Days of Heaven (1978)
Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard, Linda Manz, Robert J. Wilke
Richard Gere works in a Chicago steel mill at the turn of the century, but must flee the city after accidentally killing a man. Heading for the wheat fields of Texas, he packs up his girlfriend (Brooke Adams) and his younger sister (Linda Manz). Instead of a better life, they head straight into trag... (read more) Richard Gere works in a Chicago steel mill at the turn of the century, but must flee the city after accidentally killing a man. Heading for the wheat fields of Texas, he packs up his girlfriend (Brooke Adams) and his younger sister (Linda Manz). Instead of a better life, they head straight into tragedy when a wealthy farmer (Sam Shepard) falls for Adams. Believing him to be dying and expecting to inherit a fortune, she agrees to marry him. Their plans change when Shepard fails to die and Gere takes matters into his own hands. Aesthetically flawless, this film about a romantic love triangle is diminished by the small scope of video. Originally shown in 70mm, it is an eye-catching period piece that won its cinematographer, Néstor Almendros, a 1978 Oscar. Texture and color are the unbilled characters in this tragic tale, and are just as important as the players. The story, sadly, fades somewhat when compared to the glory of the visuals. --Rochelle O'Gorman
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PG, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed by:
Terrence Malick
Release Date: Sep 13, 1978
DVD Release Date: Mar 30, 1999
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Gorgeous cinematography. Terrence Malick isn't afraid to let his films breathe. The story takes its time to unravel, and looks amazing while it does it.
Malick's mice e scene extremely well in this film to portray his characters and ideas, the color is probably the most artistically prominent theme in this film, it's so beautiful! The narration could use some work though and some of it seems rushed.
Days of Heaven... a milestone in filmaking, and certainly one of the best films ever. Mallick is the most underrated director of all time, perhaps because he escapes being a public figure. His second movie, and the last before a twenty year absence (... (read more) Days of Heaven... a milestone in filmaking, and certainly one of the best films ever. Mallick is the most underrated director of all time, perhaps because he escapes being a public figure. His second movie, and the last before a twenty year absence (until "The Thin Red Line" in 1998), has much of Mallick's trademarks: communion of Man and Nature, fantastic cinematography, balletic camerawork, voice-over narration. Suposedly shot with only a one-page screenplay, Days of Heaven has only enough dialogues (much improvised) for you to follow the story. The rest is filled with poetic images, most of them shot at sunset or at sunrise, giving the movie an amazing look. And the innocent narration of the story by the child is real and down-to-earth, with a flavour that antecipates the poetic narrations of "The Thin Red Line" and "The New World" (2005). Here Mallick tackles, as in the above, the conflict of Man between himself, in this case through a love triangle between Shepard, Richard Gere (maybe his best role ever) and Adams, in the beautiful setting of a wheat plantation. But the story is unimportant. The camera goes straight to the soul of the characters, and we understand their plight, even if they don't speak much. The way they "dance" around each other and the camera is enough. It is so simple and pure. It is filmaking at its best. Man is only a part of nature, and nature will always remain, despite the strugles of Man. And no one understands more this than Mallick, the philosopher, the filmaker. The most beautiful movie ever shot. Period. And only the other three Mallick's pictures come ever close in serene beauty.
My favourite of malicks films. One of the most beautiful looking films ever made and the only one i like starring Gere, a pity he hasn't been this good since.
Days of Heaven is a more visual experience than emotional; while it has great and stunningly beautiful images, it does lack plot or character depth.
This is probably the only adaptation of the bible story about Abraham and Sarah. As the story goes, when they had to pass through Egypt, Abraham was scared that he will get killed since his wife is so beautiful. So he told her to say that she's his s... (read more) This is probably the only adaptation of the bible story about Abraham and Sarah. As the story goes, when they had to pass through Egypt, Abraham was scared that he will get killed since his wife is so beautiful. So he told her to say that she's his sister. And indeed, the pharaoh took notice and made Sarah as his wife. But God was angered and rained punishment down on Pharaoh and his own. In the end, when the truth was out, much destruction has already been done. It's so similar to the story in this film.
The visually stunning "Days of Heaven" is a paragon of impressionist filmmaking.
Christina's World as a film, or something like it: staggeringly beautiful, and a more than worthy follow-up to Badlands
I was mezmerized by this film. It's truly a love letter to the barren plains of middle America. Terrence Malick films the landscape like someone might film a lover. With very little dialogue, the scenery is the main character of the film. You don... (read more) I was mezmerized by this film. It's truly a love letter to the barren plains of middle America. Terrence Malick films the landscape like someone might film a lover. With very little dialogue, the scenery is the main character of the film. You don't ever know any of the main character's names by the end of the film. I've now seen two Malick films, (this and marvelous "The New World") and I think he's wonderful. If you ever need to test out a sound system and picture quality, just pop in a blu-ray of one of these two films. This is a film for nature lovers and those who think that the times when they can't hear a highway are the best times. (Just for kicks, this movie also stars an impossibly young Richard Gere.)
Absolutely gorgeous. Malick's wild spirit and love of the great outdoors sell this film, in spite of its garbled emotional journey. There's simply nothing like it.
Visually it's just too beautiful and poetic. Everything's near perfection, just enjoy, feel the atmosphere and think over those people's decisions and actions.
not engaging. 3minute clips fade out and another 3 minute clip fades in. over and over again
Critic Reviews
This is a movie made by a man who knew how something felt, and found a way to evoke it in us.full review
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