New Details On Terrance Malick's "The Burial"

New Details On Terrance Malick's "The Burial"

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

Legendary director Terrance Malick has always been known as one of Hollywood's biggest recluses, as well as being one of it's biggest geniuses, the latter of which is one reason why he has been stealing headlines lately.

The director just finished work on his film "The Tree of Life," which had its trailer debut this weekend, and many details have recently emerged about his next project, according to The Wrap.

The film, which Malick just finished shooting and is supposedly titled "The Burial," is a romantic drama starring Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz, Olga Kurylenko, Javier Bardem and Barry Pepper. The site has put together a synopsis with information found from numerous call sheets from the film. Beware, some spoilers ahead.

From The Wrap: "Set over a period of years, the film stars Affleck as Neil, a failed writer stuck in a loveless marriage with Marina (Kurylenko), whose expiring visa put pressure on Neil to propose. Neil and Marina have a daughter (Tatiana Chilin) together, but both of them are looking outside the marriage.

Neil is drawn to Jane (McAdams) and Marina betrays her husband by having an affair with Charlie (Charles Baker). Both Neil and Marina seek guidance from Father Quintana (Bardem), a priest frustrated by his inability to live his own life because he's too busy advising his parishioners on theirs.

The couple's dysfunctional relationship begins to take its toll on their daughter, who starts having problems in school."

Malick's projects are usually shrouded in secret. For example, it took an extremely long time for anyone to find out what his upcoming film, "The Tree of Life," was all about, although now it has an official release date and a trailer. (The film, which stars Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, will open May 27, 2011 and the trailer is excellent--definitely check it out.)

Malick's new film sounds the most intimate of all his previous films, which include the classic features "Days of Heaven" and "Badlands." The film's cast is spectacular, with Affleck continuing his string of excellent film choices, such as this fall's "The Town."  Along with Weisz, McAdams and Bardem, the cast is loaded and the dramatic tension should beautifully match Malick's deft direction.

I think Malick's film, "The Thin Red Line," is the most underrated film of the past few decades and I am totally intrigued to see how this film turns out. Don't expect a trailer anytime soon, but do check out "The Tree of Life" when it hits.