Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
A 2011 Creator/TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinarian father in [[TheFifties Fifties]] Texas, Creator/JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and Creator/SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
to:
A 2011 Creator/TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinarian Texas father in [[TheFifties Fifties]] Texas, TheFifties, Creator/JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and Creator/SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
A 2011 Creator/TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinarian father in [[TheFifties 1950s]] Texas, Creator/JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and Creator/SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
to:
A 2011 Creator/TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinarian father in [[TheFifties 1950s]] Fifties]] Texas, Creator/JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and Creator/SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
A 2011 Creator/TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, Creator/JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and Creator/SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
to:
A 2011 Creator/TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, disciplinarian father in [[TheFifties 1950s]] Texas, Creator/JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and Creator/SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
A 2011 Creator/TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and Creator/SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
to:
A 2011 Creator/TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, JessicaChastain Creator/JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and Creator/SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2 (click to see context) from:
-->''There are two ways through life: the way of nature, and the way of grace. You have to choose which one you'll follow.''
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* [[{{Montages}} Montage]]: Like most of Malick's films, this one could be considered one long Montage.
Deleted line(s) 55 (click to see context) :
* [[{{Montages}} Montage]]: Like most of Malick's films, this one could be considered one long Montage.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 43 (click to see context) from:
* [[IWantToBeARealMan I Want My Sons To Be Real Men]]: Somewhat deconstructed. At first, Mr. O'Brian plays this straight, such as trying to teach his kids how to fight. As the movie progresses, he starts to accept that he's doing it more for himself, and promises to be a better father.
to:
* [[IWantToBeARealMan I Want My Sons To Be Real Men]]: Somewhat deconstructed.Played with. At first, Mr. O'Brian plays this straight, such as trying to teach his kids how to fight. As the movie progresses, he starts to accept that he's doing it more for himself, and promises to be a better father.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* [[{{Montages}} Montage]]: Like most of Malick's films, this one could be considered one long Montage.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Foot Focus was turned into a redirect to These Tropes Are Made For Walking, and is no longer a trope. Performing wick cleanup.
Deleted line(s) 39 (click to see context) :
* FootFocus: There are many shots of people's feet. The most prominent is when Jack is born, and his father examines his baby's foot, which is also one of the film's posters. Other examples include Jack's mother often being barefoot, and often seen stepping through grass or bathing her feet in the sprinklers. Then in the ending, [[spoiler:almost everyone is barefoot at the beach, and Jack cradles the feet of an unknown woman.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 34 (click to see context) from:
* EarthlyBarefootCharacter: Jack's mom, though when she's at home she wears shoes. But when she is barefoot she's usually standing in nature.
to:
* EarthlyBarefootCharacter: EarthyBarefootCharacter: Jack's mom, though when she's at home she wears shoes. But when she is barefoot she's usually standing in nature.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 78 (click to see context) from:
** A specific example: HeathLedger was originally cast as Mr. O'Brien, and his death put the production into a tailspin before BradPitt volunteered to take the part.
to:
** A specific example: HeathLedger Creator/HeathLedger was originally cast as Mr. O'Brien, and his death put the production into a tailspin before BradPitt volunteered to take the part.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
A 2011 Creator/TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
to:
A 2011 Creator/TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and SeanPenn Creator/SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 65 (click to see context) from:
* StalkingIsLove: Jack gets a crush on a fellow classmate and follows her home. Later he spies on through her house's windows and sees her father yelling at her mother.
to:
* StalkingIsLove: Jack gets a crush on a fellow classmate and follows her home. Later he spies on through her house's windows and sees her father yelling at her mother. [[spoiler:Lastly, he enters their house while her family's gone.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* ForTheEvulz: One interpretation of [[spoiler:Jack breaking into an unoccupied home, then stealing a dress from it and sending it down a river.]]
* KidsAreCruel: Once Jack's father leaves for a business trip, he and his friends start to drift into crueler acts, like blowing up birds' eggs or tying a frog to a rocket.
* LivingProp: Jack has a wife, but all she does in the film is get dressed for work and leave.
