A baton-twirling teen falls for the James Dean of garbage men, and they’re off on a romantic cross-country killing spree, inspired by the famous 50s criminal pair Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. To this day, the pair’s apparent detachment from the gravity of their crimes remains shocking and mysterious, but their suffering leaves a strong sense of shared responsibility for the flames, the violence, and the loss. The film’s radiant cinematography, poetic sensibilities, engaging characters, and literary voice-over narration quickly launched Terrence Malick into the pantheon of great American directors. – Jeffrey Overstreet
Arts & Faith Lists:
2012 Top 25 Road Films — #18