History Trivia / TheTreeOfLife

%%* DoingItForTheArt: Hmmm, you don't say...

* DevelopmentHell: Creator/TerrenceMalick began work on a project enigmatically entitled ''Q'' before making ''Film/TheThinRedLine'', only for it to come to a halt. Apparently, Malick used ''Q'' as a basis for ''The Tree of Life'', 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.

* DevelopmentHell: Creator/TerrenceMalick began work on a project enigmatically entitled ''Q'' before making ''Film/TheThinRedLine'', only for it to come to a halt. Apparently, Malick used ''Q'' as a basis for ''The Tree Of Life'', 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.

* AcclaimedFlop: ZigZagged - it won the ''Palme d'Or'' but couldn't make back its own (admittedly large) budget in the United States. Though thanks to Worldwide Gross, it did make a profit.

* DuelingMovies: With ''Film/{{Melancholia}}'', the SpiritualAntithesis. The fact that both competed in Cannes in the same year did not help.

* WriteWhatYouKnow: Creator/TerranceMalick 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.]]

* DevelopmentHell: Creator/TerranceMalick began work on a project enigmatically entitled ''Q'' before making ''Film/TheThinRedLine'', only for it to come to a halt. Apparently, Malick used ''Q'' as a basis for ''The Tree Of Life'', 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.

** Creator/HeathLedger was originally cast as Mr. O'Brien, and his death put the production into a tailspin before Creator/BradPitt volunteered to take the part. Creator/TerranceMalick also discussed the role with Creator/ColinFarrell.

* BillingDisplacement: Sean Penn is billed second but appears in only about five minutes of the film.
* DevelopmentHell: Malick began work on a project enigmatically entitled ''Q'' before making ''Film/TheThinRedLine'', only for it to come to a halt. Apparently, Malick used ''Q'' as a basis for ''The Tree Of Life'', 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.

** Creator/HeathLedger was originally cast as Mr. O'Brien, and his death put the production into a tailspin before Creator/BradPitt volunteered to take the part.

* 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.]]

* DoingItForTheArt: Hmmm, you don't say...

* AcclaimedFlop: Major example - it won the ''Palme d'Or'' but couldn't make back its own (admittedly large) budget. Only in the home market though; the worldwide theatrical run did eventually make a profit.

* DevelopmentHell: Malick began work on a project enigmatically entitled ''Q'' before making ''Film/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.

** 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.

* DuelingMovies: With ''Film/{{Melancholia}}''.

* 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.

* AcclaimedFlop: Major example - it won the ''Palme d'Or'' but couldn't make back its own (admittedly large) budget.
** Only in the home market though; the worldwide theatrical run did eventually make a profit.

* DuelingMovies: With {{Melancholia}}

** Only in the home market though; the worldwide theatrical run did eventually recovered the initial budget.