* LivingProp: Jack has a wife, but all she does in the film is get dressed for work and leave.
Changed line(s) 53 (click to see context) from:
* MotherNatureFatherScience: Jack's parents embody the YinYangClash; his father is the Way of Nature and his mother is the Way of Grace.
to:
* MotherNatureFatherScience: Jack's parents embody the YinYangClash; his father is the Way of Nature and his mother is the Way of Grace. Grace.
* MundaneMadeAwesome: ''Ye gods''. As if the constant EtherealChoir over family picnics and kids playing wasn't enough, a tense family dinner is played to swift classical music, which may or not have actually been in the scene.
* MundaneMadeAwesome: ''Ye gods''. As if the constant EtherealChoir over family picnics and kids playing wasn't enough, a tense family dinner is played to swift classical music, which may or not have actually been in the scene.
Added DiffLines:
* StalkingIsLove: Jack gets a crush on a fellow classmate and follows her home. Later he spies on through her house's windows and sees her father yelling at her mother.
Added DiffLines:
* VictoriousChildhoodFriend: Perhaps averted. Jack's wife when he's an adult doesn't seem to be the girl he crushed on at school; she looked Hispanic, and Jack never even spoke to her.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* EarthlyBarefootCharacter: Jack's mom, though when she's at home she wears shoes. But when she is barefoot she's usually standing in nature.
* FootFocus: There are many shots of people's feet. The most prominent is when Jack is born, and his father examines his baby's foot, which is also one of the film's posters. Other examples include Jack's mother often being barefoot, and often seen stepping through grass or bathing her feet in the sprinklers. Then in the ending, [[spoiler:almost everyone is barefoot at the beach, and Jack cradles the feet of an unknown woman.]]
Changed line(s) 38 (click to see context) from:
* GrayAndGrayMorality: BradPitt's character may be a jerk at times, but it's because he cares a bit too much for his kids. Young Jack can be just as jerkish as well, but whether it's from the abuse and expectations of his father, his [[spoiler: first time experiencing death and realizing we all don't live forever]], or just from general {{Angst}} is up to the viewer.
to:
* GrayAndGrayMorality: BradPitt's Creator/BradPitt's character may be a jerk at times, but it's because he cares a bit too much for his kids. Young Jack can be just as jerkish as well, but whether it's from the abuse and expectations of his father, his [[spoiler: first time experiencing death and realizing we all don't live forever]], or just from general {{Angst}} is up to the viewer.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 41 (click to see context) from:
* [[IWantToBeARealMan I Want My Sons To Be Real Men]] Somewhat deconstructed. At first, Mr. O'Brian plays this straight, such as trying to teach his kids how to fight. As the movie progresses, he starts to accept that he's doing it more for himself, and promises to be a better father.
to:
* [[IWantToBeARealMan I Want My Sons To Be Real Men]] Men]]: Somewhat deconstructed. At first, Mr. O'Brian plays this straight, such as trying to teach his kids how to fight. As the movie progresses, he starts to accept that he's doing it more for himself, and promises to be a better father.
Deleted line(s) 54 (click to see context) :
* OhCrap: [[spoiler: Kid, if you think that putting your finger in front of a BB gun will result in anything other than pain and misery, your loss.]]
Changed line(s) 62 (click to see context) from:
* ThousandYardStare: Practically everyone in the movie at some point but especially Jack
to:
* TemptingFate: [[spoiler: Kid, if you think that putting your finger in front of a BB gun will result in anything other than pain and misery, your loss.]]
** Averted earlier with [[spoiler:Jack's brother being dared to poke a wire into a lamp without the lightbulb. He's initially suspicious, but even after licking his finger and poking it in, still nothing happens.]]
* ThousandYardStare: Practically everyone in the movie at some point but especiallyJackJack.
** Averted earlier with [[spoiler:Jack's brother being dared to poke a wire into a lamp without the lightbulb. He's initially suspicious, but even after licking his finger and poking it in, still nothing happens.]]
