Tree of Life (B or 3/4 stars)
Terrence Malick is an enigma. The man makes films infrequently. And when he does, it takes him years to finish them. His latest offering, 'The Tree of Life' was filmed - I believe - a good 3 yrs. ago. He said it would come out then, it didn't. Then 2009. Nope. 2010. Nope. Finally, it's here in 2011. Is it worth the wait? First, my synopsis. 'TToL' centers around 3 boys in Waco, Texas in the 1950's. Through a series of impressionistic set pieces & flecks of wispy memories, we trace the evolution of 11 yr. old Jack O'Brien (newcomer Hunter McCracken) as he struggles through separating the innocence of youth from the disillusionment that comes with adulthood. As an 11 yr. old, he observes the polar opposite approaches of 'love' from his more dictatorial father (Brad Pitt) & his angelic mother (Jessica Chastain). Dad represents 'nature', while mom represents 'grace'.
Jack's mom is more apt to show affection. But he also sees her as weak; as she does not stand up to her husband. She represents the way of love & mercy, where the father tries to teach the harsher ways of the world. Each parent contends for his allegiance; particularly the contentious father. The movie darkens as Jack lets anger seep into his young soul; and he has his 1st glimpses of sickness, suffering, & death. Framing this story is that of adult Jack (Sean Penn), a lost soul in a modern world; seeking answers to the origins & meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith. Jack, with a new understanding of the way the world operates, is able to forgive his father & take his 1st steps on the path of life. Without giving away a specific ending, the story ends in hope, acknowledging the brutal 'nature' & spiritual 'grace' that shape our lives. It also shows that family is the 1st place that most of us learn about the world, unselfish love, & ourselves.
When the focus is on the quiet, personal coming-of-age drama in the '50s & not on tangents involving the origin of life or older Jack - 'TToL' is pretty great. But it must be said that said tangents (related to spirituality, cosmology, existentialism, & potential afterlife) are less successful within the same 2 hour span. See, Terrence Malick attempts to brings things to a larger, metaphysical context. The film flashes forward to adult Jack (Penn) from time to time; and he's seen wandering a city-scape, while mentally wandering a metaphorical desert-scape. And in the most controversial segment of the film (early on) we are taken on a 20 minute interlude that tries to reveal a greater truth about our place in the universe ...
This section depicts the creation of Earth - spatial catacylsms, the era of the dinosaurs, & a mass extinction meteor strike. It all looks pretty cool (set to bombastic classical music - I was reminded of 1982's Koyaanitsqatsi). But this Planet Earth-like documentary-styled section didn't add much to the 'Jack' storyline for me. It just detracted. I was taken out of the movie & longed for the O'Brien family to return. When that happens, you know that something about said interlude didn't prove effective. Malick is an ambitious filmmaker. I appreciate him stretching his ideas. But how they're tied-into the 1950's segments didn't feel natural. The abstract, impressionistic look at this tale defies convention. Most audiences enjoy a precise, conventional narrative (myself included). So for as admiringly ambitious as the film is, I found it trying, mystifying, & perplexing on several occasions.
But 'TToL' is not without massive strengths. I think the best way to describe the film is to say that it tries to bridge the medium of 'cinema' with visual poetry. Malick's vision of the afterlife is a tranquil promise of peace. Emmanuel Lubezki's unique cinematography mixed with visual effects and varying musical compositions (classical + Alexandre Desplat's original works) combine to emphasize the character's emotions as the movie spills over us. This film IS art. When you're in an art gallery, you may come upon a fascinating piece, stare at it for a few minutes, & move on. With this film you'll lean forward, consider it's oddities, & leave after 133 min. That's the thing. Some audiences may flinch at that prospect. But if you stick it out, you may find yourself rewarded - I was in the end.
