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Badlands [1973]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Still one of American cinema's most powerful, daring film-making debuts, Terrence Malick's Badlands is a quirky, visionary psychological and social enigma masquerading as a simple lovers-on-the-run flick. Inspired by the 1958 murders in the cold, stark badlands of South Dakota by Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate, the film's plot, on the surface, is similar to that of other killing-couple films, like Bonnie and Clyde and Gun Crazy. Martin Sheen, in an understated, sophisticated performance, plays the strange James Dean-like social outcast who falls in love with the naïve Sissy Spacek--and then kills her father when he comes between them. The two flee like animals to the wilderness, until the police arrive and the killing spree begins.

What sets the film apart from others of its genre is Malick's complicated approach. Gorgeous, impenetrable images contrast sharply with Spacek's nostalgically artless narration, serving as ironic counterpoints, blurring concrete meaning and stressing that nothing this horrific is simple. Malick observes, rather than analyses, the couple in a manner as detached and apathetic as the couple's shocking actions. No judgment or definitive motivations are offered, though Malick's empathy often leans toward his senseless protagonists, rather than the star-struck society that makes killers famous. Compared with the interchangeable uniform cops who hunt them and the film's other nameless characters stuck in suburban banality, the couple are presented like tarnished, warped andfrustrated results of squelched individuality.

Badlands, on one level, views America's suffocating homogeneity and, conversely, its continued obsession with celebrities (individuals considered different but adored) as hypocritical. Ambiguous and bold, the movie hints that society may be as guilty as the killers. --Dave McCoy

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Terrence Malick's Badlands has become a cornerstone in American cinema. Although not a success at the box office at the time of its release in 1973, its influence can be seen years later in the Tarantino-penned Natural Born Killers and True Romance among others, and it remains arguably one of the finest debuts by a director in Hollywood history. Astonishingly, Malick has only made two movies since: Days of Heaven (1979) and The Thin Red Line (1998). Badlands also brought Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek to the notice of Hollywood for the first time. Shot on a low budget, the film (based on Charles Starkweather and Caril-Ann Fugate's 1958 killing spree) portrays a loved-up couple on the run from the law who embark on a series of killings motivated by their need to survive.

The film has become a classic, partly due to Tak Fujimoto's cinematography and partly due to the detached attitude the couple adopt towards murder. Like Tarantino's later anti-heroes and heroines, Kit and Holly are killers without conscience. Holly's naïve teenage mentality makes her passive attitude seem even more shocking, and her only comment that leads us to believe she has any grasp of the situation is when she mentions that Kit may be a little crazy. Yet there is also an innocent, "young love" side to the couple's actions which the audience cannot fail to feel pity for, greatly helped by the pairing of Sheen and Spacek as well as Malick's gift for drawing the finest and most sensitive performances from his actors.

On the DVD: Badlands has been cleaned up nicely with a 1.85:1 widescreen print and 5.1 surround sound. Although seemingly short of extras the one included on the disc is a real gem: "Absence of Malick" offers insight into this notoriously publicity-shy director from the cast and crew and the reason why he ended up acting in his own movie. --Nikki Disney

Editorial
Special Features

English
Region 2

Editorial
Synopsis

Former Harvard Rhodes scholar Terrence Malick's debut feature revisits the murderous Midwestern terrain of the late 1950s. Kit (Martin Sheen) is a 25-year-old trashman who fashions himself as James Dean. When he meets Holly (Sissy Spacek), a cute, innocent 15-year-old, he finds himself falling in love with her. Her father (Warren Oates), an overprotective widower, will not allow the relationship to blossom, even after Kit informs him of his decent intentions. This refusal triggers Kit into embarking on a murder spree across the Midwest. All the while, Holly is there by Kit's side, to witness the senseless crimes and ponder the future.
BADLANDS is told from the point of view of the naive Holly, whose voice-over sounds like she's reading from a serial romance. It is this innocence that makes the detached, cold killings all the more shocking. Sheen portrays Kit--a dreamer who wants nothing more than to leave his mark on history--with a grace and humor that makes him a sympathetic character even while he's killing innocent strangers. All of this can be accredited to Malick, whose understated, seemingly simplistic direction adds an even greater emotional impact to the proceedings.

One of the Great Achievements of US Cinema
Review date: 2008-09-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

Great works of art are very much of their time, but have a relevance and impact long afterwards - and this is a great work of art. A simple story - disfunctional couple on the run, but told with great artistry and 'truth', with actors burdgeoning into great careers, and with much to say about US society, disaffection, and the cult of celebrity killers.

The cinematography is groundbreakingly beautiful, and surely the use of music has never been bettered - this movie sears itself into your brain.

