Song to Song

This film does not have a single entertaining moment. It is impossible to imagine a worst film being released in 2017.

Song to Song, directed by Terrence Malick, may be one of the worst movies I have ever seen. On top of that, it became only the second movie I walked out of in my entire life, the other being Paper Towns (2015). Both films were pathetically boorish at every turn.

Unfortunately, it appears that Mr. Malick is not aging well. Despite his previous accomplishments with Days of Heaven (1979), The Thin Red Line (1998) and The New World (2005), recent films like The Tree of Life (2011) and Knight of Cups (2016) were completely forgettable. However, at least they had some type of storyline wandering around beneath the surface, something that is completely lacking in Song to Song.

What’s worse, this cinematic disaster stars acclaimed actors Michael Fassbender, Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman and a small role by Cate Blanchett. I can only imagine that these actors agreed to participate in this mess in the same fashion that you would go to see an admired relative who is suffering from dementia in a retirement home.

And let me emphasize that none of my comments made above are an exaggeration. Every character in this movie is hateful. In short, Ryan Gosling and girlfriend (Ms. Mara) are trying to land careers in music in Austin, Texas. They fall under the guidance of the lecherous Mr. Fassbender, a guy who promises Ms. Mara a career if she’ll have sex with him. Naturally, she agrees, which becomes a bit of an issue when discovered by Mr. Gosling.

Let me just say that Ms. Portman surfaces as a waitress who readily becomes Mr. Fassbender’s squeeze when Ms. Mara is unavailable. Though I left the film before Ms. Blanchett ever appeared on screen, there is no possible way she could have saved this wretched little film.

This movie had numerous irritating elements, not the least of which is that the dialogue was mostly replaced with narratives from various characters. In addition, the multiple sexual encounters were done with everyone completely clothed, so the actual event was left to your imagination.

The only thing that inspired me while watching this cinematic mess was to leave 45 minutes before it drifted to a close. If this film is all that Mr. Malick has left at his disposal, it’s time that he retire and wait for a lifetime achievement award at an Oscar ceremony down the road.