What’s left to say about The Tree of Life? Probably a lot, and that means something considering the number of articles Brad and I have written about it before and since its May premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Then again, that’s what I love about the movie and the primary reason I see this disc as a must-own.
Are we all just tiny cogs in the giant machine of life? Or are we the center of our own small universe? The Tree of Life sees us as both.
The film is at once an intensely intimate story about a young boy’s conflicts with his authoritarian father (Brad Pitt) set in a small 1950s Texas town and a broad, ambitious work that explores the origins of the universe and transcends everything we expect from a film.
Director Terrence Malick pushes the boundaries of the medium, while still remaining decidedly old-school through the use of practical effects wherever possible. Quite simply, the film is a work of art unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
Malick subtly uses nostalgia to great effect. He captures those seemingly tiny moments from our youth that stick with us forever and shape our development, filming in such a way that these events appear to be occurring naturally, without any staging or framing. In fact, the three young boys are non-actors that Malick discovered in a Texas-wide casting search, so you wonder how much of what happens is representative of Malick’s own childhood.
Either way (and I don’t care if you had the greatest father in the world), everyone had moments with their father like these boys had with Mr. O’Brien. The oldest child, Jack, who receives the brunt of his father’s strict treatment is played by the revelatory Hunter McCracken in the ’50s and by Sean Penn in the present-set scenes, where he’s at a crossroads in his life, still plagued by his broken relationship with his father. Mrs. O’Brien (Jessica Chastain) represents the nurturing counterpart to her husband’s “survival of the fittest” attitude.
While the film set the unofficial record for most Criterion Collection requests via Facebook comment, it’s hard to complain about Fox’s presentation on this Blu-ray. The film opens with a recommendation from Malick to play the film loud. By all means, do that. Just be prepared for your subwoofer to scare your neighbors when the volcano erupts during the glorious 20-minute creation sequence.
The lone supplement “Exploring The Tree of Life” offers some fascinating insight into Malick’s creative process — not through the reclusive filmmaker’s own words, obviously, but as recalled by the cast and crew. It also features David Fincher and Christopher Nolan expressing their appreciation for Malick’s work, some of which can be seen here. Sure, more extras would have been nice, but it’s not like we would have gotten anything of real value (such as a director’s commentary) anyway given Malick’s private nature.
After watching the film five or so times since my initial theatrical viewing, what I interpret and take away from the film has shifted dramatically. I find something new every time I watch it. So even if you don’t think The Tree of Life is the year’s best film, it’s probably the one most suited for repeat viewings. And if you’re like me, rewatchability plays a major role in my purchasing decisions.
You can buy the film now from Amazon by [amazon asin=”B005HV6Y5W” text=”clicking here”].
