains the eastern plains are as empty and bleak as seen in the movie. I find the movie to be disturbing as I was a child in Nebraska in 1958 when Charlie Starkweather and Carol Ann Fugate went on their murderous rampage throughout Nebraska. I actually met several people who knew the victims. So talk about existential scenes if you must and even romantizing the couple's desperate lunge towards "freedom". What I saw is a murderous rampage which left 10 people dead. Some of his victims were young enough they would have been alive today if not for Starkweather. Real people got killed not card board props cheating his victims of the remainders of their lives.
Talking about modern directors, Are you a fan of Michael Haneke?
No
Do you mean you don't like his work or just aren't familiar?
Sort of both-- never got interested in any of his films, so I didn't watch. People have been telling me I should; I just never found a place to start
If you need a place to start, watch Cache (Hidden). One of the best mystery thrillers I have ever seen, a subtle slow burner of a film with great cinematography.
Cache, the white ribbon and amour are masterpieces
“1. Culture of Violence.”
This is what is known in historical circles as the legacy of conquest and regeneration through violence. Read Limerick and Slotkin. What you’ll discover is that first effective settlement has a long shelf life.
Could you make one on days of heaven as I find this and Badlands to be his best works and some of my favorite movies of all time?
Of course.
Could you do 'Blow Up' next?
Never.
Didn't like it?
Nope.
you should pay more attention to the structure of the story - Malick wrote it - I think you kind of missed some of the main points he was making.
boy. girl and a gun, you missed that one
How someone can consider Badlands a love story I'll never understand. Doesn't the age-gap cringe you out? What's more, I don't think the movie itself says it's a love story. The boy is a psychopath and the girl is impressionable. It's more a coming-of-age movie for the girl than a love story for couple.
By the way, Badlands reminded me more of Wild at Heart than Bonnie and Clyde.
The word psyche has two syllables. Accent on the first syllable.
SIKE -- ee
do ya really wanna know? which hand do ya wipe. with
This interested me until the jarring shock of the mispronunciation of the word "psyche." Yes, I realize this seems ridic pedantic, but the word is so important. The narrator is otherwise academic and thoughtful, which makes the tiny surprise worse.
I usually pronounce it 'sigh-key' so looking back at the video, I have no idea why I pronounced it 'sike'. Must have been a mental glitch during recording.
It's amazing to me how much you and others read into and make of this film, which, in reality, is just two hours of aimless, themeless, pointless meandering.
I watched it today and honestly it isnt that great. The pacing is bad and the characters feel a bit plain.
Not much emotions come across
I want to be wrong, but I just have the same opinion as you , I don't get what's so special about this movie
@@therobulus Me three. There seems to be absolutely no theme or point to it, it's just seems like an aimless adventure film. The fact that the author of the video finds all these themes in it seems so preposterous to me, seems like reading stuff in that isn't there.
gaahh I really wanted to like the film but I feel exactly the same way as you
I can understand people that like it, I just couldn't get behind either main character or the story. Kit is a murderous psychopath and only has any charisma with the cops towards the end. Holly is a robot that doesn't really have any inner-conflict, she doesn't feel anything when her boyfriend murders and digs them deeper in a hole. I think if she noticeably starts to change her thoughts or even tries to change Kit into a better person we might've had more intrigue than just an "on the run" type story.
Have been a fan of this for years. Meditative, poignant and utterly authentic American odyssey. Puts a movie like Natural Born Killers to shame, good as that film is. Sissy Spacek's performance is astonishingly nuanced.