* ThousandYardStare: Practically everyone in the movie at some point but especially
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
A 2011 TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
to:
A 2011 TerrenceMalick Creator/TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
''The Tree of Life'' begins as a normal family drama, but in just a little while in it transforms into a gallery of jaw-dropping images and SceneryPorn related to the [[DistantPrologue Beginning Of The Universe]]. Some have called it this generation's ''TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey''.
to:
''The Tree of Life'' begins as a normal family drama, but in just a little while in it transforms into a gallery of jaw-dropping images and SceneryPorn related to the [[DistantPrologue Beginning Of The Universe]]. Some have called it this generation's ''TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey''.
''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
A 2011 TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
to:
A 2011 TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars BradPitt Creator/BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 13 (click to see context) :
* AWorldHalfFull
Deleted line(s) 25 (click to see context) :
* BizarroEpisode: So, why is this being called this generation's ''2001''--OH, OH, that's why.
Deleted line(s) 64 (click to see context) :
* TheWorldIsJustAwesome: The Dawn of Time
Deleted line(s) 73 (click to see context) :
* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: See Trippy Finale Syndrome
Added DiffLines:
* AWorldHalfFull
* TheWorldIsJustAwesome: The Dawn of Time
* TheWorldIsJustAwesome: The Dawn of Time
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 43 (click to see context) from:
* [[IWantToBeARealMan I Want My Sons To Be Real Men]]
to:
* [[IWantToBeARealMan I Want My Sons To Be Real Men]]Men]] Somewhat deconstructed. At first, Mr. O'Brian plays this straight, such as trying to teach his kids how to fight. As the movie progresses, he starts to accept that he's doing it more for himself, and promises to be a better father.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 25 (click to see context) from:
* BlamEpisode: So, why is this being called this generation's ''2001''--OH, OH, that's why.
to:
* BlamEpisode: BizarroEpisode: So, why is this being called this generation's ''2001''--OH, OH, that's why.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
see discussion
Deleted line(s) 73 (click to see context) :
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: Ye gods.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 38 (click to see context) from:
* [[spoiler: EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs]]: Much was made about their appearance in the movie. In truth, they're only in it for a minute or two and we only see two species at that. (They are at least [[SeldomSeenSpecies not-so popular genre.]])
to:
* [[spoiler: EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs]]: Much was made about their appearance in the movie. In truth, they're only in it for a minute or two and we only see two species at that. (They are at least [[SeldomSeenSpecies not-so popular genre.genera.]])
Changed line(s) 79 (click to see context) from:
* WriteWhatYouKnow: Malick grew up in Waco, Texas which is where the film is set. Also, [[spoiler: Malick's brother died (suicide) when he was a young man, much like Jack's brother R.L. His other brother was badly burned in a car accident, which may have inspired the badly burned neighborhood boy.]]
to:
* WriteWhatYouKnow: Malick grew up in Waco, Texas which is where the film is set. Like Mr. O'Brien, Malick's father gave up on his aspirations of becoming a musician but played the organ at his church. Also, [[spoiler: Malick's brother died (suicide) when he was a young man, much like Jack's brother R.L. His other brother was badly burned in a car accident, which may have inspired the badly burned neighborhood boy.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 72 (click to see context) from:
** Another specific example: The original cut was said to be over 4 hours long, and Adult Jack (Sean Penn) had a much, much larger role.
to:
** Another specific example: The original cut was said to be over 4 hours long, and Adult Jack (Sean Penn) had a much, much larger role. Penn can barely even relate the script he read and the cut they released to be the same movie.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Changed line(s) 29 (click to see context) from:
* ChekhovsLecture: "There are two ways through life. The way of nature, and the way of grace..."
to:
* ChekhovsLecture: ChekhovsGun: "There are two ways through life. The way of nature, and the way of grace..."
