The Tree of Life

Name: The Tree of Life
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Released: May 27, 2011
Duration: 139 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Sean Penn

2011

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Universal acclaim based on 50 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 702 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 702 Ratings

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The Tree Of Life

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: May 27, 2011 | PG-13

Starring: Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Sean Penn

Summary: 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. Jack finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.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. Jack finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith. Through Malick's signature imagery, we see how both brute nature and spiritual grace shape not only our lives as individuals and families, but all life. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

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Director: Terrence Malick

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 139 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Scott Tobias

May 26, 2011

In terms of scale, The Tree Of Life recalls the mammoth ambition of Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," but it's also more intimate and personal than Malick's previous films, rooted in vivid memories of growing up in '50s Texas. Read full review

100

Mick LaSalle

Jun 2, 2011

At times trying and perplexing, but it also contains some of the most psychologically insightful and ecstatic filmmaking imaginable. Read full review

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Nov 22, 2016

This is visionary cinema on an unashamedly huge scale: cinema that's thinking big. Malick makes an awful lot of other film-makers look timid and negligible by comparison. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Jun 15, 2011

The movie plays out as a series of memories, so exact and evocative that watching it becomes an immersive experience. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

May 25, 2011

Malick clings to the promise of grace: His vision of the afterlife is a dreamy beach, enhanced by an excellent playlist of fine classical music, and promising the peace that surpasses all understanding. Plus a beautiful sky. Read full review

The Playlist Kevin Jagernauth

Nov 22, 2016

With The Tree Of Life the director has once again created a cinematic experience that is uniquely his own, often powerful and mesmerizing, at times overreaching and overbearing, but never forgettable. Read full review

Roger Moore

Jun 16, 2011

Glibly put, this challenging time-skipping rumination is the big screen equivalent of watching that "Tree" grow. Read full review

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User Reviews

Pazzo7

Aug 23, 2014

The Tree of Life is one of the most beautiful and one of the best movies ever.Its something new,refreshing and so poetic you want to yelp with glee.Its clearly not for the average viewer because it requires patience and because its thought-provoking.Its just so unique (even though a ot ofThe Tree of Life is one of the most beautiful and one of the best movies ever.Its something new,refreshing and so poetic you want to yelp with glee.Its clearly not for the average viewer because it requires patience and because its thought-provoking.Its just so unique (even though a ot of people compare this to 2001:A Space Odyssey).Its haunting me ever since I've watched it the first time.Especially the Creation part with Zbigniew Preisner's-Lacrimosa in the background is one of the most charming moments in the movie history.Terrence Malick takes some time to make a movie but if a movie is this special and elegant then I am gonna wait patiently.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MovieMachine

Jan 9, 2012

This movie is reminiscent to those dreams where you start falling, but you never stop, only a lot more pleasant. The movie buds open like a flower longing for light, and even if it does so slowly, it does so perfectly as well. Malick approaches the concept of life with such grace, knowledge,This movie is reminiscent to those dreams where you start falling, but you never stop, only a lot more pleasant. The movie buds open like a flower longing for light, and even if it does so slowly, it does so perfectly as well. Malick approaches the concept of life with such grace, knowledge, and poise, that it causes you to question life yourself, more than you ever have. Acting here was great (just probably not award-worthy, except from Chastain), and it helped supplement the story. Most important to the picture, though, was the picture itself. This movie was shot beautifully and exceptionally, and scenes from the beginning of life were so eye-opening, that they made following this movie irresistible. Overall, this movie is a must-see, and should be up for many more film awards to come.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

grandpajoe6191

Oct 16, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I rarely hand out a perfect 10 for such movies due to my harsh criticism on movies. However, master director Terrence Malick just earned one for his new movie "The Tree of Life". Simply, this film isn't just a masterpiece. The pure graphics (not with the aid of foolish CGI) and the luxurious use of cinematography as well as the slow, linear story may look equivalent to Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey", but the film transcends Kubrick's masterpiece and redefines it with the a more personal topic; human. It presents us life, despair, and hope. Remember when we had troubled times, where we fought with our parents and rebelled against them, when we despised our brothers and sisters for their prominent talents, and when we felt God has abandoned us and left you in the abyss of sin, not lending you the escape rope? Such questions are asked in the film and despair floods within the tone. Director Malick determines to find the solution, starting from the primeval ages of life. Through the entire time, hate and collisions are only to be seen. The characters become blind of their surroundings and cannot see each other's feelings. Everything is lost; a dead son with a failed father is only to be found. It was then that the child, who has now reached to a point of experienced maturity, learns forgiveness of his father, joyful love of his family, and the true motive of God, smiles. "The Tree of Life" at this point ends as, with slow but vibrant colors, ascending into 'the universal solution', softly whispering to us that true honesty, forgiveness, and love brings back us, and...Life.… Expand

