Opening This Week: A Hidden Life, The Grudge
BY SCOTTIE KNOLLIN
Terrence Malick, the arthouse director behind The Tree of Life and The Thin Red Line, returns to narrative form after years of experimental dramas with A Hidden Life. The based-on-a-true-story epic follows the story of Franz Jagerstatter, an Austrian who refused to fight for the Nazis during WWII.
August Diehl stars as Jagerstatter in one of 2019’s most under-appreciated performances.
Like previous Malick films, A Hidden Life may wander too long for typical mainstream audiences, but the stunning visuals are worthy of the long film time and heart-aching story. Critics have been positive towards the film with many noting the careful structure Malick devotes to the film. Whether Malick intended A Hidden Life to serve as a commentary of today’s political environment or not (the film wrapped shooting over two years ago, but Malick is know for long editing and post-production), it does leave you thinking about your own level of patriotism, or lack thereof.
Recently, North Dakota Film Society’s Scottie Knollin named A Hidden Life his favorite film of 2019. See his full list here.
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Originally planned as a 2019 release, The Grudge is a sort-of reboot of the popular horror franchise. Set at the same 2004 time as the first American remake of the Japanese horror classic, the 2020 version of the story features a strong cast, including Andrea Riseborough, Demian Bichir, John Cho, and Jacki Weaver.
Filmed in Winnipeg, the horror picture investigates the murder of a family by the family’s young mother. A vengeful ghost and jump scares follow.
Few critics have been able to see the film, so far, which is typically a bad sign, showing a lack of faith in the picture by the film’s studio. But, the few who have seen the movie and shared their reactions, the reviews are mixed. Jesus Palacios of Fotogramas noted that the film’s director, Nicolas Pesce, shows a respect for the original source, but others remark that the films fall bland.
All in all, The Grudge marks the first wide release of 2020 and should fill a niche as there are no other horror films currently on the market.