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Some
Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
''The Tree of Life'' begins as a normal family drama, but in just a little while in it transforms into a gallery of jaw-dropping images and SceneryPorn related to the [[DistantPrologue Beginning Of The Universe]]. Many have already called it this generation's ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
to:
''The Tree of Life'' begins as a normal family drama, but in just a little while in it transforms into a gallery of jaw-dropping images and SceneryPorn related to the [[DistantPrologue Beginning Of The Universe]]. Many Some have already called it this generation's ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
''TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
We don\'t talk about how polarizing a work is anymore (see the \"Love It Or Hate It\" page for details on why).
Deleted line(s) 11,12 (click to see context) :
It is also already [[YourMileageMayVary one of the most polarizing films of the decade]]. Some people find it [[TheWorldIsJustAwesome a brilliant examination of life on Earth and our place in the universe]], others find it an overlong cavalcade of {{Narm}}y [[TrueArtIsIncomprehensible bizarre visuals for no apparent reason]]. And some people [[FanDumb can't stand that other people don't get it]] while others are of the opinion that [[HateDumb you'd have to be an elitist snob to like the film]]. And there are yet other people who just liked the pretty pretty pictures. It's the kind of movie where you really won't know if you will like it or not until you see it for yourself.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:267:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TreeOfLifeMoviePoster_5178.jpg]]
-->''There are two ways through life: the way of nature, and the way of grace. You have to choose which one you'll follow.''
-->-- '''Mrs. O'Brien'''
A 2011 TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
''The Tree of Life'' begins as a normal family drama, but in just a little while in it transforms into a gallery of jaw-dropping images and SceneryPorn related to the [[DistantPrologue Beginning Of The Universe]]. Many have already called it this generation's ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
Much like that film, it contemplates man's place in the universe, and it can be considered one of the few "big-budget art-house films". Also like that film, it features work by legendary visual effects artist Douglas Trumbal (the man responsible for the Star Gate sequence) who Malick had actually convinced to come out of retirement.
It is also already [[YourMileageMayVary one of the most polarizing films of the decade]]. Some people find it [[TheWorldIsJustAwesome a brilliant examination of life on Earth and our place in the universe]], others find it an overlong cavalcade of {{Narm}}y [[TrueArtIsIncomprehensible bizarre visuals for no apparent reason]]. And some people [[FanDumb can't stand that other people don't get it]] while others are of the opinion that [[HateDumb you'd have to be an elitist snob to like the film]]. And there are yet other people who just liked the pretty pretty pictures. It's the kind of movie where you really won't know if you will like it or not until you see it for yourself.
----
!!This film provides examples of:
* AWorldHalfFull
* AbsolutelyHappened: Averted in the film's climax. But that whole [[DistantPrologue Dawn of Time thing]]; yeah, that probably happened.
* AbusiveParents: Jack's father, when he's "defied".
* AnAesop: Turns out, the answer to the meaning behind man's existence is [[spoiler: love]].
* {{Angst}}: Adult Jack.
* AgeAppropriateAngst: Young Jack.
* ArcWords:
** "The Way of Nature and the Way of Grace".
** "Where were you?"
** "Brother..."
* AsTheGoodBookSays: The movie starts off with a quote from the Book of Job, to set the theme about the role of God in the universe and how God's way is often incomprehensible to human
-->Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
* BlamEpisode: So, why is this being called this generation's ''2001''--OH, OH, that's why.
* BillingDisplacement: Sean Penn is billed second but appears in only about five minutes of the film.
* BlessedWithSuck: Mankind. And yet, at the same time, the film still has a hopeful tone.
* BookEnds: The coooolooors...
* ChekhovsLecture: "There are two ways through life. The way of nature, and the way of grace..."
* CosmicPlaything: Jack; though the viewer can argue that [[spoiler: the CosmicPlaything in question is ''everyone'']]
* CrapsackWorld: Juxtaposes nicely with AWorldHalfFull
* DecoyProtagonist: Zig-zagged. Jack's parents (particularly his mother) are the POV characters until the focus switches to Adult Jack who is given several minutes of build-up before the focus abruptly switches back to his mother (who monologues during the Big Bang/Creation sequence), and then finally settles on Young Jack for most of the movie. Then, in the last few minutes, the focus shifts back to Adult Jack, then to the Mother, and finally back to Adult Jack during the final seconds.
