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
Love a good avant-garde movie. Nice job luke
LikeLiked by 2 people
People sleep on avant-garde stuff. Love it.
LikeLike
Also, if you like avant-garde, Malick’s other films are spectacular as well.
LikeLike
Especially The Thin Red Line and A Hidden Life. Also Badlands and Days of Heaven!
LikeLike
noted
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so muhc for sharing!
LikeLike
Love your profile picture, by the way. My cat is the same species as the one in your pic.
LikeLike
~V aesthetic~
LikeLiked by 2 people
🤩
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks stellar.
LikeLiked by 2 people
If you’re into astrophysics, it is indeed stellar in multiple ways. Hope you enjoy if you see it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLike
That sequence is dope. One of the coolest I’ve ever seen. Literally depicts the creation of the universe & eventually the early years of Earth.
LikeLike
Damn, long scene. starting it
LikeLike
Halfway through. This is insane
LikeLike
Yeah haha the guy who did the CGI is the one who did it for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And the cinematographer was Emmanuel Lubezki, prob the greatest cinematographer ever. Won 3 Oscars for his work in Gravity, Birdman, and The Revenant in addition to his best work which was for this film, of course.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. Interesting stuff. Thanks for lmk
LikeLiked by 1 person
The video was SWEET
LikeLiked by 2 people
Didn’t like the movie, but, this review makes me reconsider
LikeLiked by 3 people
I didn’t like it as much in my first viewing as I like it now, for what it’s worth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on TSwift Stans are Lame.
LikeLiked by 4 people
just saw the trailer n reread ur review. now i want to see it. if this movie has the best cinematography ever like u claimed, i gotta smoke a joint n watch.
LikeLike
It won’t let you down! Haha enjoy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
P.S. Make sure you watch it in 4K or Blu Ray.
LikeLiked by 1 person
i read that it was digitally restored to 4K and now available, can’t find it, link me if u do pls.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dang yeah just looked it up and couldn’t find it either. Here’s a link to a Blu Ray copy of the film, but you have to order the physical copy and it’s not too cheap. If all else fails, you can just watch it on Amazon on-demand in HD (1080).
LikeLiked by 1 person
thx luke
LikeLiked by 1 person
“You must give it every moment of your attention—or else it is a waste of time.” It’s true – if u can bring an attentive, open mind, this film will change your life. The beautiful cinematography and dialogue are so thought-provoking and inspiring. Another fantastic review!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Well said. Thanks so much. Gotta check out your recent posts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
All u gotta know is I’m dropping a KILLER Halloween movie montage 10/23😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it. Will check it out when you post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didnt get it tbf
LikeLiked by 3 people
Just curious: how so?
LikeLike
like what was the point of the nature scenes
LikeLike
If you re-read my second paragraph closely, that may give you some guidance.
LikeLike
ig I get what ur saying
LikeLike
https://www.salon.com/2011/07/02/watching_tree_of_life/
LikeLike
http://straightfromamovie.com/the-tree-of-life-movie-meaning-quotes/
LikeLike
I’d give a more adequate explanation myself but I have a midterm exam on Tuesday and am super behind. Let me know if you’re still confused!
LikeLike
ur good
LikeLike
Great review of a beautiful film!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Love you mom! Coming home tomorrow if you want to wake up and watch Nadal vs Djokovic.
LikeLike
Great job Luke Love to hear your critiques
LikeLiked by 4 people
You’re rocking that new pink Harvard hat!
LikeLike
Spot on review. Well said!
LikeLiked by 4 people
So glad we got to see it together! 😎
LikeLike
We may be squares but who even cares
LikeLiked by 3 people
I can’t decide if I’m proud or ashamed that I know the meme you’re referring to. Prob both.
LikeLike
Nerds unite. great film dude. geeky ofc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
P.S. Thanks everyone for 425k views. Getting closer to half a million!
LikeLiked by 6 people
CONGRATS BOI
LikeLiked by 1 person
😉
LikeLike
😜
LikeLike
yasss finally
LikeLiked by 5 people
Ha been in my bio & on my to-do list for ages.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Heard sm – need to see it
LikeLiked by 4 people
It’s one that you’ll never forget!
LikeLiked by 1 person