Main Cast And Crew
Stars: Brad Pitt,
Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain,
Hunter McCracken,Laramie Eppler,
Tye Sheridan,Fiona Shaw,
Jessica Fuselier,Nicolas Gonda,
Will Wallace,Kelly Koonce And Others
Director: Terrence Malick
Writer: Terrence Malick
Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 17 May 2011 (France)
Also Known As: A Árvore da Vida
Filming Locations: Austin, Texas, USA
Genres: Drama | Sci-Fi
Release Date: May 27th, 2011
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Rating: PG 13
Storyline:
The story centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence.
Movie Plot Summary:
From Terrence Malick, the acclaimed director of such classic films as Badlands, Days of Heaven and The Thin Red Line, The Tree of Life is the impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950's. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father (Brad Pitt). Jack (played as an adult by Sean Penn) finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith. Through Malick's signature imagery, we see how both brute nature and spiritual grace shape not only our lives as individuals and families, but all life.
Reviewed by David Didà (Switzerland)
21 May 2011
No doubt: its author, Terrence Malick, is an expert in philosophical questions. Let's remember that Malick himself, before becoming a filmmaker, was a lecturer on Martin Heidegger at the MIT. The basis of the film is a tree of life, which, in mythology, represents creation, knowledge and ability to distinguish good and evil.
However, Malick's ontological enterprise sometimes reminds of Icarus' myth. I am sure you remember. In Crete, ferocious king Minos confined the architect Daedalus and his son Icarus within Minotaur's labyrinth. In serious danger, father and son tried to run away from that place. Together they built a pair of wings for each one using feathers and wax. The method worked out but Icarus, seized by the desire of cosmic knowledge, flew too near the sun. Thus, the wax melted and the young man fell into the dark sea. In a way, Malick escapes that labyrinth of questions, which life is, in order to reach the sun – in his case, the roots of the tree of life. Nevertheless, the director, a common human being, wants to reach the sun by using wax wings and, like Icarus, falls. To be precise, the inserts about the cosmic motion and the Mesozoic are rather disappointing. Moreover, it is odd to remark some references to a simpler and well-made "dawn of man": Stanley Kubrick's one in 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY.
The true Malick shows up on the earth. The familial interactions – in the small Texan city of Waco, the director's hometown – are marvelous indeed. This marvel reaches its peak when the eldest son starts observing his young mother. The sort of perdition involving the adult eldest son is remarkable since wonderfully represented by that glass labyrinth of the contemporary metropolis. References to Malick's past filmography – DAYS OF HEAVEN in pole position – are at the right place. The "discovery" of Jessica Chastain – to whom I wish a great career – in the role of the mother, is astonishing. The soundtrack, spacing from Bach to Ligeti, passing through Brahms and Smetana, is magnificent. The wonderful editing style – based on "jump cuts" and conceptual associations – needs to be highlighted since, more than Godard, it reminds of Eisenstein. Perhaps, the cinematography is less beautiful but interesting anyway. The Mexican Emmanuel Lubezki seems to imitate Néstor Almendros without being really successful. Likewise, not truly convincing, Brad Pitt playing the role of the father: he sometimes calls to mind lieutenant Aldo Raine of INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS. Pitt recently turns out to be abler as a producer than as an actor.
It is not because of his ability to ask ontological questions and to discuss philosophical matters, but Terrence Malick is one of the most serious contemporary filmmakers. Thus, his short escape from the labyrinth is forgivable. All this, hoping that the next time, in spite of all seriousness, all cinematographic culture and philosophical competence, he will not forget that the wings, which are available to us, are made of wax.
Watch Online Movie Trailer:
No comments:
Post a Comment