* DevelopmentHell: Malick began work on a project enigmatically entitled ''Q'' before making ''TheThinRedLine'', only for it to come to a halt. Apparently, Malick used ''Q'' as a basis for ''TheTreeOfLife'', which was finally officially announced in 2005, only to have casting issues, gathering up a DreamTeam of visual effects artists to achieve his vision, and then work '''very, very slowly''' to make everything as good as possible. In short, he's a perfectionist.
* DistantPrologue: It begins simply enough, and then [[spoiler: the Big Bang happens.]] Literally.
* DoingItForTheArt: Hmmm, you don't say...
* EpicMovie: Albeit relatively more subdued than most
* EtherealChoir / OminousLatinChanting: ''Lacrimosa,'' part of the ''Dies Irae'' sequence of the ''Requiem'' mass (composed by several different artists, but most famously [[WolfgangAmadeusMozart Mozart]]) places over several scenes.
* [[spoiler: EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs]]: Much was made about their appearance in the movie. In truth, they're only in it for a minute or two and we only see two species at that. (They are at least [[SeldomSeenSpecies not-so popular genre.]])
* GainaxEnding: Once again, you have no idea. [[spoiler: Okay, so while everyone in the audience should be pretty certain that the finale involving the heavenly beach, Adult Jack chasing his younger self in the desert, and his mother's prayers are all either a HeroicBSOD or some sort of variation of that, it doesn't make it any less baffling. Audiences ''will'' be divided.]] You'll either feel at one with the universe, or like you're just being shown completely random images.
* GrayAndGrayMorality: BradPitt's character may be a jerk at times, but it's because he cares a bit too much for his kids. Young Jack can be just as jerkish as well, but whether it's from the abuse and expectations of his father, his [[spoiler: first time experiencing death and realizing we all don't live forever]], or just from general {{Angst}} is up to the viewer.
* [[spoiler:{{Heaven}}]]: At least the ending can be interpreted that way.
* HeroicBSOD: The viewer can argue that the minute Adult Jack ascends in the elevator, the HeroicBSOD begins.
* [[IWantToBeARealMan I Want My Sons To Be Real Men]]
* MeaningfulFuneral: One of the many important events building to Young Jack's loss of innocence.
* MeaningfulName: Jack's initials are J.O'B.
* MetaphysicalPlace: [[spoiler: The heavenly beach]], the vast desert Adult Jack wanders through, that weird field with styrofoamy-looking rocks or plants or whatever those are supposed to be. Expect this to pop up a lot.
* MindScrew: Not just the GainaxEnding, but a few brief, but glaringly noticeable shots such as [[spoiler: the underwater house shot signifying Jack's birth]] and [[spoiler: one very random scene in which the mother is floating and dancing in the front yard. Why? Because TrueArtIsIncomprehensible]]
* MommyIssues: Oh yeah. [[spoiler:"She only loves ME!"]]
* MonochromeCasting: Approximately 3 of the over 120 minutes of this movie feature non-white people onscreen.
* {{Motif}}: It's a Terrence Malick movie, therefore, expect lots of gorgeous shots of nature and SceneryPorn.
** Oh yeah, and expect it to be long, and ''feel'' long.
** In particular, the ambiguous flame imagery
* MotherNatureFatherScience: Jack's parents embody the YinYangClash; his father is the Way of Nature and his mother is the Way of Grace.
* NoNameGiven: Only Jack is given a name within the story; the other brothers' names and the family surname are only revealed in the credits: [[spoiler: R.L. and Steve O'Brien.]]
* NonLinearStory: It's about as linear as the goddamn Navier–Stokes equations.
* OhCrap: [[spoiler: Kid, if you think that putting your finger in front of a BB gun will result in anything other than pain and misery, your loss.]]
* PhilosophicalParable: See An Aesop above.
* RandomEventsPlot
* RuleOfSymbolism
* SceneryPorn: Taken UpToEleven
* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: See GainaxEnding
* StandardFiftiesFather: A rather grim example, also including elements of DadTheVeteran (although he is still in active service during the movie, it seems) and ToughLove.
