The Tree of Life

[falafel]

I wish Malick had stayed away from Brad Pitt, who never seems capable of sublimating his Brad Pittness when it comes to filling a role. Sometimes that works, when the Pittness plays into the character (Burn After Reading, Inglourious Basterds), but usually it doesn't (Benjamin Button, Jesse James).

After Benji Button, it has gotten to the point that, unless there are other actors or a director whose work I really want to see, the presence of Brad Pitt will actually decrease the likelihood that I will watch a movie.

Sorry, you've already committed to seeing this film. No backing out now.

[RobinFinderson]

Sorry, you've already committed to seeing this film. No backing out now.

Oh, I'm in! I wouldn't miss a Malick film for $70! However I would miss it for $70.01. I guess, for me, the fair market value of a new Malick film, if they could get each ticket buyer to pay the maximum amount he would spend, is $70.

[Green Lantern]

Oh, I'm in! I wouldn't miss a Malick film for $70! However I would miss it for $70.01. I guess, for me, the fair market value of a new Malick film, if they could get each ticket buyer to pay the maximum amount he would spend, is $70.

Does that include sales tax and refreshments?

I agree with you to some extent on Brad Pitt, but I actually think he's great when he infuses his characters with his natural arrogance and movie star charisma. I thought it worked perfectly in Assassination of Jesse James, where James was basically portrayed as the tabloid celebrity of his day.

[MarkGrace]

Early reviews.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_tree_of_life_2011/

[Donuthole]

Early reviews.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_tree_of_life_2011/

100% from top critics? Wow.

[falafel]

100% from top critics? Wow.

it was 89% when I looked.

[Donuthole]

it was 89% when I looked.

Now click on "Top Critics". . . wallah!

[RobinFinderson]

Faith and I caught the morning show at the Arclight Hollywood. The film deeply moved me. I think I can get over my Brad Pitt hangup now that he is getting older and losing his looks. When I heard that Pitt's role had been originally cast for Heath Ledger I felt a bit like I had just seen an amazing Broadway production except one of the main players had been replaced by an understudy.

The film is going to appeal to artsy Mormons, and I kept thinking that it would be like the temple film if it had been made by a great artist.

[Levin]

My wife and I saw this movie this evening.

I'll just say this: the whole of creation has as its purpose the life of the family, with all its heartache and ecstasy, but mostly its way of keeping us in touch with the divine. What a movie to make us see the world anew despite only reminding us of something so old.

It also made me think of Levin in Anna Karenina. Why did he finally, after a thousand pages, finally begin to believe in God? Because he realized his struggle with faith -- the fact that his thoughts turned upward -- was proof of the existence of a soul seeking a connection with its creator. This movie, in a very literal and moving sense, depicts that conversation.

Janet Napolitano was in the crowd; as were secret service agents in street cloths. And her girlfriend. I thought of her as we were walking out of the theater: how do you go back to running a huge bureaucracy after watching a movie like that? How do you go back to committees on national security and domestic counter-terrorism?

How do you do it? So that families in America can experience moments depicted in this film.

As for me, I came home and kissed each of my children on their cheeks. First my sweet daughter, then my sons.

I think Robin is spot on: if an auteur had made the temple movie, this is the movie that he would have made.

[SeattleUte]

It also made me think of Levin in Anna Karenina. Why did he finally, after a thousand pages, finally begin to believe in God? Because he realized his struggle with faith -- the fact that his thoughts turned upward -- was proof of the existence of a soul seeking a connection with its creator.

[Levin]

No kidding, if that's the standard, Mr. Tolstoy, then why doesn't everyone believe in God? Because everyone has the upward pull at some point in their lives.

[SeattleUte]

No kidding, if that's the standard, Mr. Tolstoy, then why doesn't everyone believe in God? Because everyone has the upward pull at some point in their lives.

I'm rolling my eyes at your admiration for the least interesting character in a very good novel, the insufferable Levin. I'd much rather hunt birds or slurp oysters and vodka with the filled up with humanity Oblonsky (a most loving brother) or charming Anna.

[Levin]

I'm rolling my eyes at your admiration for the least interesting character in a very good novel, the insufferable Levin. I'd much rather hunt birds or slurp oysters and vodka with the filled up with humanity Oblonsky (a most loving brother) or charming Anna.

Being interesting is overrated. Obviously. Look what happened to your preferred companions.

[SeattleUte]

Being interesting is overrated. Obviously. Look what happened to your preferred companions.

Because Levin was God. Per Tolstoy's wife, Levin was a self-portrait.

[Raketemensch]

Is this movie not going to be screened in Utah? I was looking forward to seeing it... huge Malick fan.