Blu-Ray Review: Poetic Vision of Terrence Malick’s Beautiful ‘The Tree of Life’

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CHICAGO – Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” has stirred up a bit of controversy since its debut early in the Summer of 2011. You almost certainly saw the stories (or Facebook posts or tweets) about the audience walk-outs and signs at theaters that warned ticket buyers that they were about to see something unique. And you may have heard that Sean Penn has even revealed that he thought the film flawed (although most outlets took what he said out of context). Ignore the nonsense. Ignore the backlash that greets every great work of art. Experience “The Tree of Life,” recently released on a gorgeous HD Blu-ray, for yourself. And, whatever you may think of it, the film is a true “experience.”

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

Most movies don’t ask much of the viewer. They provide the laughs or the scares and all they want is an instinctual, knee-jerk response — laugh, jump, cry. etc. Some of the most-acclaimed movies of the year often ask for a bit of mental work on the part of the viewer (like everything Christopher Nolan has ever made) to really appreciate them, but it’s rare that a filmmaker asks for something even deeper than laughter or deduction. With “The Tree of Life,” Terrence Malick is playing with elements like memory, faith, and maturity in ways that the film world has never seen before. The result isn’t just an amazingly personal vision on the part of one of our best living filmmakers but a work unlike any other this year. The unique nature of “The Tree of Life” has made it understandably challenging or even annoying to some viewers who wanted a “Summer Brad Pitt Movie.” I get that. But all I ask is that you check it out for yourself. You may be amazing by what you get out of the journey.

The Tree of Life was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 11th, 2011
The Tree of Life was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 11th, 2011
Photo credit: Fox

And “The Tree of Life” really is a journey. It’s odd to me that so many people have struggled to describe “The Tree of Life” because, at its core, the plot is actually quite simple — it’s about a man (Sean Penn) coming to terms with the most important, fundamentally-shaping years of his life. We see flashbacks to not just his childhood (in which he is played by Hunter McCracken and his parents are played by Brad Pitt & Jessica Chastain, both Oscar-nomination worthy) but to the beginning of time. “The Tree of Life” is about the formation of a man and the forces, symbolized by his very-different parents, that pull at him for the rest of his life.

The Tree of Life was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 11th, 2011
The Tree of Life was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 11th, 2011
Photo credit: Fox

“The Tree of Life” is one of those rare films that is honestly a unique experience for every viewer. It is a work that will pull different emotions and memories from you depending on how you approach it. If you “try to figure it out,” the intellectual approach will probably let you down. And the years of expectations may have heightened the negative response from some corners. The second time I saw the film, I tried to discard most critical thought of the film and experience it with my heart instead of my head. After seeing thousands of films, that viewing of “The Tree of Life” ranks as one of the most rewarding experiences that I’ve ever had in a darkened theater. I can’t say for sure that you’ll respond the same way but if there’s any chance that you might, don’t you want to take that trip?

As for the Blu-ray, while HD is clearly the way to see the film, this is obviously a place-holder for the longer version of the film that Malick has already spoken about being in the works. One can assume that a Special Edition will be released down the road and that edition will have the special features befitting the best film of the year.

For a more-detailed examination of “The Tree of Life,” read my theatrical review.

Synopsis:
This stunningly original triumph from visionary director Terrence Malick stars Academy Award Nominee Brad Pitt and Academy Award Winner Sean Penn. The epic, yet intimate, story follows the life journey of Jack O’Brien (played as an adult by Penn), the eldest son of a fractured Midwestern family. Pitt delivers a powerful performance as the cataclysmic force of nature in Jack’s world, his complex and rigidly authoritarian father. Hailed as a visually breathtaking masterpiece by critics and audiences alike, The Tree Of Life won the Cannes Film Festival’s highest honor, becoming one of the year’s most talked about films.

Special Features:
o Exploring The Tree of Life

“The Tree of Life” stars Hunter McCracken, Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, and Sean Penn. It was written and directed by Terrence Malick. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 11th, 2011.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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