* StuntCasting: Sean Penn as a guy with about 10-or-less non-consecutive minutes of screen time and barely one line of dialogue in an over-2-hour movie. Penn has gone on record saying that his role in the final cut contributed nothing to the film and served no purpose; he also mentioned that, in light of this, he was at a loss as to why the director didn't cut him out altogether.
* TheWorldIsJustAwesome: The Dawn of Time
* ThousandYardStare: Practically everyone in the movie at some point but especially Jack
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: Adult Jack's narration suggests that this applies to the brother who died in Vietnam.
* TrippyFinaleSyndrome: And what a trip it is...
* VisionQuest: This troper shall say it again. See GainaxEnding
* WellDoneSonGuy: Father seems to be one of these.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: See Development Hell.
** A specific example: HeathLedger was originally cast as Mr. O'Brien, and his death put the production into a tailspin before BradPitt volunteered to take the part.
** Another specific example: The original cut was said to be over 4 hours long, and Adult Jack (Sean Penn) had a much, much larger role.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: Ye gods.
* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: See Trippy Finale Syndrome
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: There are ''many'' quick visuals and suggestions of bigger stories that are merely glimpsed and then never revisited, including: [[spoiler:a man has a seizure on the family's front lawn, and the mother prevents her children from seeing it; a man is arrested as the entire town watches; a house burns down and a young boy, one of the brothers' friends, suffers burns on his head, and more. Also, we never find out which brother died.]]
** [[spoiler:Although it's never clarified, from Mr and Mrs O' Brien's reactions to seeing him on the beach coupled with the emphasis on his and Jack's relationship it is presumably the blonde slightly younger brother who kicks the bucket.]]
* WorldTree: Despite the title, it's mostly averted.
** Although there is an awful lot of shots of trees, many of them positioned so that the tree takes up most of the frame.
* WriteWhatYouKnow: Malick grew up in Waco, Texas which is where the film is set. Also, [[spoiler: Malick's brother died (suicide) when he was a young man, much like Jack's brother R.L. His other brother was badly burned in a car accident, which may have inspired the badly burned neighborhood boy.]]
* YinYangClash: "The way of nature, and the way of grace."
----
-->''There are two ways through life: the way of nature, and the way of grace. You have to choose which one you'll follow.''
-->-- '''Mrs. O'Brien'''
A 2011 TerrenceMalick film, [[SpeculativeFiction equal parts a period piece, a family drama, and an existentialist meditation.]] It stars BradPitt as a strict, disciplinary father, JessicaChastain as a kind, nurturing mother, newcomer child-actor Hunter [=McCracken=] as their son Jack, and SeanPenn as Jack in his adult years. Directed by reclusive director TerrenceMalick, the man behind ''Badlands'', ''Days Of Heaven'', ''TheThinRedLine'', and ''The New World'', it is his fifth feature in a career spanning decades.
''The Tree of Life'' begins as a normal family drama, but in just a little while in it transforms into a gallery of jaw-dropping images and SceneryPorn related to the [[DistantPrologue Beginning Of The Universe]]. Many have already called it this generation's ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
Much like that film, it contemplates man's place in the universe, and it can be considered one of the few "big-budget art-house films". Also like that film, it features work by legendary visual effects artist Douglas Trumbal (the man responsible for the Star Gate sequence) who Malick had actually convinced to come out of retirement.
It is also already [[YourMileageMayVary one of the most polarizing films of the decade]]. Some people find it [[TheWorldIsJustAwesome a brilliant examination of life on Earth and our place in the universe]], others find it an overlong cavalcade of {{Narm}}y [[TrueArtIsIncomprehensible bizarre visuals for no apparent reason]]. And some people [[FanDumb can't stand that other people don't get it]] while others are of the opinion that [[HateDumb you'd have to be an elitist snob to like the film]]. And there are yet other people who just liked the pretty pretty pictures. It's the kind of movie where you really won't know if you will like it or not until you see it for yourself.
