The Tree of Life (2011)
Average Rating: 8.1/10
Reviews Counted: 251
Fresh: 210 | Rotten: 41
Terrence Malick's singularly deliberate style may prove unrewarding for some, but for patient viewers, Tree of Life is an emotional as well as visual treat.
Average Rating: 8.4/10
Critic Reviews: 46
Fresh: 41 | Rotten: 5
Terrence Malick's singularly deliberate style may prove unrewarding for some, but for patient viewers, Tree of Life is an emotional as well as visual treat.
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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 55,067
Movie Info
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,
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Cast
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Brad Pitt
Mr. O'Brien -
Sean Penn
Jack, Jack O'Brien -
Jessica Chastain
Mrs. O'Brien -
Hunter McCracken
Young Jack -
Laramie Eppler
R.L. -
Tye Sheridan
Steve -
Fiona Shaw
Grandmother -
Jessica Fuselier
Guide -
Nicolas Gonda
Mr. Reynolds -
William A. Wallace
Architect -
Kelly Koonce
Father Haynes -
Bryce Boudoin
Robert -
Jimmy Donaldson
Jimmy -
Kameron Vaughn
Cayler -
Cole Cockburn
Harry Bates -
Dustin Allen
George Walsh -
Brayden Whisenhunt
Jo Bates -
Joanna Going
Jack's Wife -
Irene Bedard
Messenger -
Finnegan Williams
Jack at 2 -
Michael Koeth
Jack at 5 -
John Howell
R.L. at 2 -
Samantha Martinez
Samantha -
Savannah Welch
Mrs. Kimball -
Tamara Jolaine
Mrs. Stone -
Julia Smith
Beth -
Anne Nabors
Rue -
Christopher Ryan
Prisoner -
Tyler Thomas
Tyler Stone -
Michael Showers
Mr. Brown -
Kim Whalen
Mrs. Brown -
Margaret Ann Hoard
Jane -
Wally Welch
Clergyman -
Hudson Long
Mr. Bagley -
Michael Dixon
Dusty Walsh -
William Hardy
Jack's Work Colleague -
Tommy Hollis
Tommy -
Cooper Franklin Sutherlan...
Robert #2 -
John Cyrier
Biplane Pilot -
Erma Lee Alexander
Erma -
Nicholas Yedinak
Nicholas Swimmer -
Claire Oelkers
Organist Double -
Thomas Pavlechko
Hand Double for Mr. Pit...
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The Tree of Life Trailer & Photos
All Critics (254) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (210) | Rotten (41) | DVD (11)
This film's rewards are many, for those with the patience to simply let it float.
Top CriticIn this flawed yet masterful, unforgettable movie, Malick argues that even the tiniest mote can have value. He sees miracles everywhere. You just have to make an effort to see them, too.
Glibly put, this challenging time-skipping rumination is the big screen equivalent of watching that "Tree" grow.
"The Tree of Life" is rooted in human nature but ascends to the infinite mystery. It's a dizzying climb with few footholds for the timid or cynical, but the view from above is heavenly.
The result actually plays like a divine pronouncement, cosmic in scope and oracular in tone, a cinematic sermon on the mount that shows its creator in exquisite form. Exquisite but frustrating.
The vision is dazzling. The portrayal of family life palpable. The ending ... well, let's go back to the vision.
You'd be hard pressed to find an examination of human existence as profound and spiritual as Terrence Malick's mind-blowing trip through the cosmos.
The lack of story or purpose is annoying and at times, the film is too experimental. Topping things off is an abrupt and unsatisfying ending which doesn't leave us with good feelings towards the film.
Absurdly over-rated...
Malick may have pushed the envelope a bit too far, losing the ability to see the forest for the trees - even in a film as beautiful and surreal as The Tree of Life
It's fair to say that everyone will get at least something out of this film.
While it doesn't leave you as breathless as Malick would like, The Tree of Life will stir your soul and make you think. Which is an outcome every moviemaker should aspire to create.
Less Plato than metaphysical Play-Doh
Malik's vision and deeply powerful imagery outlives its welcome after 20 minutes, leaving a film that meanders along trying to impress with concepts and ideas.
This film is a cinematic triumph! Terrence Malick's masterpiece!
Es cierto que la película es ambiciosa, y que no va a gustarle a todo el mundo. Pero para quien logre conectar con ella, puede resultar en una experiencia removedora y visualmente impactante.
I'm not sure all of its diverse elements successfully make a whole story, but I am giving this film extra credit for being so incredibly ambitious, visually stunning and humane. It is a refreshing contrast to films that show the worst of humanity.
A visually dazzling, intentionally polarizing examination of life and death, and the beauty and darkness hidden between.
Terrence Malick's astonishing masterpiece of light, movement, and spirit, casts a dizzying spell and somehow manages to pronounce the ineffable while telling its humble tale.
If I can prevent just one person from watching this, it'll have been worth suffering through it.
A movie rooted in philosophy is bound to feel, well, philosophical. Expecting a filmmaker to avoid highfalutin' imagery and ideas when he's examining The Nature of Man is like expecting a geometry teacher to avoid talking about angles.
A rich film that sets lofty goals for itself, and doesn't fall short by much.
Writer/director Terrence Malick has defied the odds and created a masterpiece of harrowing truth and deeply felt emotion.
A bold, epic exercise that Malick comes close to pulling off. It may not stack up against his best, but it doesn't fail to incite feelings of awe in its audience, either.
Yes, it is a very strange film but, cutting Malick some slack for artistic license, his film is also compelling and hypnotic.
Malick's brilliantly acted and photographed film evokes the emotional turmoil of childhood, its resentment, pains and joys, in a way that few other filmmakers can match
Audience Reviews for The Tree of Life
Super Reviewer
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- Young Jack: Where were you? You let a little boy die. You'll let anything happen. How can I be good, if you aren't?
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- Young Jack: Where were you? You let a little boy die. You'll let anything happen. How can I be good, if you aren't?
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- Mr. O'Brien: You make yourself what you are. You gotta control your own destiny. Can't say 'I can't'. You say I'm having trouble, I'm not done yet. You can't say 'I can't'.
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- Mr. O'Brien: [about his son, Jack] I made him feel shame. My shame.
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- Grandmother: Life goes on. People pass along. Nothing stays the same.
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- Jack: Where were You? You let a boy die. You let anything happen. Why should I be good ? When You aren't.
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Roger Moore | 53 days ago | 2 |
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Latest News on The Tree of Life
November 13, 2012:
Malick's To the Wonder Set for April 2013And he's already finished work on the follow-up.
November 5, 2012:
Val Kilmer Set Pics from Terrence Malick's Next Movie Promise MadnessA walker, a chainsaw, and a self-administered haircut!
February 8, 2012:
Natalie Portman Pulls a Double MalickShe'll star in the back-to-back Terrence Malick projects "Knight of the Cups" and "Lawless."
Fresh Links
Featured
Movie: ID: 770793166 Title: The Tree of Life Release Date: 2011-05-27 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 3 Status: 1
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Foreign Titles
- El árbol de la vida (ES)
