BrianSez's Review

Summary - OK 2.5

OMG Terrence Malick is all over the place with Tree of Life. Overly dramatic, overly artsy, pretentous and flightly filming was really hard to follow at times. Centered around a young family in the 50’s, specifically the boys and their dad (Brad Pitt), the film has the lofty goal of filming life’s meaning. There are plenty of visually awesome sequences, and many moments that are interesting from a story line perspective — but the biggest issue I had is that there doesn’t seem to be any significant plot. Just following life in snippets of dramatic sequences. Stick with it for the novelty if you can. If you have chronic art-film-aversion tendencies, then you’ll need a strong stomach.

Acting - Great 4.0

Brad Pitt is great – who knew he’d be a shoe-in for a moody 50’s dad? Jessica Chastain makes a pretty darn good 50’s mom, only she’s too thin and earthy to be taken seriusly. The two of them together is dramatic beauty however. Hunter McCracken is is also greatas the young moody boy who seems a little off. And Sean Penn, well, he’s ok in his elongated cameo as the older version of Hunter.

Film - Barely OK 2.0

How the heck are you supposed to rate beautiful filming of an unimpressive movie? Seriously? The Hubble-telescope shots, opera backdrop, IMAX style genesis-of-earth shots distracted me more than any substance that it might have added. Wish I had had some shrooms though! They definitely were works of art. A perfectly artistic and dramatic film… but no story! That was frustrating to me.

Edge - Tame 1.3

Reality - Surreal 2.7

2 Comments

• Wick Feb 25, 2012 11:24AM

  Regarding BrianSez’s Review
  “If you have chronic art-film-aversion tendencies, then you’ll need a strong stomach.” Love it. Very well said and a welcome counterpoint to the other reviews.

• Wick Jul 23, 2011 1:03AM

  Regarding MJ5K’s Review
  MJ5K is back in the house, laying a solid Perfect on The Tree of Life.

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