The Tree of Life (2011)

Director: Terrence Malick Cinematographer: Emmanuel Lubezki

The first American film to win the Palme d’Or since 2004, Malick’s ambitious experimental epic chronicles the origins and meaning of life by way of a middle-aged man (Sean Penn) and his childhood memories of his family living in 1950s Texas, particularly his often difficult relationship with his father (Brad Pitt). The family drama is interspersed with imagery of the origins of the known universe and the inception of life on Earth. The film polarised critics with some considering such a philosophical work to be incomprehensible and pretentious, particularly the depiction of evolution, but when the film focuses on the drama of small town domestic life, Malick finds an emotional core, which is helped along by some fine performances and beautiful cinematography.

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Buy or Rent (watch online)
Blu-ray
Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

 

 

 

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Lists:

• • No. 203 on The Pendragon Society’s 1000 Greatest Films of All-Time (2019)
  • No. 132 on Sight and Sound Directors Poll Top Films (2012)
  • Listed among Peter Bradshaw’s top 50 films of the demi-decade (2015)

CAST

• Brad Pitt as Mr. O’Brien
• Jessica Chastain as Mrs. O’Brien
• Sean Penn as Jack O’Brien
  • Hunter McCracken as young Jack
  • Finnegan Williams as (aged 5) Jack
  • Michael Koeth as (aged 2) Jack
• Laramie Eppler as R.L. O’Brien
  • John Howell as R.L. (age 2)
• Tye Sheridan as Steve O’Brien
• Kari Matchett as Jack’s ex
• Joanna Going as Jack’s wife
• Michael Showers as Mr. Brown
• Kimberly Whalen as Mrs. Brown
• Jackson Hurst as Uncle Roy
• Fiona Shaw as Grandmother
• Crystal Mantecón as Elisa
• Tamara Jolaine as Mrs. Stone
• Dustin Allen as George Walsh

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Directed by Terrence Malick
Produced by Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Grant Hill
Screenplay by Terrence Malick
Music by Alexandre Desplat
Cinematography Emmanuel Lubezki
Edited by Hank Corwin, Jay Rabinowitz, Daniel Rezende, Billy Weber, Mark Yoshikawa
Running time 139 minutes
Country United States
Language English