Film Reviews

The Tree Of Life

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Brad Pitt
• Details: US / 139mins (12A).

In the midst of the summer blockbuster season the arthousecrowd get their own event movie, if that's what you can call the new Terrence Malick film. In a bout of unprecedented productivity, the reclusive director already has another film in post: the still unnamed Rachel McAdams/Ben Affleck romantic drama is due next year. It's going to have to be something to top this, however.
Set for the most part in Texas in the 1950s the story follows the tough but loving Mr. O'Brien (Pitt) who tries to raise his three sons – Jack (McCracken), R.L (Laramie Eppler) and Steve (Tye Sheridan) – the best he can with tough tactics that jar with his soft wife's (Chastain). The older Jack gets the more he grows to resent his father's ways and the two clash constantly. The Tree Of Life cuts back and forth to an older contemplative Penn, an architect, who is remembering all this as he struggles with his life.
Where to begin to explain all this? Malick would suggestto startwith the dawn of creation, which is shot here in a beautiful, if sometimes ropey special effects laden, twenty minute sequence. Malick is a director of moments, moments the viewer can get lost in. The Tree Of Life is littered with these beautiful out-of-time, dreamlike sequences, set to acryptic but poetic narration (of course). However, it's when the film settles down into a conventional narrative it works best.
Malick fans won't be disappointed as his usual themes of spirituality, love, nature and how they're all connected are present and correct, but in using the family dynamic he has a fresh take on these themes. What this new take is, and why Malick positioned the creation sequence where he did, will need a second and maybe third viewing, which would be just lovely. Any excuse to watch this again.
Despite the loveliness on show(the film looks, as expected, gorgeous) there is a frustration and an anger towards God/creator: "Where were you?" whispers the narration. "Why should I be good if you aren't?" Malick struggles throughout to find a reason in the hurt and the pain this world throws at us but urges the audience to "see the glory". Not glory in a religious sense, but in that there is so much beauty around us.
It's slightly overlong and lags at times, but this isvery moving stuff sporting terrific performances from Pitt and young McCracken. Walking out of The Tree Of Life one might feel compelled to be a better person and show compassion to your fellow humans. It's not often you can say that.

Review by Gavin Burke