The Tree of Life

While The New World finally suited me in its poetics, in its spiritualism, I perceive The Tree of Life differently. It's really odd to watch it for Sean Penn or Brad Pitt, as they are definitely not the lead actors. The main protagonist is Malick's vision and the main attraction is the editing. (03/01/2022)

Malick’s piece tells a lot about a life of the dominant species on earth, and amazing space and earth-shaping interludes shows its futility in the overall context. That entire trivial part with the family and typical problems fades away in the void of creation. We have our own unique place in space, that is important for us, the most important, but we should never forget that we are mere dust. Sometimes it’s good to just stop for a while and ponder a little. This is a visual masterpiece and the music is a chapter on its own. And Brad Pitt as a fatherly figure surpasses himself. (07/24/2011)

Critics will argue how personal and at the same time magnificent this film is, showing film art in its original form, that it is another similar film to "2001: A Space Odyssey". However, unfortunately, it is also a mishmash on which Malick has worked for years of his life. True, he works incredibly long on every film of his, but in this case, the result is simply not as well visible. The story here is fleeting, and it is also not complicated in any way. Actually, it is about the coming-of-age of one boy in a family where things are not entirely simple. Mainly due to the character of the father, brilliantly portrayed by Brad Pitt, which is probably the biggest asset of the film. He is not in a classically positive role but, on the contrary, plays a believable character with both light and dark sides. The rest of the film is... I don't know. Some will say that it is a philosophical contemplation of our own lives, and I say that Malick thought too much about where we actually come from and where we are heading. From this meditation came a strange collage that at one moment reminds of a great retro drama, in the second moment resembles "Walking with Dinosaurs", only to finally turn into an ode to classical music. What pleased me the most was the inclusion of Smetana. After the first notes, I didn't want to believe it, but you simply cannot mistake "Vltava" for anything else. Such a beautiful composition is simply unique. Furthermore, Malick is not original, but represents a modern pop cultural work that pretends to be the creation of a great artist dealing with his childhood and adolescence anxieties. If he had put it in a slightly more accessible form, maybe he would have dazzled audiences on a broader scale. But as the film's supporters defend, this is an opus for open minds. I believe that I have an open mind, but I could also look for divine meaning in every dried-up spit. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/08/warrior-x-ms-1-sibir-5x-rychle-zbesile.html (02/25/2013)

Beautiful images, perhaps even some poetry at times, but the emotions are fleeting. Brad Pitt's performance is phenomenal, and overall the film is more than controversial in terms of what it represents, how it speaks to the audience, and what it is actually about. One big unknown, and Terrence Malick aspires to be one of the greatest eccentrics in Hollywood. (04/15/2012)

Stating that the latest Malick film isn't for everyone probably won't put anyone off, so I'll start in a different way. As far as I am concerned, The Tree of Life fulfilled its purpose 100%. It captured exactly my mood of the moment, and it managed to satisfy my poetic nature perfectly. For two and a quarter hours I enjoyed the beautiful images, listened to the beautiful music (and did not regret that Desplat's sensational soundtrack did not get much space), let myself be carried away, moved by the story of a father and son relationship that is very close to me, amazed.... Believe it or not, I thought the film was too short. Boredom is the last thing that comes to mind when I think of it. In short, after a long time, this is a film that I want to see again. But I'll wait until it moves from the multiplex to the club, where I'll enjoy it even more.__P.S. Both the adult and child actors are great.__P.P.S. The scene in which “Vltava" plays is quite possibly the best, but I wonder if the music gives chills all over the body of non-Czech viewers.__P.P.P.S. All those who are bothered by the quotes from the Bible and the constant references to God might consider whether God is not meant to be something other than "the bearded man worshipped by Christians". Anyone doesn't get anything even when they hear from the screen "The only way to be happy is to love. Unless you love, your life will flash by." probably shouldn't have gone to see The Tree of Life. (07/22/2011)