The Tree Of Life

Is it a film? Is it a piece of art? Is it just pretentious wank? Its probably all three.

It's difficult to say what The Tree of Life is actually about. Its more than just a boy growing up, the relationship with his family and the loss of his innocence due to death. Like a piece of literature you have to probe the material to find its real meaning, and even then it's still up for debate. Is it about God? Is it about the director Terrence Malick? Is it about nature?

It's undoubtedly beautifully directed, with every shot well considered. Malick's intimate, tender style of camera shots works wonders on such a personal film as this. The music is just as beautiful with simple piano pieces to huge choir epics. In terms of acting there isn't a lot to go by, but Brad Pitt seems to take center stage as per usual, with the strongest performance.

Then again, it's two and a half hours of disjointed imagery, an unlinear, unfulfilling plot and unclear whispering dialogue. People who expect closure, structure and spoon feeding aren't going to enjoy this, and I can fully appreciate that. Its difficult to review a film like this because everything it does could be construde as being 'there on purpose'. The unfulfilling plot could be their to represent our empty lives, or the twenty minute journey from the creation of the universe to the dinosaurs (what terrible CGI though, the BBC could have done better! Its so jarring too having witnessed so many real, beautiful images) showing us the miracle of life itself, or the importance of the universal and the very personal.  It sounds wank, and it is. But it's undeniably interesting wank. It feels as if Malick made this film more for himself rather than the public, and I give him huge credit for that.

Its an original film experience and a very interesting point of discussion. If that gets you interested then you've probably already seen it. [B]