Title: The Tree of Life Director: Terrence Malick Starring: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Studio: 20th Century Fox Genre(s): Drama Rated:       (For some thematic material)

CONSUMER ADVICE

Parents, there is little language and almost no violent. Some disturbing themes though. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Terrence Malick's “The Tree of Life” is a masterpiece of filming. Visually stunning, narratively daring, and emotionally fulfilling in every aspect.  It's bold film that is unafraid to be unconventional in its storytelling and sincere in its approach.  “The Tree of Life” opens with a quote from the Bible, begins at the end, and then starts over again.  We see the world being created.  Wonders of a universe that clearly has a God controlling it.  Then the movie begins with a couple who has just their first child.  As the wife rests the father, Mr. O'Brian (Brad Pitt), looks at his newborn son.

The child is small, helpless, and ever so tiny.  Yet his little foot is just as beautiful as the images of wonder we saw at the opening of the film.  The boy is named Jack and grows up in a bit of a conflict.  His father is a nice man, but pushes to be the best provider he can be.  In response, he sometimes takes his frustrations in what he believes is his failure as a human being out on Jack.  His mother (Jessica Chastin) is a much kinder soul.  She speaks very little in this film, but is filled with the kindness of an angel and the beauty of a marvelous painting.  Early in the movie someone prays that there are two ways of living: That of Grace and Nature.  People who live by Grace are kind and will be kind despite the way they are treated.

People who live by Nature only wish to succeed and thus tend to fail in their relationships due to their ignorance.  Both parents walk these paths, and Jack is torn between the two.  He knows the way he wants to live, but he can only do the things he doesn't want to do.  “The Tree of Life” is easily the most spiritual film I've seen in a long time.  There is a story, but it's more a backdrop to the spiritual quest director Malick is on.  Throughout the movie characters pray to a God they do not see and do not understand.  They wonder why he would let a good, innocent boy die while a bad boy lives.  They question why they should try to be good if bad things will happen to you regardless of personal conviction.

Situations sometimes seem hopeless, but the movie does believe there is a spiritual creator in the world.  If the captivating images of the ocean, volcanoes, and forests don't make this clear, Malick shoots the film so that it is always beautiful.  There is beauty in the entire world regardless what is happening and when.  The only place the world seems dark and subdued is in the man built home they live in, where God has a limited presence.  Indeed, even most of the shoots are from below, always looking to the sky, suggesting that God is in control of everything that is happening.  The film stars Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, and Jessica Chastin.  All three of these actors are playing at the top of their game.

Pitt has the most dialog of the three, but just because the other two don't communicate much doesn't mean they aren't well defined characters that aren't worth caring about.  On the contrary, I was amazed at how well I came to know these people despite their lack of dialog.  It must help that they have a director who is fearless and masterful directing them, but performances like these are rare.  Visually speaking this film is as bold as a movie from Stanley Kubrick.  Where the two directors differ is that while Kubrick used his confusing images to show us ideas of the human world, Malick uses his confusing images to show us ideas of the human heart.

“2001: A Space Odyssey” is still a classic, but one can't deny that it makes little sense in the end.  The ending here is cryptic as well, but understandable if you can take the time to connect with it.  The ultimate truth “The Tree of Life” gives us is that God is everywhere and created everything.  Everything he touches is wonderful and works.  Humans don't work.  They are imperfect and make mistakes.  But despite their problems, we are here on Earth to love each other and enjoy this great planet that has been given to us.  That means we are all connected to God's Tree of Life in some way or another, and the way to make the most of it is to love one another.  This shouldn't be news after all these years, yet for some reason it is.