THE TREE OF LIFE: Explored &Unpacked
In advance of THE TREE OF LIFE’s rather monumental release earlier this year, Matt Zoller Seitz cobbled together a series of video essays in which he visually explored the films of Terrence Malick. His episode on Malick’s most recent film was inevitable, but Seitz did the smart thing and let The Tree of Life sit with him (and the rest of us) for a little bit before he decided to give it a go. The results are predictably fascinating, eminently watchable for anyone but particularly helpful for those either struggling to get a handle on the movie or curious as to how other people are perceiving a major film that is so resistant to typical systems of understanding. and I mean really perceiving it, not just dumping some platitudes into a quick review and moving on to X-MEN: FIRST CLASS.
up top i’ve posted part 1 of 2, head on over to Indiewire’s Press Play section to see the second portion, which puts the Creation sequence in the rear-view to focus on the rest of the film.
the neat Tree of Life stuff has to be drying up any day now… right?
“I didn’t at all find on the screen the emotion of the [TREE OF LIFE] script, which is the most magnificent one that I’ve ever read. A clearer and more conventional narrative would have helped the film without, in my opinion, lessening its beauty and its impact. Frankly, I’m still trying to figure out what I’m doing there and what I was supposed to add in that context! What’s more, Terry himself never managed to explain it to me clearly.”
Sean Penn, discussing his collaboration with Terrence Malick on THE TREE OF LIFE.
i was able to reach an understanding of my own design, as were legions of other viewers, but… well, maybe Penn will give it another shot if that rumored 6-hour cut ever surfaces.
Penn would go on to say that I AM SAM is the reigning masterpiece of the 21st century, and then sob quietly into his hands, which he has somehow trained to pinch grimace when his face is otherwise preoccupied. (just kidding… well, about the I AM SAM part, at least).
(via hollywood-elsewhere. for those of you who read french, here’s the interview from which that quote was excerpted)
Fox is releasing THE TREE OF LIFE on DVD & Blu-ray on October 11.
details regarding special features haven’t been released yet, but i have a feeling they’d be a lot more special if they were coming to us via Criterion. oh well, maybe for that supposed 6-hour cut about which DP Emmanuel Lubezki just had to tease us.
on the bright side, October 11 is right around the corner. The blu-ray is already up for pre-order on Amazon.
(h/t @RyanGallagher)
oh, cancel all my afternoon appointments (we gonna need more wax).
quickly looked this over and - assuming it’s legit and malick’s scripts really are this flowery - it seems like a fascinating read. i’ll give it a go after i get back from tonight’s New York Asian Film Festival / Japan Cuts screening of RINGING IN THE EARS, but in the meantime… dig in.
a-bittersweet-life:
For all those who loved The Tree of Life, who want to learn more about the film, and who are waiting to see it, here is a link to the screenplay!
The Tree of Life Script
Uwe Boll explains the critical reaction to THE TREE OF LIFE.
read the rest of the soundbite-riddled conversation from which this quote was excerpted on hollywood-elsewhere (via Screen Junkies)
The Real TREE OF LIFE soundtrack.
i’m a big Alexandre Desplat fan (though i can see how he might be stretching himself a bit thin…) but his score for TREE OF LIFE is lacking and not particularly memorable, or even noticeable. it’s some of his weakest work, and it doesn’t help that his contributions are surrounded by several of the most moving compositions of the last 200 years. the tracklist assembled below much more urgently evokes the spirit of the film, returning you to its most effective moments.
@CriterionCorner
flightoftherobin:
I have created this compilation as a fan to honor the beauty inherent in “The Tree Of Life”. Hopefully, an official release will be made of all of the classical pieces used in the movie. Until then however, I hope fellow fans shall enjoy this humble offering.
Musical Selections From The Tree Of Life
Track Listing:
1. Tavener: Funeral Canticle (Excerpt)
2. Preisner: Life: Lacrimosa - Day Of Tears
3. Tavener: Resurrection in Hades
4. Respighi: Suite III: Siciliana. Andantino
5. Holst: Hymn to Dionysus
6. Smetana: Má Vlast: Vltava (The Moldau River)
7. Górecki: Symphony No.3: Il Lento E Largo
8. Couperin: 6e Ordre No. 5 - Les Baricades Mistérieuses
9. Berlioz: Agnus Dei
10. Patrick Cassidy: Funeral March
DOWNLOAD LINKS.
{File Info: MP3-320kbps | 148mb}
Download Link 1: Megaupload
Download Link 2: SendSpace
Download Link 3: MediaFire
Download Link 4: Ge.tt
so… i wrestled with this one for Movies.com.
this thing just opened today, but if you get a chance to see it then maybe you can give this a read. was a dicey piece to write and methinks you can really see me struggle to sort out my thoughts from time to time, but hopefully it occasionally coheres into something remotely helpful…
sup. so, the Criterion Corner officially relaunches on a crazy sexy cool site in the ever-nearer, post-rapture future, but in the meantime (and after that, too) you can find me ranting with some pals on the Operation Kino podcast every week.
this week i go on a breathless oratory about Criterion’s slate of August releases, and then we all try to sort through our initial impressions of THE TREE OF LIFE. we’re getting better at this, slowly but surely. sorry my voice is so dumb?
