It didn't add anything. Artistically or financially.
Trim out Travolta and Clooney (cost and less talent) and maybe Sean Penn, Harrelson and Reilly(cost) and promote Nolte's screen time. He stole the film.
The weird thing is that half of them appear and then suddenly disappear in the movie, never to be seen again! It's almost as they were only hired to get their names on the roster.
shareBecause Terence Malick made the legendary Bedlands then went on a sabbatical for 25 years and was a recluse. The mystique and respect around him grew to an insane degree and everyone wanted to work with him, so they took pay cuts to be in his film.
Some actors like Mickey Rourke had huge roles… entirely removed from the film in the edit. Malick was overflowing with great stars.
Hell, Adrien Brody was originally the main character but they switched it to Jim Caviezel.
shareHe made Days of Heaven a few years after Badlands which is just as or more esteemed and then disappeared.
Funniest part was how Clooney was heavily promoted, and his role amounts to a two minute cameo at the end
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