The Tree Of Life (2011) - Review

A work of staggering beauty and wonder, The Tree Of Life is one of the most overwhelmingly powerful films in decades.

Firstly, I think it's a fair comment to say that in ten, twenty, or even fifty years time, The Tree Of Life will be recognised as Terrence Malick's magnum opus. It's that good. The reason for this is that the film identifies Malick as a real person, rather than some existential, ethereal force of whom we have fewer legitimate pictures that we do of bigfoot. Because the film is based on something likely very personal and important to Malick himself, that being his own childhood

The Tree Of Life follows a midwestern American family in the 1950s, which includes the father, Mr O'Brien (Brad Pitt), Mrs O'Brien (Jessica Chastain), and their two sons, Jack (Hunter McCracken) and R.L. (Laramie Eppler). Their lives in a seemingly idyllic American suburb are parallelled with a narrative following the present day, in which the family, including a much older Jack (portrayed by Sean Penn) come to terms with the news that R.L. has been tragically killed. Of course, a film by Malick wouldn't be complete with some radical aspect; we're also running alongside the origins of the universe and the first forms of life.

Much of the primary conflict comes from the two boys and their relationships with their parents. Mr O'Brien is failed musician who now works as a relatively unsuccessful patent clerk, and he takes a largely hypocritical stance in taking his anger out on his family through various means, while he is perfectly contrasted by Mrs O'Brien, a figure of ease and love in the boys eyes.

In terms of a purely visceral perspective, The Tree Of Life is, without question, a masterpiece. Malick's instantly distinguishable and confident style is washed over every single frame of the film; minute details of the lives of the O'Briens are examined, not in a day-to-day sense but in a more emotional fashion. Malick's signature technique of using the brief stream of consciousness-esque snippets of the characters thoughts throughout the film make it all the more emotionally brilliant - there's a genuity to the film that's present from beginning to end.

But likely the most impressive aspect of The Tree Of Life's visual and audatic qualities is what takes place outside of the lives of the family. As previously mentioned, we're thrown through the entire universe - the two and a half hour running time sends us across the far reaches of space, allowing us to witness the birth of, well, everything. Stars explode and planets are born, all through the use of extended sequences of astounding CGI work that are admittedly impressive. And, while not giving too much away... There are indeed dinosaurs, which has polarised a lot of peoples opinions about this film.

On a less dinosaur-related note and one that's more human-focused, the actors performances are all impressively evocative. Most notable are Jessica Chastain's portrayal of Mrs O'Brien, and Hunter McCracken as Jack. Chastain gives a performance of fantastic restraint, as if she might break at any moment of the film, while McCracken is equally impressive, especially at such a young age.

The Tree Of Life is life-affirming to the point that everyone owes it to themselves to see it. Works that have the capacity to define what it is to be human are few and far between, and that's assuming that they exist at all. But if they do, The Tree Of Life is one of them.