Knight of Cups **** (2015, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Brian Dennehy, Wes Bentley, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto) – Movie Review

As an old-style art movie, writer-director Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups is both a Hollywood documentary and satire and personal statement. It brings both Fellini and Antonioni to mind.

This dream-like puzzle movie is either mesmerising or infuriating, or possibly both, depending on taste. Philistines may say it’s dull or disappointing, but it’s simply not.

Whatever, it’s so Terrence Malick! I’m a fan. He’s one of the all-time great, visionary film directors. It follows his equally personal and poetic The Tree of Life (2011) and To the Wonder (2012), and seems like the final chapter in the trilogy.

It’s richly enjoyable and accessible but at the same time challenging and bafflling. I think it would reward a second viewing – maybe demand it.

Stamping his authority powerfully on the film, Christian Bale is very good indeed as Rick, a writer indulging in all that Tinseltown has to offer, who searches for love and self through a series of adventures with six different women, played by, among others, Cate Blanchett and Natalie Portman, who co-star brightly. Malick also has intense questions of Rick’s brother brother relationship (Wes Bentley) and Rick’s father son relationship (Brian Dennehy) on his mind and agenda.

Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto, Isabel Lucas, Teresa Palmer, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Imogen Poots also make a strong impression. Indeed, considering there’s no actual drama, plot or characterisation in a traditional way, the actors do really well to make their mark on the auteur’s magnum opus. As you see, it gets you reaching for foreign words to try to explain yourself! Well done, Malick!

There’s just so no drama or plot that the production company offers this as the plot summary: ‘Once there was a young prince whose father, the king of the East, sent him down into Egypt to find a pearl. But when the prince arrived, the people poured him a cup. Drinking it, he forgot he was the son of a king, forgot about the pearl and fell into a deep sleep.’

Now you know you have to see it! And, by the way, any movie that starts with John Gielgud’s voice on the soundtrack gets my vote. Incidentally, Bale’s role is almost wordless, and it’s his voice on the soundtrack that spurs the thoughts and memories of the movie.

Well done, Malick! I look forward to your next one, and to a second viewing of this one.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Movie Review

Check out more reviews on derekwinnert.com