With a confusing plot, characters who feel out of place in the story, and a dizzying editing technique, Song to Song is not a movie for everyone. While I respect that Malick tried to create something new and different, this is not a movie I would ever want to see again.
“In this modern love story set against the Austin, Texas music scene, two entangled couples – struggling songwriters Faye (Rooney Mara) and BV (Ryan Gosling), and music mogul Cook (Michael Fassbender) and the waitress whom he ensnares (Natalie Portman) – chase success through a rock ‘n’ roll landscape of seduction and betrayal.” – Official Synopsis
Song to Song, the latest film from writer/director Terrence Malick, runs 129 minutes. It addition to the four leading cast members, the movie also stars Cate Blanchett, Holly Hunter, and Berenice Marlohe. The film also includes numerous cameos by musicians including Patti Smith, Florence Welch, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
I have a friend who argues that movies don’t always need to have a clear, concise plotline. He says that sometimes a movie can be more about creating an experience than telling a story. I’m a little more A to B to C when it comes to following a plot. Unless it’s some kind of a mystery, I want to understand what I’m seeing – no ambiguity, no unanswered questions at the end.
Malick’s Song to Song is a perfect example of this division between experience and story. If you side with my friend and want a memorable experience, you should see this movie. On the other hand, if you agree with me that the story is more important, you’ll likely want to skip this movie. To be perfectly frank, I kind of wish I had.
After reading the description for this movie, I was expecting a romance story set in a small, country town. You know the kind – every other scene takes place in a diner, people have quiet conversations around campfires, country music everywhere. To top it all off, I expected a big musical performance (probably in a gym or a barn or something) that would ensure every character ended up with the right partner and would close the movie with a happy note.
Oh no. Not even close . . . Just no.
Let’s start with the plot. The movie centers around a young woman named Faye (Mara). She is an aspiring musician who works for a rich, egotistical man named Cook (Fassbender). Though they have a friends-with-benefits style relationship, Faye falls for Cook’s latest protégé (Gosling). Cook begins to flirt with a waitress (Portman) he meets in a diner (See, I knew there would be a diner somewhere in this!). Along the way, we see these characters interact with other romantic interests, musicians, and family members.
At least, that’s my understanding of the plot. It’s hard to follow. Each scene flies by and often starts or ends mid-conversation. They’re snippets more than full-length scenes. Characters come and go throughout the story with little to no introduction or explanation. Malick said that he wanted the movie to reflect how life is like a series of specific minutes strung together; while this idea may be a unique, philosophical approach to storytelling, it doesn’t really work for the development of the plot or the editing between scenes.
The editing of shots during scenes is also hard to follow. The cuts are made quickly, which feels choppy more than artistic. These shots don’t even seem to connect to each other. For example, during a conversation between two people, the scene may start with a close-up of Person A’s face and then immediately cut to a shot of Person B’s hand. Each camera shot has movement that feels unnecessary. Many scenes were shot using wide angle lenses, making the movie feel a bit like a panorama. These rapid edits and busy shots work well for the musical scenes, but contradict with the pace of slower, quieter scenes. Overall, the editing is ultimately more distracting than beneficial.
Song to Song feels more like a documentary about a music festival than a character- or plot-driven story. It’s unique, and I respect the fact that Malick took a new approach to explore a philosophical idea about life; however, the resulting camera work, editing, pacing, and plot are too distracting and disorienting to really make the movie enjoyable.
Special Features
• “The Music Behind the Movie” (2:01) – This feature looks at the variety of music and festivals used in the movie.
• Also From Broad Green Pictures – See trailers for the following movies:
o Bad Santa 2
o The Lost City of Z
o The Dressmaker
o The Neon Demon
o 99 Homes
o Last Days in the Desert
o The Dark Horse
o Song of Lahore
o Break Point
o Eden
o I Smile Back
o Learning to Drive
o A Walk in the Woods
o Knight of Cups
o New Life
o The Infiltrator
Takeaway
With a confusing plot, characters who feel out of place in the story, and a dizzying editing technique, Song to Song is not a movie for everyone. While I respect that Malick tried to create something new and different, this is not a movie I would ever want to see again.
