Extended Edition Released on Criterion Collection:

Despite already loving this film, after watching the extended version I can confidently say that "The Tree of Life" is the best film of the decade. This is peak cinema, we have not been blessed with an experience this entrancing and this powerful since 2001: A Space Odyssey! Terrence Malick is a visionary containing poetic depth in each one of his shots, on top of them already being captivating. Every frame is stunning and must have had so much planning going into the camerawork just for one solitary shot. I think it's appropriate how the original poster for the film was just composited of multiple different stills from the film, as not only is the cinematography the true star, but there's just so much vibrant, breathtaking photography, that you can't just pick one. The best way to advertise is to show us all the life caught in Malick and Lubezki's transcendent camera. Malick remains one of my favorite directors just because of the spell he's able to cast over you. Everyone is aware of his unique editing style now, whether you're a fan of it or not; the jump cuts of handheld beauty, spliced with grand orchestral music and characters narration is so soothing to me. Malick's films are great to just relax and be transported into this spiritualized look into our reality. Scenes like The Creation of the Universe remind me so much of 2001. Not just because of Douglas Trumball, or it's obvious subject matter, but the pure enlightening emotion I got from there, I feel it even more in this beautiful scene, as we watch auroras and clusters sifting and melting while an Opera majestically sings over the chaos and wonderment.

The other thing I love (there's a lot of these, right?) is just how much I can interpret from this second viewing and even that I think just scrapes the surface of the depth this film has to offer. What makes the philosophy of "The Tree of Life" so great, is that it never tries to pound it's ideals into your head, or explains everything to you. This may frustrate some, but to me, it means that the film can be whatever you want. Sure enough pieces of the themes are given to you throughout, but very naturally, and it's up to you to make it what you will with them. A film is your experience and it's your choice with what you decide to do with what you have gathered. Much like Jack from the film; he learns quite a bit in his youth but has trouble deciding what to do, what kind of person should he be, what is right, why should he choose right, why should he choose love, who should he obey? Even as an adult these questions seem to conflict our protagonist, sadly meaning that Jack hasn't quite figured out the answer to these or so many other questions that plague him. Therefore he walks through life adrift in his challenging indecisiveness. We've seen many art house films explore the concept of morality, theism, and our overall existence in the universe, but "The Tree of Life" manages to feel so big, yet so small. Grand, yet intimate. After all this is how many thinkers come to these predicaments; not through some surreal, mind-bending clash of neon, but though life itself. "The Tree of Life" tackles the myths and secrets of the universe via a young boy in a small average town. As someone who grew up in a town similar to this one in Texas, I started to feel nostalgic in a transcendental, kind of way. Only Malick could manage to reflect the spiritual beauty of a suburban neighborhood with the right ounce of tranquil simplicity and a magnificent touch of grand beauty that will be recognizable and captivate so many. In one way "The Tree of Life" is an Ozu-esque, coming of age tale about a boy growing up in a small town, but in another, it's a film that dives down as far as possible to decipher what is the meaning of life?

After a quote from the book of Job, the film opens with a dim red light in darkness. This is so simple yet could mean anything. It could represent human life as a flicker, or it could be the soul shining as bright as it can in the vast darkness that encapsulates our lives. A carnivorous dinosaur sees a wounded creature; however, instead of eating him, he leaves: the first act of compassion. Later in the film is a brief scene of paintings in an art gallery, other representations of life through art. Other humans throughout history trying to tell their story, or communicate their suffering. We then see Mrs. O'Brien, Jack's mother, as a child living in a symbolic farmland. A place of nurturing, and humility. Every soul lives out their mundane lives in the sunny, dreamy countryside of grace. We later get a look at Mr. O'Brien's upbringing as he states that his living was not so graceful. He was a poor boy, who's family lived paycheck to paycheck, eating whatever that might be lucky enough to get their hands on. He sees the way others treat his father, and how he grovels in front of others just to support his family. Mr. O'Brien, however, vows to never be like his old man. He sees the world as a tough, conniving and a selfish place. He concludes that the best way to get ahead in this world is to be tough, be stubborn and get your foot in the door. Drive for success and don't take no for an answer. The banal, intuitive fluster of nature.

