‘The Tree of Life’ is a masterpiece
Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life is a movie you have never seen before, and likely will never see again. It proudly wears its uniqueness for all to see.
Brad Pitt plays Mr. O’Brien and Jessica Chastain plays his wife, Mrs. O’Brien. They live in Waco, Texas, in the 1950s and have devoted their lives to raising their three sons, Jack (Hunter McCracken), R.L. (Laramie Eppler) and Steve (Tye Sheridan).
The O’Briens live a life of Americana pastiche. They light sparklers in the summer and the boys go hunting for frogs down by the stream. Mrs. O’Brien lets the laundry out on the clothesline, while Mr. O’Brien drives to work every day to put food on the table.
As we come to know the family, we are simultaneously introduced to Jack as an older man (played by Sean Penn). He’s a long way from Texas and his upbringing. Now, he sits in his office at the top of a skyscraper, wondering how he fits into the world.
The stark contrast between the simplicity of Texas and the technological advancements of Jack’s adulthood are beautifully realized by Malick’s lens. He is able to capture so many well-staged shots from various angles that watching The Tree of Life is like flipping through an assortment of postcard images.
If the story began and ended with Jack’s transition from Texas to the big world, then Malick’s film would be an engaging, period-piece drama. What escalates the plot to celestial heights is how Jack’s story, and particularly his relationship with his father, fits into the greater cosmos. Using breathtaking images of space and Earth, Malick makes the bold choice of likening the relationship between a father and his son to the very currents that pulsate in our natural world.
For some, this will be an odd movie-going experience. Scenes of a 1950s family eating dinner at the kitchen table are interspersed with enormous sequoia trees and rolling waves in the ocean. There’s even a few dinosaurs that make a cameo appearance, as well as barren deserts and rushing rivers.
In some ways, The Tree of Life is a documentary about nature. Linking these images together, while sticking to the story of a 1950s family, makes for uneasy transitions. But after thinking about what Malick is trying to do with his visuals, it becomes clear that his thesis is stirringly provocative.
We are part of something bigger, something more profound. And yet, in our own little ways, our lives are the most important cosmic occurrences to ever take place. Volcanoes erupt, and fathers teach their sons the lessons of life. Everything is somehow connected.
The acting is excellent. This is Pitt’s finest role to date. He plays Mr. O’Brien with a loving sternness. He’s a good father who dotes on his three sons. But he’s also not a pushover. He demands respect and proper manners, so much so that Jack resents him and lashes out. This young boy, played with a haunting quietness by newcomer Hunter McCracken, doesn’t understand the value of his father. Not yet, at least.
Chastain holds much of the film together with her touching performance. She is a dedicated mother, a person who has sacrificed everything for her family.
Malick is an impressive director who has only made a handful of films. The Tree of Life is likely his best piece of cinema, and it will be remembered for many reasons, in particular its brave storytelling techniques. Critics shouldn’t throw around the word “masterpiece,” but when it comes to this movie, the label is appropriate.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Did you know? Heath Ledger was originally slated to play Mr. O’Brien in Tree of life. However, Brad Pitt took over the role. For more interesting facts and trivia visit http://www.facebook.com/pvr.pictures.