Terrence Malick

CHICAGO – Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” led the way for film in the eyes of the Chicago Film Critics Association, as they have dubbed it the Best Picture of 2011. Malick also took Best Director for his long-delayed labor of love, while the CFCA also chose the cinematography and the work by Jessica Chastain as the Best Supporting Actress work of the year. “Drive” and “Martha Marcy May Marlene” came in second with two wins a piece.

CHICAGO – The winner announcements keep flying in as the award season for film swings into full gear. This past weekend, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO), and San Francisco Film Critics Circle (SFFCC) all took their turns awarding the best in film for 2011.

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.

CHICAGO – From a classic tradition of abrasive-but-lovable anti-heroes, the lead of writer/director John Michael McDonagh’s “The Guard,” Officer Boyle (Brendan Gleeson), is one of the most memorable leads of the year. Played with trademark wit by Gleeson, Boyle does drugs, sleeps with hookers, and simply doesn’t care what you think about him.

CHICAGO – “Where is it that we were together? Who were you that I lived with? The brother. The friend. Darkness, light. Strife and love. Are they the workings of one mind? The features of the same face? Oh, my soul. Let me be in you now.

CHICAGO – Whenever two power players in the world of cinephiles come together, it creates a critical buzz and such was the case when it was announced that The Criterion Collection had chosen Terrence Malick’s “The Thin Red Line” for induction in their world-renowned series of DVDs and Blu-rays.

CHICAGO – History eludes us. It’s what happens when we’re busy making other plans. In his new film “Beaufort,” director Joseph Cedar turns his lens toward the history and misery of a Mideastern soldier’s outpost eight years ago that was both defended and attacked while highlighting the human element that has to endure when protecting the territory of warfare.