Speaking of which, Jack's father became a much more interesting character in the extended version. We get a lot more insight into his psyche and complexities other than just a typical tough father. His wife laments how nobody likes him, and how others say he's a brash man. He tries to make something more out of himself, although his family is doing fairly well, and for this he has made the ultimate sacrifice: the love of his children. It's almost a sick deal with the almighty, that his kids will have a wonderful childhood, better than he had, but it will cost their love for him. He even has little respect among others in the town as well. Multiple scenes show just how aware Mr. O'Brien is of the man he has become, yet he doesn't give up for a couple reasons. He sees it as a test, and believes he must still try harder. In his mind, Mr. O'Brien is doing what is right. He tithes every Sunday, prays daily, and must support his family. Even his wife seems surprised at the man she married. Mr. O'Brien has it in his head that he has do this, he has to be this way as a husband, father and a man. He is stubbornly zealous until he loses his job. He asks Jack for forgiveness and starts to realize that maybe this isn't the life God intended him to live, but can he change the man he's been for so long?

Perhaps this point might be a little obvious, but Jack's father also represents his relationship with God. Not in a strictly metaphorical way implying that Jack's father is God, but his relationship with his earthly father, influences his outlook on his heavenly father. The cruel treatment he receives from his father are juxtaposed with the tragedies God let's happen here on this Earth. His father does nothing but punish and chastise his kids yet still demands love and respect, in a similar way to how God commands us to love him. His children never tell their father they love him on their own, rather he passively orders them to:
"Do you love your father?"
"Give your father a kiss"
After thinking about it, I realized that Mr. O'Brien never says 'I love you' to his children. This can be compared to the silence of the Holy Spirit, after all the love we give him and all the good things we do, he doesn't seem to reward us or acknowledge our affection. Jack soon becomes frustrated with why God lets bad things happen, and why he seems to so poorly care about the people he violently thrust onto this Earth? Tragedies affect good people, they have little guidance of God wants them to do, and even the most pious citizens still seem to suffer. Jack soon turns away from both his earthly and heavenly father and lives a life of complete freedom. He steals food, tortures animals, and picks fights with his brother (who later commits suicide) After every one of his misdeeds, Jack's mother scolds him not to do it again, but in a much more comforting kind of way in a sympathetic parenting method. However Jack soon takes advantage of his graceful mother. Because he faces no repercussions anymore, Jack does whatever he wants while facing no consequences. He continues to lash out, disturb his classmates and even raises his voice at his mother, insulting her. Mrs. O'Brien has seemed to forget that Jack is truly free from any master whatsoever. However, while he may be acting out in a rambunctious way, Jack was never heartless. He eventually learns that having no God or no master isn't as gracious as it sounds. He believes he has become free from all commands of authority and morality, but he can't escape what's inside him. He begins to become confused, which only makes him angry as their is no wise figurehead to guide him. And finally there is one trait hiding inside him that helps straighten out Jack: guilt. After injuring his brother, Jack is struck with the realization of what kind of person he became. Perhaps an even more haunting realization (this is more my observance not so much stated by the film) is that he has become like his father. A cruel, heartless tyrant, who doesn't take no for an answer and even hurt his brother. He tries to reconcile with his brother which takes some time. And we already know how his story ends. After Mr. O'Brien loses his job, he asks himself if he has been a good person. Comparatively, Jack asks this about himself too. Yet amidst the bad news of Mr. O'Brien's job, some hope is shown at the other end. A new place, a new home, a new life. They can start again and live a new life. Jack's parents learning that being too tough, or too kind can be harmful, and jack learning to find the balance of grace and nature, good and evil, serenity and obedience.

So is the film implying that people can truly change? Well, on an unfortunate note, in the present, it seems like our characters haven't changed much. Their middle son killed himself, perhaps of his childhood trauma, Mr. O'Brien still has a bumpy relationship with his eldest son, and Jack is still mauling over his life choices. Yet there's still something our characters are missing. They're not looking at the bigger picture of life. Suddenly in what is perhaps the best scene in the film, Jack finds himself in a strange world. A vision, or perhaps a glimpse from God into another life. There he sees everyone he's known, family and all in a beautiful landscape. Here they find that power of God's love. That he wants peace and prosperity for all. Even death can be a blessing. Mrs. O'Brien holds up her hands and recites my favorite line from the film "I give him to you. I give you my son" Hence she learns to let go of things that are out of her control. Grace and nature can coexist. Often times they are in fact one and the same. We are all one and the same. The universe is all just one creation under God. All living things are connected in the biblical Tree of Life, hence the title. Jack wakes up back in the city, in which he sees the sky reflected in the glass of the buildings, as he sits under a tree, insinuating that nature is everywhere. Nature, God, grace, compassion, life is everywhere. It is God's, but he has given it to us out of his love.

5/5
(If only I had a higher rating)