tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post1589350073173748444..comments2023-11-28T15:20:59.369-05:00Comments on Cinema Viewfinder: Movie Review: The Tree of Life (2011)Tony Dayoubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-22856421576853564962011-07-01T11:55:04.748-04:002011-07-01T11:55:04.748-04:00Tony:
I certainly entertained thoughts of seeing ...Tony:<br /><br />I certainly entertained thoughts of seeing this film a second time. Hopefully, I'll get that chance soon.<br /><br />For me, this story may have seemed clear in Malick's head, but it wasn't that lucid on the screen. This is unlike his other films, especially Days of Heaven or The Thin Red Line. Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey seems rather straightforward by comparison. <br /><br />That said, we certainly need a visionary such as Malick in our industry. Very few directors cling to such a personal vision as shown in his work, so for that reason alone, the film is a must-see, whether one likes it - or understands it - or not.tom hylandhttp://cinemadirectives.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-18679741917360070952011-07-01T06:27:44.645-04:002011-07-01T06:27:44.645-04:00Tom, the "pretentious" label is one I fi...Tom, the "pretentious" label is one I find particularly irksome in regards to this movie. As Jake, my commenter above said elsewhere, I believe this is Malick at his most sincere. There is no pretense about this film. I think it is a difficult film, and it certainly isn't my favorite Malick film right now. But I almost take it as a given that I must see his films a second time to fully apprehend them. As critic Omar Moore put it, the first viewing is necessary almost to simply just dispel one's preconceptions of the film. I'd be interested to see if a second viewing moves you differently.Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-66948357333002169442011-06-30T18:40:33.465-04:002011-06-30T18:40:33.465-04:00Tony:
Saw this movie today and of course, checked...Tony:<br /><br />Saw this movie today and of course, checked out your review just after returning home. I enjoyed your review, but we differ wildly on this film.<br /><br />I'm sorry to say that, as I am a huge fan of Malick and was so looking forward to this film. Yes, the visuals are stunning - given the talents of Malick and cinematographer Emanuel Lubeszki, that is to be expected (yet still amazing even for them) and I actually was enthralled by the first half-hour.<br /><br />But this was a pretentious film for me. I actually couldn't wait for it to end. Yes, I expected to be challenged and some scenes (such as Pitt playing the organ in church for his son) were wonderful, but this just didn't capture me, as it seemed deliberately confusing and slightly strained.<br /><br />Where is the Malick I loved in Days of Heaven?tom hylandhttp://cinemadirectives.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-2433589482711005752011-06-08T08:39:12.209-04:002011-06-08T08:39:12.209-04:00Nice musings on a very musable film. My review: ...Nice musings on a very musable film. My review: http://filmicability.blogspot.com/2011/06/film-144-tree-of-life.htmlDean Treadwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02106829300132326368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-91695345150950142872011-06-07T08:40:19.022-04:002011-06-07T08:40:19.022-04:00When I get back from the gym, I'm going over t...When I get back from the gym, I'm going over to your site to read your review, Jake. Sounds like you enjoyed it even more than I did.<br /><br />Personally, I'm hoping the DVD Extended Edition will restore some other universal scenes from childhood, like Jack's parents losing it when Jack and his brotheres can't behave at a family restaurant.Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-16615548387334267762011-06-06T13:30:23.526-04:002011-06-06T13:30:23.526-04:00Great review, Tony. I was bowled over by this film...Great review, Tony. I was bowled over by this film in all the ways I didn't expect to be. I didn't expect to see myself in some frolicking hellraiser from the '50s and certainly not in the awe-inspiring yet scientific progression of existence, but at every moment I felt this film, and it makes it all the harder to see where people who view it as some clinical exercise are coming from.<br /><br />There were moments so true to life it was hard to keep looking at the screen for seeing my own reflection, but it also had a scope far beyond anything I've ever seen. I simply can't talk about this film without gushing. I don't think I've ever felt this way specifically about a film before.Jake Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15532951308638768249noreply@blogger.com