The opening half is totally arresting in its vision and grandure. The themes of family relationships, God, and the evolution of life and the universe are juggled with mesmerising skill by Mallick. The death of a child and the parents futile discourse with God about the meaning of it is put in startling perspective by interweaving with the scenes of the forces of nature at an interstellar as well as terrestrial level.
At half time it was on track to be my movie of the decade but unfortunately I think it lost its way a little in the second half. The conflict in the relationship between the son and the father was explored a bit too long. The time flip with Sean Penns grown up son did not add as much as it could have. The closing scene on the beach was not as satisfying as it could have been.
But I can live with these shortcomings since the first half of the film brings so much to the table.
I think this is too important a film to leave to passing hum drum comment on nooner's thread.
So what did you think?