The Tree of Life (2011)
US 139m, Colour
Director: Terrence Malick; Cast: Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Sean Penn, Hunter McCracken, Laramie Eppler, Tye Sheridan
The Tree of Life is an extraordinary film about the significance of humanity and our place in the universe. A highly emotional story about love, loss and family – the Tree of Life is an incredibly powerful exploration of our own existence, juxtaposed against the vastness of space and time. Experimental in its nature and beautiful beyond words, Malick’s film is an artistic masterpiece of existential thought. Set in Texas during the 1950s, the telling of this simple family drama and its underlying message about the creation of purpose and meaning is delivered in a profoundly original and breathtakingly beautiful manner (Klaus Ming February 2011).
4 comments on “The Tree of Life (2011)”
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ming movie reviews 
A more perfectly concise summary of this film I don’t think can be written. Glad to see someone else who loved this as much as I did; this is an incredibly polarizing film, and while the silent majority on the side of loving it are exactly that, the side of hating it seems much more vocal in expressing their opinions. Nice to see some love for what I believe to be Terrence Malick’s masterpiece.
Thank you very much for the kind words. The Tree of Life is easily the best film of the year. The patience and thoughtful reflection which is required may be too much for the “why wasn’t Harry Potter nominated” crowd – as one such comment “this film blew chunks” – would testify 🙂
I’m on the fence on this one. Though I didn’t like 8 1/2 or 2001 (and some movies without numbers) the first time them saw them either and they are now among my favorites. I am glad Mallick got an Oscar nomination for it.
I will revisit.
Hee, hee…folks either seem to love or hate it. I’m happy to be in the minority for now 🙂