Review of The Tree of Life (2011) by Richieboy — 25 Oct 2011

If you seek a traditional motion picture experience, this film will leave you screaming for mercy.

This film exists somewhere between a Bob Dylan hymn and portions of 'John From Cincinatti' without the humor.

In fact, it is bereft of laughter but can engage a mystical smile from time to time.

Whatever narrative exists delivers a message that erupts into mortal fears for those still paying attention after 90 minutes.

If you have the curiosity and patience to explore evolved, spiritual ideals as formatted through the art of cinema, then you may have located Nirvana.

This Tree is a flawed Oak that dares to incite, unite and disorient it's viewers.

The Life that dreams inside this celluloid brilliance and darkness is a victorious disaster.

And who doesn't enjoy a good disaster every now and then?

My problem with the creation is that it takes many emotional hostages in the name of a spiritual quest. This style offers few answers to the most important questions it poses..

Still, there is little doubt that Mallick has been blessed by a brand of genius that often eludes our zones of viewing security.

But I'll be damned if he doesn't swing for the fences during the effort. If Terrance connects is totally your call. It's worth is beyond any critic's perceptions.

That is how personal this journey is.

From an acting vantage point, Brad Pitt does some remarkable things with the material given him.

Sean Penn utters only a handfull of on screen words and given his public response to the film is lost as to why as the viewer might be.

The only true star here is Mr. Mallick whose unseen face is written within every frame.

'Tree Of Life' is 'Badlands without the active, murderous hearts. It takes us to a place we may or may not desire to be but are all a part of and subject to by virtue of birth.