Written and directed by Terrance Malick, The Tree of Life is truly a moving picture; it’s visually stunning and emotionally powerful. Now, before I get into it, let me admit something that is kind of embarrassing: I’ve never seen a Terrance Malick movie. Yeah, I know, shame on me. I can’t see EVERYTHING. His previous films include Badlands, Days of Heaven, The Thin Red Line and The New World, and from what I understand, they are great films. (I’m terrible, please forgive me.)
As movies go, usually there’s a story with a beginning, middle and end. This is more organic and natural than that. There are long periods of silence, of music, of amazing landscapes, and of nature. The main character is Jack (young version: Hunter McCracken, older version: Sean Penn), the oldest of three brothers, living with his mother (Jessica Chastain) and father (Brad Pitt) in a small town in Texas in the 1950’s. The majority of the film stays with them, but there are periods of the film which deal with life on a much grander scale, showing amazing spectacles of the outer world. When shown against the life of this family, I couldn’t help but feel a strange new perspective on the world.
One of the most fascinating aspects to me was the wardrobes, particularly of the mother, Grace O’Brien (Jessica Chastain). In this small world of cleaning house and looking after her boys, her clothing represents individuality and her ability to make things new. She wears different colors and styles. She is poised, but lively and strong. Grace acts less like a mother, and more like a protector; someone for her children to turn to when they are afraid. Mr O’Brien’s (Brad Pitt) clothing is unremarkable, wearing neutral colors which possibly reflects the regret he feels when he isn’t able to be the musician he wanted to be in his youth.
Because the dialogue is so scarce, the actions of the characters move the story. So often we rely on words to communicate with each other, but in this film, you must interpret body language and facial expressions. I think of George Clooney in last year’s, The American, in which he so wonderfully conveyed his emotions without words. In this film, all of the actors worked together to bring to life a world with so little to say. Their mannerisms and the relation to one another made it all work.
So what is the film really about? I can’t tell you. Well, I could tell you, I guess, but it would be what I thought the film was about. You could have an entirely different perspective. It’s an experience. This is not a popcorn flick, it’s not a typical Hollywood film and there will be a lot people who will not like it.
You know how when you’re sharing a special moment with someone and you just stare at them and they stare at you? You don’t speak to one another, but you are having a conversation? That is what this movie felt like for me.
Rating: It’s hard not to sound grandiose, but it’s simply art. 9/10
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