Enthralling, gripping, funny, brutal (death is sad and real and pitiful), and simply a benchmark of US film-making that might never be bettered.

How many DVDs do you watch right through the end credits? I found myself doing this - in awe and contemplation, and because the music is notched up once more and demands to be listened to through to the very last. This is quite deliberate - every detail here is thought right through and infused with cinematic genius.

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Reviews


Dramatisation of the real life killing spree of the 1950's
Review date: 2008-08-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

My father bought a VHS video player many years ago and this was the first movie i watched on it. It set a high standard. Terrence Malick seems to be obsessed with nature shots as here the plains of Montana and Dakota dominate this classic movie.

This chilling story was inspired by actual events that occurred in 1958 and Spacek (who also captivatingly narrates), and Sheen capture these troubled youths with perfection and will draw you into every word. Warren Oates turns in a terrific performance as usual, as Holly's father, and of course is not in it nearly long enough. Malick and Fujimoto subtly and artfully create a film, that puts the viewer right there in those "Badlands" of Montana, and that 30 years later will still have you fascinated.

This is an expertly crafted film with an ingenious use of music. The director even manages to utilise the music of Erik Satie (Gymnopedies 3) effectively, however unlikely it may seem. Like the music of Erik Satie, the film is multi-textured and deceptively complex. Laconic and poetic this maybe Malick's most completely satisfying film, even if it prefigures progressively more ambitious movies.

9/10.

What a good film
Review date: 2008-01-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

This has aged well. A classic
Good atmosphere, story, acting, scenery
Music score by Carl Orph SUPERB
I saw this over 30 years ago and it is still
Brilliant everything works. Its slow and fast brooding pace tension,grips COMPELLs ans absorbs you into the scenario.
Innocence weakness and corruptive influences.
What a great film






ess.

An interesting romantic film
Review date: 2006-09-28 Rating: 8 out of 10

At the very start I knew that this was going to be an interesting film and through the use of an interesting storyline, excellent acting and high passion I was glad I watched it.

Martin Sheen (Enigma, Apocalypse Now) stars as Kit, a less than cheerful garbageman who looks for a healthy relationship with young Holly. Sheen performs brilliantly as the central protagonist who portrays a desperate and soulful character who is usually grumpy and surprisingly quiet in his nature. After seeing Sheen in `Apocalypse Now' I knew he was talented and even though I didn't feel especially attached to his character I can tell he performed to a great standard.

It isn't a story where you get involved closely with the lead characters. Sheen and Spacek (JFK, the river) which is probably why this film isn't highly rated as maybe one might aspect. I can tell it is an excellent film but it's a personal level for me, I just didn't find the story too involved and didn't grab my attention as I expected it to.

It is a very slow moving story which enables viewers to gain an insight into the lives of the two lead characters and their personal issues.
It's a very clever idea to have the characters personalities as quiet and afraid as they deal with issues about relationships, family, murder and such others in a hard neighbourhood.

Because it was slow all the time and Kit kept going off his head for the strangest of readers I felt a bit put off by it but I'm sure that if you watch a film like this a few times then you can appreciate it more and gain different views everytime you watch it.

At times the film was portraying many emotional scenes but I felt it could have been a bit more involved and creating a bit more passion and devotion may have been the key.

It is a good watch because it is a very different ideology of relationships which is not found in your everyday romantic genre film. It is gripping to see how the characters are going to deal with their new lives and therefore gains audience interest.

7/10

Disturbing yet dinamic
Review date: 2004-01-22 Rating: 8 out of 10

'Badlands' is an interesting and enjoyable film. However, at the same time I could not help but be disturbed by the sheer bluntness of the story. I found the entire plot quite disconcerting and worrying which I found to be facinating rather than crude. The acting, cinematography and dialogue are all superb which combines to give a film of excellent quality almost scoring a full five stars.

Martin Sheen is on fine form giving the lead performance both passion and style. However, this superb performance would have been wasted were it not perfectly complimented by Sissy Spacek. These actors seem to gel perfectly to bring a powerful vibrancy to the film. The simple story of two people falling in love turns into several murders and a lot of destruction which will have you sitting on the edge of your seat as much from distress as excitement.

I think this is a superb film with an excellent cast but it just falls short of being worth the money. If you get the chance I would advise anyone to watch this film but, unless it sounds the a movie you'd love, I wouldn't but it on DVD.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Warren Oates
Sissy Spacek
Martin Sheen
Ramon Bieri

Creators:
Martin Sheen (Primary Contributor)
Sissy Spacek (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900160865
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2003-05-26
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1973
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Spanish (Original Language)

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