This is the most visually stunning film ever made. But The Tree of Life is so much more than a beautiful, aesthetic piece. Like any Terrence Malick film, it is infinitely complex and poetic. It is cerebral. It is emotional. And it is highly personal. But this is not a film you see with friends, nor is it an “entertaining” one. In fact, it is meticulously slow. It flows through space, time, and humanity with vignettes of the life of a family. It examines each character in the family at various ages as they process their lives, which are marred by death, grief, abuse, loss of faith, etc. The work isn’t scene-driven or dialogue-driven. It instead features nonlinear flashes of personal moments, dreams, visions, and fantasies—compounded by broader flashes of life and the universe. Indeed, it really is an enigma.
The Tree of Life isn’t a film you’d expect to be set in Waco, Texas. Then again, many scenes were shot in locations across the world—it often feels like Planet Earth. The characters spend time pondering everything from their existential despair to God. So we see all that you can imagine from the Big Bang to human evolution to various shots of our cosmos, perhaps to see the grand things happening while we petty humans question ontological matters. Malick is religious. But he has struggled with doubt and isn’t afraid to connect faith with science. Even as a secularist, I truly admire this layer. Besides, Malick graduated summa cum laude at Harvard, became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, and then taught philosophy at MIT. He—like this magnum opus—is brilliant. He might even be the smartest director alive.
I honestly wouldn’t recommend this film to most people, though. It is one of my all-time top 3 favorites (as well as a favorite of countless filmmakers and critics). It is also filled with elite actors in Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, and Sean Penn. Yet it is esoteric. It is vague. It lacks structure. And you can’t watch it passively. You must give it every moment of your attention—or else it is a waste of time. Furthermore, it is arguably as pointless as it is immensely profound due to its polarizing subjectivity. Some call it the greatest film of all time. Some call it elitist trash. But make no mistake: this is a historic achievement. With the best cinematography of any film in cinema history and a kaleidoscope of intellectual and philosophical facets, it will be studied for centuries. The Tree of Life is art of the highest kind.
Rating: 10/10
interesting
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Indeed!
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The first time I watched this, I loved it. The second time I watched it I felt like a film snob. Great review
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Hahaha so relatable. Thank you!
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Thank you for providing the trailer. Great post.
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Love that trailer tons. And thanks!
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Woah
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Haha seems like the proverbial type of reaction in the comments of this post. Love it!
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I like the trailer song. link?
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Not sure. Will do some research.
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👍
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Found it! “Berlioz: 7. Domine Jesu Christe [Requiem Op. 5 (Grande Messe des Morts)]”
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Oh wait wrong one.
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It’s actually called “Má vlast (My Fatherland), JB 1:112.” Written by the Czech composer Bedrich Smetana.
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Thx man.
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The theoretical relationship between probability and dissipated work is a thread that if pulled harder might unravel the tapestry of ‘life’!https://chemicalgorithms.blogspot.com/2020/07/life1.html
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😱
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dis trailer is spectacular
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One of the best trailers out there!
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Also, watch the trailer for A Hidden Life if you like this one as well.
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Link?
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wow
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Haha it’s a jaw-dropper.
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🙂
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On my list now.
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Lmk what you think if you see it!
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I did enjoy this film and it is true you can’t watch it in the background. Just have to sink into it and in doing so I found some enjoyment. But now that I’ve read your piece I think I’ll que it again 😊.
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Well said. Let me know if you see it again! Would love to hear your thoughts. Cheers
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I definitely recommend watching it in Blu Ray due not only to the increased picture quality (obviously) but also the much needed sound upgrade.
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A bit expensive. Definitely worth it if you too are a film snob, though!
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Wow. I’m tempted to watch this
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It’s definitely a polarizing film. Not for everyone. But those who do like it end up falling madly in love with it, if ya feel me.
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It was also Roger Ebert’s favorite film, for what it’s worth. Best film critic of all time!
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dem aesthetics tho
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🔥
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这是一个好博客
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Lol sorry but what does this mean?
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Nevermind. Thanks! 谢谢
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hehe what does it mean?
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“This is a good blog.”
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(According to Google Translate)
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Good reading.
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🤟
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Reblogged this on "Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken." -Oscar Wilde.
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Love this movie.
Great picturisation!
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Thank you! Gotta add that word to my vocabulary; it’s a good one. Cheers!
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👍
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Thanks so much for sharing!
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