The Tree of LIfe

Terrence Malick's most recent film certainly lives up to the attention surrounding it. After hearing about the no refund policy following The Tree of Life from theater to theater I had to see what all the fuss was about. The film is directed wonderfully but viewers need to take heed of that warning posted at the theaters. The story is very complex and the nonlinear time-line only makes it more difficult to grasp. The cuts from the 1950's to modern day then to the beginning of the world makes it intriguing but the lack of dialogue in much of the film makes the film very slow moving. It took me two sittings to make it through the film. On the first try I wasn't sure of what to expect from the film. I had heard so much about it, it's win at Cannes and the controversy surrounding it, and yet knew so little about it. I had to take multiple breaks while watching it before finally giving up on it for the night and deciding to try again the next day. Once in the right mindset to watch the movie I was able to focus more thoroughly on the film which allowed for a slightly more enjoyable viewing experience, however it was not much better the second time around. Making it through the film was an accomplishment in and of itself.

Do not confuse me though, this film is great if you are able to sit down and watch it in one sitting. The story is strong, complex, and very deep rooted in family values and the delicate relationship between parents and their children. The segmented time-line implemented in the film demonstrates the strong writing and direction of the film. There is little dialogue in the film which makes sense thematically within the family as there are obvious communication issues between the members of the O'Brien family, however this slows down the progression of the film and causes it to drag on making thirty minutes seem like an hour and a half. The acting is also extremely strong. Brad Pitt and Sean Penn do terrific jobs in the film, but for me the stand out was Jessica Chastain who played the family matriarch, the warm and comforting Mrs. O'Brien who stands in stark contrast to Brad Pitt's hardened Mr. O'Brien. These familial moments are sidetracked during the film to show the life of adult son Jack O'Brien (Sean Penn) and his struggles to cope with his difficult childhood. In Jack O'Brien, Penn found one of his strongest performances to date. He gives a very real performance and is able to effectively ground his character in emotion. While these character driven scenes are extremely powerful, they are put in perfect juxtaposition to the scenes depicting the beginning of the earth and early animal life on the planet.

The Tree of Life is an all-around strong, albeit a sometimes tedious, film. From the heart-wrenching scenes of grief in the opening moments of the movie to the stunning visual effects (legendary Douglas Trumbull's return to Hollywood after a thirty year hiatus) The Tree of Life is a surefire Academy Award Nominee in multiple categories.

7.5 out of 10

Michi Oshima