The Tree of Life isn't a film that is wrapped up with a bow. Much of the dialogue is presented via voice-over (a common trait for a Malick film to have), and that dialogue has a largely lyrical nature to it. There are two extended sections of the film that are, well, obtuse. By obtuse, I mean that in a film largely about a family in Texas in the 1950s (at least superficially speaking) there is an extended sequence detailing the creation of the universe and the evolution of life on Earth and another that is a foray into a dreamlike afterlife.
Despite the perception of difficulty, this is not a film from which you can easily walk away. In the months since having seen The Tree of Life theatrically, it has crept back into my head repeatedly. During the days immediately following, it consumed me. This simply does not happen with other directors' works.
In the coming weeks, I intend to do some more in-depth and focused analysis on individual aspects of the film, but in short, The Tree of Life may well be the best film of this young century as it is likely the best film since The Thin Red Line. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD this week. If I could get this goddamn Amazon widget to work, I'd throw the link in.
2 comments:
just watched this movie, have no clue what to make of it. maybe i'll watch it again twenty years from now.
Beau,
Give it a couple days. Everything sort of starts to make sense if you allow it to stew.
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