tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329711874330804845.post8085742057046766945..comments2011-09-19T14:19:48.966-04:00Comments on Herr Wozzeck Reviews: Herr Wozzeck Comments On: Malick's ImageryHerr Wozzeckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06855638259585385233noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329711874330804845.post-83784434070570960532011-06-23T01:05:40.791-04:002011-06-23T01:05:40.791-04:00Oh definitely...I didn't mean to belittle your...Oh definitely...I didn't mean to belittle your theory. I just know how Malick weaves spirituality/religion into his films (with the exception of Badlands I suppose, but even that had a Paradise Lost theme - which is really Malick's favorite to explore).<br /><br />I also need to see the film a 2nd time. I saw it first nearly a month ago on opening day in Los Angeles, and it's never been far from my mind since. I am not one to truly label films "masterpiece" until there's a few year cooling off period, but it's seriously the best thing I have seen in a long time. <br /><br />Maybe ever.<br /><br />Anyways, nice blog - hope you don't mind me conversing with you. I've had numerous convos with people over this film since have gone searching for other takes on it.<br /><br />BTW- what do you think the man in the attic with the book, I think it was a Bible, while a young boy (Jack at a very early age?) rides a tricycle means? I've yet to find a consensus on that one.<br /><br />---CJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329711874330804845.post-21911468947989624582011-06-22T21:59:21.856-04:002011-06-22T21:59:21.856-04:00Again, I hope to stress that this is how I persona...Again, I hope to stress that this is how I personally interpret the movie. I'm pretty sure it's not what Malick had in mind (especially considering your points above), but there's a certain beauty to taking a different meaning from what the filmmaker intended, yes? Something being able to be interpreted in multiple ways is kind of beautiful in itself, you know?<br /><br />Some of the symbolism might make itself clearer on a second go. Unfortunately, that second go is going to have to wait a little bit as I'm not near a theater that's playing it at the moment. Maybe when I get back to Boston in a couple of weeks...<br /><br />Either way, I think we can both agree that this isn't a movie for everyone: I saw one guy get up a little after one shot of dinosaurs. I never saw him re-enter the theater.<br /><br />His loss, I say. He missed out on what I think is ultimately one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.<br /><br />-Herr WozzeckAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329711874330804845.post-47673726738959982011-06-21T23:22:07.544-04:002011-06-21T23:22:07.544-04:00And sorry, it wouldn't take my profile. Call ...And sorry, it wouldn't take my profile. Call me CJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7329711874330804845.post-31528094257215242052011-06-21T23:09:22.528-04:002011-06-21T23:09:22.528-04:00I think you're right on the first two, and kin...I think you're right on the first two, and kind of correct on the third.<br /><br />I saw the beginning of time sequence as absolutely necessary based on the theme of the film - which was spelled out in the beginning with the quote from Job. When the Chastain character basically gives the same question - we get God's answer. In other words, God has other junk to worry about besides one lonely boy who died.<br /><br />I think in addition to being about Man's place in the cosmos it's ALSO about what it is to be human (Malick covers a lot of ground!)<br /><br />The fourth sequence, I think you missed the boat entirely. That's a flash forward to death/heaven/end of time. We see the Sun at a Red Giant phase and then a white dwarf before we see Penn wandering in the desert. Soon he finds the beach (God's Golden shore?) where other people, including his own family, are. Important to note is the door image in the desert that appears multiple times - tying into the door we saw during the birth sequence.<br /><br />ANYWAYS - on the beach we see everyone as the age that Jack (Penn) wants to see them as I believe. That's why everyone is young, the way he sees them (presumably Penn sees himself in his 50's - since who knows how old he was at his death). The only time we definitely see someone from another POV is when Chastain sees Pitt...and his character transforms from old (aged, wrinkled hand) to young. <br /><br />Since I took this entire sequence to sort of imply, no matter how far apart in years we die, we arrive in "heaven" together (after all what is time to God?) that is why you further see the scene where Chastain allows her son who died to move through the door....making her peace with God (after her faith was challenged earlier).<br /><br />Even as an agnostic -- I found all of this very moving and beautiful.<br /><br />We then move back to an alive Penn and he looks at the bridge over water. Does that symbolize the bridge from mortality into the infinite? That is my theory.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com