The New World

Every now and then, director Terrence Malick gets off his lazy ass and makes a masterpiece. Some will gripe about the movie’s length (the version now in theaters is shorter than the one screened for critics a couple of months ago). There’s no doubt that Malick is a director willing to take his time getting his vision across, and that technique works beautifully here. The visuals, the soundtrack and the performances are stunning. Colin Farrell plays Capt. John Smith, a troublemaker who gets a new lease on life when his expedition lands in Jamestown and encounters American Indians, including Pocahontas (the extraordinary Q’Orianka Kilcher). There’s immediacy and honesty in the way Malick films this story, and for those who like his movies (Badlands and The Thin Red Line), it’s remarkable viewing. For those looking for things to blow up real good, this one’s not for you. B.G.

Click here to read critic Jim Lane’s very different take on The New World.