Although the filmmaker often puts specifically Christian imagery into his film, his sensibility turns out to be more Zen: he can find manifestations of glory in both the noblest gesture and the darkest impulse.

| Mar 25, 2020

Where The Tree of Life was sanctimonious, To the Wonder is about the failure of sanctimony.

| Feb 22, 2019

Though Malick has a knack for enhancing the mood of each scene with stunning visual effects, it's not enough to boost the film.

| Original Score: C+ | Sep 7, 2017

In its own way, it's an involving picture, but Malick's form is too frequently working against his content.

| Jun 21, 2016

Malick is employing his usual style of montage and voice-over narration but in a new, contemporary setting that makes Wonder feel like his most vital work in years.

| Apr 16, 2014

What is most affecting is Malick's intent. He plainly devised the story to give him a series of panels for the expression of feeling.

| Jun 13, 2013

To the Wonder is built from shattered hearts, broken relationships and unanswered prayers, all better long since forgotten rather than pondered on film, yet again...

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 10, 2013

Essentially it's an agglomeration of Malick's worst stylistic annoyances.

| Original Score: C- | Apr 26, 2013

It looks great, the sound is interesting, the actors are doing what they are asked to do, but it didn't hit me the way The Tree of Life did. For fans only.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Apr 26, 2013

A thing of great beauty, but not much more.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Apr 25, 2013

Chary of exposition, meagre of plot, derisory of dialogue, indifferent to comprehension, it's a project that veers perilously close to self-parody.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Apr 19, 2013

Mostly, it's solemn intonations of bad poetry over open-field twirling scenes and long serious looks of love, tenderness and cosmic understanding.

| Original Score: D | Apr 19, 2013

"To the Wonder" is a trailer for itself, although it could be mistaken for a high-end perfume commercial ...

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Apr 18, 2013

There's a little too much wonder and not quite enough story in this middling effort from Terrence Malick.

| Apr 18, 2013

Does it deserve to be seen? Absolutely. Just be aware of what you're getting into.

| Apr 18, 2013

"To the Wonder" finds Malick pursuing a form of visual storytelling that is closer to chamber music, or symphonic rapture, than conventional film narrative.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 18, 2013

To the Wonder suggests the creep of doubt and possibly even despair into Malick's cosmic questing. This may not be as profound as he intends - to be human is to forever question - but it makes for stimulating viewing.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 18, 2013

The individually ravishing but loosely bound shots reduce whatever weight the story might have to the trivial narcissism of Caribbean-travel commercials.

Full Review | Apr 15, 2013

There's little doubt this film will deepen, open up with a second viewing. But to what end?

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Apr 12, 2013

To the Wonder will be required viewing for all students of Malick -- and by that I mean every cinephile -- but it's not likely to escort viewers into states of transcendence.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Apr 12, 2013