Review of The Tree of Life (2011) by Hunter R — 10 Nov 2012

Well, the mole Terrence Malick is in the mood to pup out of his hole to make another crazy project. This time it's a movie called "The Tree of Life", an ambitious film with a wide specter that has everything, that not every one will quiet understand the connection between, or if it ever was any. Like what is the connection between Brad Pitt in the 1950s and a bunch of dinosaurs millions of years ago? Well it's what I (except all others) finds the least surrealistic. In my case I only wish there were more dinosaurs.

The Tree of Life is an extraordinary film, because it's covers the birth of the universe, the creation of the earth, the first lifeforms in the water, the dinosaurs, the big comet that killed them, and then suddenly jump right to the 1950s, where we follow an abusive father (Brad Pitt) who want's to learn his three sons how to manage in a tough world, while their mother (Jessica Chastain) is more of a kinder nature, who doesn't want to step up for them against their father. We also follow one of their sons, Jack (Sean Penn) in the present where he's still hunted by the past.

The Tree of Life is definitely a cinematographic masterpiece without a doubt, with all the beautiful shots that just amazes you every time. This is Malick's trademark. I have no problems with the dinosaurs, it might sound weird, but it's the dream sequence or what ever you like to call them I have a problem with. They are beautiful, but I think they destroy the whole story as a naturalistic one, because I think there's one thin red line that everything has to do with nature, not fantasies. But The Tree of Life is definitely a great painting. Thumbs up.