Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • 3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)
    • 3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
    • 3625. Ode To Joy (2019)
    • 3624. One Chance (2013)
    • 3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)
    • 3622. The Polka King (2017)
    • 3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)
    • 3620. Friendzone (2021)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»2294. Days Of Heaven (1978)

    2294. Days Of Heaven (1978)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on September 27, 2018 1978, 6 - 7.9, 90-99 mins, Drama, Movies Of 2018, Review, Romance, Sep 18, United States
    7.4 Striking and elegant
    • Acting 7.4
    • Directing 7.5
    • Story 7.3
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard

    Director: Terence Mallick

    Running Time: 94 mins


    Days Of Heaven is an American film about a poor worker who falls in love with a woman, but convinces her to marry their rich but dying boss so that they can take his fortune.

    Days Of Heaven is a film with an undeniable elegance and dramatic power throughout, complete with a passionate tale of love and rivalry, which is what makes it an impressive watch. However, director Terence Mallick’s style is such that the film is often a little languishing in its delivery of that drama, struggling to really hit home with a story that could have had even more dramatic impact, and instead getting a little too bogged down when trying to keep the plot in motion.

    Let’s start with the positives, however, the biggest of which comes in the form of the film’s striking appearance and atmosphere. Above all, the portrayal of hard labour is mesmerising throughout, as Mallick gives the setting a strongly gritty vibe that feels dirty and tiring, bringing more tension and drama to the workers’ mindsets, further playing into the growing tension between the landowner (Sam Shepard) and our main man (Richard Gere).

    What’s more is that the film’s poignant score lends a really strong emotional depth to a story that, while engrossing, wouldn’t at first seem the sort to really hit you where it hurts. In all truth, while the film doesn’t ultimately prove an exceptionally powerful piece, the music, the visuals, and the overall atmosphere lend it an elegance and dramatic intensity that make a lot more out of the story than I expected at first.

    The performances from Richard Gere and Sam Shepard are also a point for praise, as the two go about portraying a particularly intense rivalry, and yet there’s never a moment of melodrama from either, as the majority of their time onscreen together is spent staring one another down as they do battle over one woman, rather than any theatrics that would have easily taken away from the dramatic intensity of the story at hand.

    With that said, I have to say that Days Of Heaven, despite its impressive and often poignant vibe, isn’t the world’s most enthralling film, something that comes mostly down to the way in which director Terence Mallick portrays the story at hand.

    As impressive as the visuals and overall atmosphere are, Mallick goes about the film in a very (somewhat overly) patient manner, not allowing the real drama to come to the surface until very late on. On the one hand, it serves well to keep the tension of that central rivalry bubbling nicely throughout, but on the other, it makes the film’s opening half a less than exhilarating watch, and doesn’t give you enough depth of character or story in the first half to really grab your attention.

    Mallick’s style is an acquired taste, and it always has been, so if you’re a fan of the unique director, then I’m sure that you’ll be impressed by this film, but for me, Days Of Heaven, although strong and striking in many regards, wasn’t quite what I felt it could have been, and that’s why I’m giving it a 7.4 overall.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    7.1

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    5.3
    January 17, 2022

    3620. Friendzone (2021)

    7.1
    January 10, 2022

    3612. The Lost Daughter (2021)

    8.0
    January 7, 2022

    3609. Licorice Pizza (2021)

    7.2
    January 7, 2022

    3608. Lamb (2021)

    7.4
    December 30, 2021

    3599. The King’s Man (2021)

    6.3
    December 29, 2021

    3598. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

    8.4
    December 28, 2021

    3597. West Side Story (2021)

    6.3
    December 27, 2021

    3596. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

    Recommended Movies
    8.1
    Review
    December 7, 20200

    3176. Total Recall (1990)

    8.1
    Review
    July 13, 20140

    621. Like Water For Chocolate (1992)

    8.4
    Review
    August 17, 20140

    660. Shrek (2001)

    8.4
    Review
    September 27, 20130

    298. The Prestige (2006)

    8.2
    Review
    January 16, 20140

    420. Blue Jasmine (2013)

    Popular Posts
    7.1
    January 24, 2022

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8
    January 23, 2022

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9
    January 22, 2022

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    7.4
    January 21, 2022

    3624. One Chance (2013)

    6.3
    January 20, 2022

    3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)

    7.5
    January 19, 2022

    3622. The Polka King (2017)

    6.0
    January 18, 2022

    3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)

    © 2022 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.