Trevor Free’s Reviews > Terrence Malick: Rehearsing the Unexpected > Status Update

Sean Penn in the book makes a really powerful point about how Terrence Malick doesn’t try to rage against contradictions like a typical American, but attempts to balance them in his films. Badlands is such a good example of that— Malick doesn’t cast judgements on his characters or attempt to police their morality— he instead takes the role of observer and presenter.

An insightful read and as close of a look into the craft of Terrence malice as you’re going to get. I’ve really enjoyed the structure and anecdotes from those surrounding Malick— each snippet seems to have a little pearl of info or insight that I hadn’t thought of before— well edited! Really illuminating for a young filmmaker to read im a way that isn’t too verbose or too basic.