Brad Pitt is stellar as the stern father; a man who is as full of love as he is of suppressed rage. Jessica Chastain perfectly embodies the 'mother'. Her look, her actions, her behaviors ... she's the mom all of us want (and some are lucky to have). The younger version of Jack, played by young Hunter McCracken, is excellent; showing vulnerability, confusion, inner rage, & childhood regret. As is such with the very best of films, each character is neither good nor bad, but instead, inhabits shades of gray. I can't say that I LOVED 'The Tree of Life'. It's languorous pace, philosophical ambitions, & lack of dramatic involvement kind of neuter the overall experience for me. But it certainly will make you think about the greater things in life; both during the film & well after.
Jack's mom is more apt to show affection. But he also sees her as weak; as she does not stand up to her husband. She represents the way of love & mercy, where the father tries to teach the harsher ways of the world. Each parent contends for his allegiance; particularly the contentious father. The movie darkens as Jack lets anger seep into his young soul; and he has his 1st glimpses of sickness, suffering, & death. Framing this story is that of adult Jack (Sean Penn), a lost soul in a modern world; seeking answers to the origins & meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith. Jack, with a new understanding of the way the world operates, is able to forgive his father & take his 1st steps on the path of life. Without giving away a specific ending, the story ends in hope, acknowledging the brutal 'nature' & spiritual 'grace' that shape our lives. It also shows that family is the 1st place that most of us learn about the world, unselfish love, & ourselves.
When the focus is on the quiet, personal coming-of-age drama in the '50s & not on tangents involving the origin of life or older Jack - 'TToL' is pretty great. But it must be said that said tangents (related to spirituality, cosmology, existentialism, & potential afterlife) are less successful within the same 2 hour span. See, Terrence Malick attempts to brings things to a larger, metaphysical context. The film flashes forward to adult Jack (Penn) from time to time; and he's seen wandering a city-scape, while mentally wandering a metaphorical desert-scape. And in the most controversial segment of the film (early on) we are taken on a 20 minute interlude that tries to reveal a greater truth about our place in the universe ...
This section depicts the creation of Earth - spatial catacylsms, the era of the dinosaurs, & a mass extinction meteor strike. It all looks pretty cool (set to bombastic classical music - I was reminded of 1982's Koyaanitsqatsi). But this Planet Earth-like documentary-styled section didn't add much to the 'Jack' storyline for me. It just detracted. I was taken out of the movie & longed for the O'Brien family to return. When that happens, you know that something about said interlude didn't prove effective. Malick is an ambitious filmmaker. I appreciate him stretching his ideas. But how they're tied-into the 1950's segments didn't feel natural. The abstract, impressionistic look at this tale defies convention. Most audiences enjoy a precise, conventional narrative (myself included). So for as admiringly ambitious as the film is, I found it trying, mystifying, & perplexing on several occasions.
But 'TToL' is not without massive strengths. I think the best way to describe the film is to say that it tries to bridge the medium of 'cinema' with visual poetry. Malick's vision of the afterlife is a tranquil promise of peace. Emmanuel Lubezki's unique cinematography mixed with visual effects and varying musical compositions (classical + Alexandre Desplat's original works) combine to emphasize the character's emotions as the movie spills over us. This film IS art. When you're in an art gallery, you may come upon a fascinating piece, stare at it for a few minutes, & move on. With this film you'll lean forward, consider it's oddities, & leave after 133 min. That's the thing. Some audiences may flinch at that prospect. But if you stick it out, you may find yourself rewarded - I was in the end.
Brad Pitt is stellar as the stern father; a man who is as full of love as he is of suppressed rage. Jessica Chastain perfectly embodies the 'mother'. Her look, her actions, her behaviors ... she's the mom all of us want (and some are lucky to have). The younger version of Jack, played by young Hunter McCracken, is excellent; showing vulnerability, confusion, inner rage, & childhood regret. As is such with the very best of films, each character is neither good nor bad, but instead, inhabits shades of gray. I can't say that I LOVED 'The Tree of Life'. It's languorous pace, philosophical ambitions, & lack of dramatic involvement kind of neuter the overall experience for me. But it certainly will make you think about the greater things in life; both during the film & well after.