26 of 31 users found this helpful265

ChanekeCholo

Feb 3, 2022

- Review in English -

If I could define in a few words this film would be: “Visually out of this planet and narratively ambitious”. The cinematography shows up here, is one of the greatest and most flamboyant that I have ever seen, nevertheless, the editing, at times frantic, it takes me- Review in English -

If I could define in a few words this film would be: “Visually out of this planet and narratively ambitious”. The cinematography shows up here, is one of the greatest and most flamboyant that I have ever seen, nevertheless, the editing, at times frantic, it takes me out of this surreal and immeasurable trip about what it means the life itself.
The performances were excellent, it achieves great suspense moments and littles sparkles of so real feelings that the life gifts you. The script, as I said before, I thought it was quite ambitious and easy to make you lose the train of thought, however, it notes that they made it in the best possible way and I appreciate it.

- Reseña en Español -

Si podría definir en pocas palabras a esta película seria: “Visualmente fuera de este planeta y narrativamente ambiciosa”. La cinematografía mostrada aquí, es una de las más grandiosas y extravagantes que haya visto, sin embargo, la edición, por momentos frenética, me sacaba mucho de este surrealista e inconmensurable viaje de lo que significa la vida misma.
Las actuaciones fueron excelentes, logran generar grandes momentos de suspenso y pequeños destellos de sentimientos tan reales que la vida te ofrece. El guion, como ya mencioné antes, me pareció bastante ambicioso y difícil de seguir, sin embargo, se nota que lo hicieron de la mejor manera posible y eso se aprecia.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Jun 20, 2011

The latest from Terrence Mallick continues to solidify his rep as a pompous twit and/or brilliant filmmaker. There's no plot or dialogueâ

3 of 12 users found this helpful39

cafewrite

Jun 11, 2011

Pretentious rambling sporadic self conflagulation lauded by critics too afraid to go against the popular grain. This is one man's random splattering of hubble photographs interspersed with Brat Pitt posing as a real person and Sean Penn attempting to look thoughtful in cameo shots. The onlyPretentious rambling sporadic self conflagulation lauded by critics too afraid to go against the popular grain. This is one man's random splattering of hubble photographs interspersed with Brat Pitt posing as a real person and Sean Penn attempting to look thoughtful in cameo shots. The only real actors are the boys left adrift in a plotless story. Save your $ and buy a lottery ticket instead. At least that randomness has a shot at paying off.… Expand

13 of 29 users found this helpful1316

Schifferbrains

Dec 4, 2011

Shockingly self-serving drivel. As a scientist, I was appalled at the inane attempt to present a timeline of life (as pretty as it was). The movie "Adaptation " did it in one quick scene. This lunacy goes on for a period of time that truly made me shake. The awfulness is indescribable. TheShockingly self-serving drivel. As a scientist, I was appalled at the inane attempt to present a timeline of life (as pretty as it was). The movie "Adaptation " did it in one quick scene. This lunacy goes on for a period of time that truly made me shake. The awfulness is indescribable. The pain worse than an unanaesthetized tooth extraction. As a writer, I was incensed from the very first whisper (the whole slide show is in a whisper) with false spiritual music gnawing at you in the background.The narrative is accomplishable in 8x fast forward which is the only way I could watch this.These amazing actors were silenced by insane direction and muffled by a score better suited for a 700 Club infomercial.

If a reviewer likes this film then they didn't watch it or they're related to Maleck. I was asked to consider voting for this film. I am considering sending it to my enemies.

I wish I had a way to waste a Saturday night of Maleck's.… Expand

0 of 12 users found this helpful012

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20	#20 Best Movie of 2011
11	#11 Most Discussed Movie of 2011
28	#28 Most Shared Movie of 2011