The Tree of Life

The Book of Job tells the story of a righteous man who undergoes a painful series of life reversals. He has always considered himself God's obedient servant so why is he being punished. God doesn't feel he owes Job an explanation and asks, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?".

In The Tree Of Life Terrence Malick with Kubrickian brilliance takes us from the moment of creation through the formation of the earth and the evolution of life until we arrive at small town 1950's America. The O'Briens are a church-going, middle class couple with 3 sons. The mother beautifully played by Jessica Chastain is an almost ethereal creature who loves unconditionally. Brad Pitt is superb as the father, a fundamentally unhappy man who is envious of others and frustrated with his own lack of perceived success. He projects that anger toward his sons and justifies his sometimes cruel behavior by claiming it is preparing them for life's harsh realities.

Hunter McCracken is excellent in the role of young Jack, the oldest boy who is closest to the father in temperament. He is torn by the seeming contradiction between the good, loving God he hears about in church and the pain and suffering he witnesses around him. Add to that his growing resentment over the father's arbitrary punishments and cruelties and a strong feeling of rebelliousness takes root. As he descends into darkness his mother loses touch with him.

Moving ahead to the future the adult Jack played by Sean Penn has reconciled with his father but he is afflicted by feelings of emptiness in contemporary America's material obsessed culture. There has to be something more to life than all the steel and concrete around him.

With an outstanding cast, great work by cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and a brilliant script and direction by Terrence Malick, The Tree Of Life is a work of cinematic art.