This is a very strange and mysterious film, and I say the less you know about it going in, the better. But I will divulge this much:
A Ghost Story concerns a young couple (Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara) who hear a bump in the night while asleep in their quiet little house. Something... happens, and we are soon introduced to a ghost character. The movie's conceit is that this ghost looks just like the old fashioned Charlie Brown Halloween costume: a big white sheet and two black holes for eyes. It's neither quirky nor funny. In fact it is ethereal and profoundly sad.
Truth is, even if you think you know where the movie is going after its first half hour, you will be wrong, so hold tight: A Ghost Story has quite a lot on its mind. Lowery's penchant for very, very long takes – often holding his camera static on a scene for a full minute or two before anything happens – will turn some viewers off. Others it will hypnotize. This is a truly polarizing film. You'll either fall in love with it, or you'll find it incomprehensible and boring.
Me, I liked it – though it's probably not fair to review it just hours after I've seen it. This is a film that I need to digest a little, and maybe even see again, before I know how I truly feel about it. I will say that it's filled with magical moments and deep insights.
Say what you will about the cast and director: composer Daniel Hart is the MVP. His fantastic score elevates the proceedings so much. Even if you don't dig the film, you can't deny the power of his work.