The Tree of Life is a cerebral journey that demands of its viewer a visceral response. It truly takes "stream of consciousness" to a whole different level exploring religion, creation, and the universe to answer the ultimate question: what is our purpose? This and all of life's big questions are raised after a family loses a child and his absence is still felt years later by his brother played by Sean Penn. What we are unsure of is if what we are seeing is real or just speculation. Writer and director Terrence Malick takes us through memories as they truly feel, detailed yet unfinished. Memories, however, are unreliable and because this young boy is still growing and developing as is his father, played by Brad Pitt, a man with dashed dreams and a musical soul that is hindered by circumstance and ignorance. Complexity doesn't even begin to describe their relationship as it truly is like life itself in all it's intricacies.
This was one of those movies that you can't really "like." It was more of a rare experience - a true film. I can definitely see why critics and viewers struggled with it as well as why it did well at Cannes winning top prize, the Palme d'Or. Hollywood, on the other hand, has yet to show any real love for it until now. The question is them will it win any of the three categories is nominated in? It's best chances are in Best Cinematography because it really was a visual masterpiece. Emmanuel Lubezki was last nominated for Children of Men and has pretty much taken every cinematography award this year with The Tree of Life. This could be his year and I would say that it would undoubtedly be well deserved.
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