----
!!This film provides examples of:
* AWorldHalfFull
* AbsolutelyHappened: Averted in the film's climax. But that whole [[DistantPrologue Dawn of Time thing]]; yeah, that probably happened.
* AbusiveParents: Jack's father, when he's "defied".
* AnAesop: Turns out, the answer to the meaning behind man's existence is [[spoiler: love]].
* {{Angst}}: Adult Jack.
* AgeAppropriateAngst: Young Jack.
* ArcWords:
** "The Way of Nature and the Way of Grace".
** "Where were you?"
** "Brother..."
* AsTheGoodBookSays: The movie starts off with a quote from the Book of Job, to set the theme about the role of God in the universe and how God's way is often incomprehensible to human
-->Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
* BlamEpisode: So, why is this being called this generation's ''2001''--OH, OH, that's why.
* BillingDisplacement: Sean Penn is billed second but appears in only about five minutes of the film.
* BlessedWithSuck: Mankind. And yet, at the same time, the film still has a hopeful tone.
* BookEnds: The coooolooors...
* ChekhovsLecture: "There are two ways through life. The way of nature, and the way of grace..."
* CosmicPlaything: Jack; though the viewer can argue that [[spoiler: the CosmicPlaything in question is ''everyone'']]
* CrapsackWorld: Juxtaposes nicely with AWorldHalfFull
* DecoyProtagonist: Zig-zagged. Jack's parents (particularly his mother) are the POV characters until the focus switches to Adult Jack who is given several minutes of build-up before the focus abruptly switches back to his mother (who monologues during the Big Bang/Creation sequence), and then finally settles on Young Jack for most of the movie. Then, in the last few minutes, the focus shifts back to Adult Jack, then to the Mother, and finally back to Adult Jack during the final seconds.
* DevelopmentHell: Malick began work on a project enigmatically entitled ''Q'' before making ''TheThinRedLine'', only for it to come to a halt. Apparently, Malick used ''Q'' as a basis for ''TheTreeOfLife'', which was finally officially announced in 2005, only to have casting issues, gathering up a DreamTeam of visual effects artists to achieve his vision, and then work '''very, very slowly''' to make everything as good as possible. In short, he's a perfectionist.
* DistantPrologue: It begins simply enough, and then [[spoiler: the Big Bang happens.]] Literally.
* DoingItForTheArt: Hmmm, you don't say...
* EpicMovie: Albeit relatively more subdued than most
* EtherealChoir / OminousLatinChanting: ''Lacrimosa,'' part of the ''Dies Irae'' sequence of the ''Requiem'' mass (composed by several different artists, but most famously [[WolfgangAmadeusMozart Mozart]]) places over several scenes.
* [[spoiler: EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs]]: Much was made about their appearance in the movie. In truth, they're only in it for a minute or two and we only see two species at that. (They are at least [[SeldomSeenSpecies not-so popular genre.]])
* GainaxEnding: Once again, you have no idea. [[spoiler: Okay, so while everyone in the audience should be pretty certain that the finale involving the heavenly beach, Adult Jack chasing his younger self in the desert, and his mother's prayers are all either a HeroicBSOD or some sort of variation of that, it doesn't make it any less baffling. Audiences ''will'' be divided.]] You'll either feel at one with the universe, or like you're just being shown completely random images.
* GrayAndGrayMorality: BradPitt's character may be a jerk at times, but it's because he cares a bit too much for his kids. Young Jack can be just as jerkish as well, but whether it's from the abuse and expectations of his father, his [[spoiler: first time experiencing death and realizing we all don't live forever]], or just from general {{Angst}} is up to the viewer.
* [[spoiler:{{Heaven}}]]: At least the ending can be interpreted that way.
* HeroicBSOD: The viewer can argue that the minute Adult Jack ascends in the elevator, the HeroicBSOD begins.
* [[IWantToBeARealMan I Want My Sons To Be Real Men]]
* MeaningfulFuneral: One of the many important events building to Young Jack's loss of innocence.
