Film Review: The Tree of Life (2011)

You! Yes, you, the sentient being (presumably a human) reading this here review. I have a question for you: why are you interested in films? I mean, you're here reading this, so you must have seen or heard about this Tree of Life film and wanted to know more, right? By doing so, I assume that you are someone who watches films regularly. Is it for the thrill of action, adventure, and big-scale effects? Is it for the deep exploration of characters (via the art of script-writing and performances)? Is it for the photographic art, and the chance to see something you might not see anywhere else?

The Tree of Life--oh boy, this is a tough one, because a lot of the conventions you see in other films do not apply here. It has no plot for one thing--literally, nothing strings the scenes together, it just runs as one long stream of consciousness, constantly shifting from past to future, from reality to artistic representations of alternate realities (presumably, the afterlife, and the birth and death of the universe). It's not so much driven by conflict as it is by ideas and emotions. Characters don't speak so much as they softly express, pray, and question existence. If you're watching this film, you're doing it for the experience. It's not a film to watch for storytelling, conflicts, and certainly not for adventure. This is probably one of the purest art films you'll find--a photo album in motion, with poetic voices and a gentle tone, which lets you freely meditate on its meaning.

Its meaning? Well, this is a film about literally everything. Life. Death. God. Human beings. Family. Relationships. Crime and punishment. Childhood and adulthood. Love and hate. Nature and the man-made world. Religion. Law. Order. Chaos. The here and now. The far and away. The beginning. The end.

Lost already? It is a huge amount of ground to cover, so the film shoves a funnel down a single family's throats and makes them chug this metaphysical cocktail. The film digresses into many montages to illustrate certain points, but it's mostly about one man's life. An everyman named Jack (Sean Penn plays the adult Jack, but for the majority, Hunter McCracken plays the kid Jack). After eons of cosmic forces clashing to create the sun, the Earth, and all life on it, this kid is born into the O'Brien family, sometime in the 60s or so, somewhere in Texas. The father (Brad Pitt) is a guy who lives the way of nature--he's a stern, disciplined man who demands much, bosses everybody around, and firmly believes in strength to overcome the threats life dishes out. The mother (Jessica Chastain) lives the way of grace--she's all touchy-feely, compassionate, forgiving, tender, fun-loving, and is probably the most lovable mom ever filmed. Caught between these two sides, their children live day by day playing, working, learning, and growing.

Captured in exquisite photography (courtesy of cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki), this film stands as one of the most beautiful I've laid eyes on. It is richly ordained in stunning images--everything from entire galaxies to microbes. Even the most innocuous of scenes--the interiors of houses, or the woods--look magnificent. Against these varied backdrops (and set to Alexandre Desplat's exquisite music score), each actor offers nuanced performances and voices that feel genuine. It also helps that the cast becomes relatable, as they go through trials and experiences that we all face and can relate to at some point--things like understanding death, wandering around lost and restless, and being uncertain about what the best way of living really is. The film frequently vocalizes many questions aloud (ultimately aimed at God), inquiring on the meaning of existence and suffering. Though the film leaves the answers so open-ended, it does affirm many truths--especially when compared to the cosmic scale, we see that our lives are brief and small and our impulses fleeting.

The Earth is full of wonder, and it remains the only planet we know of that teems with so much life. Chances are you might find this film boring or pretentious, but there's very few that underscores the majesty of creation the way Terrence Malick's work does. It is art to be studied, appreciated, and reflected upon. You've surely seen many other films that have trivialized life and glorified violence--this film will cleanse your palate nicely and offer a refreshing vision of life and the universe. It might inspire you. It might change your life. Or it might validate what you already know. Either way, you owe it to yourself to experience this.

By the way, this film has two cuts now. The theatrical cut is a no-brainer--two hours, very trim and to-the-point (but still a long watch that requires your full attention). The Criterion Collection released the extended cut that runs for over three hours--like all great extended cuts, this one adds a plethora of new scenes seamlessly, and it flows well. But it is a very long ordeal that will require patience.

4.5/5