* MeaningfulName: Jack's initials are J.O'B.
* MetaphysicalPlace: [[spoiler: The heavenly beach]], the vast desert Adult Jack wanders through, that weird field with styrofoamy-looking rocks or plants or whatever those are supposed to be. Expect this to pop up a lot.
* MindScrew: Not just the GainaxEnding, but a few brief, but glaringly noticeable shots such as [[spoiler: the underwater house shot signifying Jack's birth]] and [[spoiler: one very random scene in which the mother is floating and dancing in the front yard. Why? Because TrueArtIsIncomprehensible]]
* MommyIssues: Oh yeah. [[spoiler:"She only loves ME!"]]
* MonochromeCasting: Approximately 3 of the over 120 minutes of this movie feature non-white people onscreen.
* {{Motif}}: It's a Terrence Malick movie, therefore, expect lots of gorgeous shots of nature and SceneryPorn.
** Oh yeah, and expect it to be long, and ''feel'' long.
** In particular, the ambiguous flame imagery
* MotherNatureFatherScience: Jack's parents embody the YinYangClash; his father is the Way of Nature and his mother is the Way of Grace.
* NoNameGiven: Only Jack is given a name within the story; the other brothers' names and the family surname are only revealed in the credits: [[spoiler: R.L. and Steve O'Brien.]]
* NonLinearStory: It's about as linear as the goddamn Navier–Stokes equations.
* OhCrap: [[spoiler: Kid, if you think that putting your finger in front of a BB gun will result in anything other than pain and misery, your loss.]]
* PhilosophicalParable: See An Aesop above.
* RandomEventsPlot
* RuleOfSymbolism
* SceneryPorn: Taken UpToEleven
* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: See GainaxEnding
* StandardFiftiesFather: A rather grim example, also including elements of DadTheVeteran (although he is still in active service during the movie, it seems) and ToughLove.
* StuntCasting: Sean Penn as a guy with about 10-or-less non-consecutive minutes of screen time and barely one line of dialogue in an over-2-hour movie. Penn has gone on record saying that his role in the final cut contributed nothing to the film and served no purpose; he also mentioned that, in light of this, he was at a loss as to why the director didn't cut him out altogether.
* TheWorldIsJustAwesome: The Dawn of Time
* ThousandYardStare: Practically everyone in the movie at some point but especially Jack
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: Adult Jack's narration suggests that this applies to the brother who died in Vietnam.
* TrippyFinaleSyndrome: And what a trip it is...
* VisionQuest: This troper shall say it again. See GainaxEnding
* WellDoneSonGuy: Father seems to be one of these.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: See Development Hell.
** A specific example: HeathLedger was originally cast as Mr. O'Brien, and his death put the production into a tailspin before BradPitt volunteered to take the part.
** Another specific example: The original cut was said to be over 4 hours long, and Adult Jack (Sean Penn) had a much, much larger role.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: Ye gods.
* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: See Trippy Finale Syndrome
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: There are ''many'' quick visuals and suggestions of bigger stories that are merely glimpsed and then never revisited, including: [[spoiler:a man has a seizure on the family's front lawn, and the mother prevents her children from seeing it; a man is arrested as the entire town watches; a house burns down and a young boy, one of the brothers' friends, suffers burns on his head, and more. Also, we never find out which brother died.]]
** [[spoiler:Although it's never clarified, from Mr and Mrs O' Brien's reactions to seeing him on the beach coupled with the emphasis on his and Jack's relationship it is presumably the blonde slightly younger brother who kicks the bucket.]]
* WorldTree: Despite the title, it's mostly averted.
** Although there is an awful lot of shots of trees, many of them positioned so that the tree takes up most of the frame.
* WriteWhatYouKnow: Malick grew up in Waco, Texas which is where the film is set. Also, [[spoiler: Malick's brother died (suicide) when he was a young man, much like Jack's brother R.L. His other brother was badly burned in a car accident, which may have inspired the badly burned neighborhood boy.]]
* YinYangClash: "The way of nature, and the way of grace."
----
