Tree of Life Synopsis

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A friend has read an early draft of Terrence Malick's Tree of Life script "and here's what I can tell you, other than that it's wonderful," he writes. "Of course, there is a very good chance that the finished film will look nothing like this, given Malick's track record. But it really does appear to have borrowed not just a page, but several whole chapters from 2001: A Space Odyssey's book.

"The bulk of the script takes place in the 50s, as has been reported. The protagonist is Jack, the oldest of three brothers in a Texas family with more than a passing resemblance to the Malick family itself, as he learns about the ways of the world. The film starts off with the death of one of the brothers, the family in despair, then settles on the grown Jack (Sean Penn), depressed, in the modern world.

"Then, it basically goes somewhat Koyaanisqatsi on us, showing the despair of our world, of urbanity, etc. The idea being that Jack's despair is mirrored all around him, in man's alienation from the infinite. Or as the script puts if, 'The supreme misery...to find oneself abandoned to the busy dance of things which pass away.'

"All that, however, is basically prologue. As Jack searches for some kind of reconnection to the world, the film flashes back to the beginning of time. We see the creation of galaxies: 'The growth of the cosmos, the great epic of evolution, from the Big Bang through the long ages of geological time, down to the present day," it reads. The language here is absolutely beautiful -- half philosophy, half science, all poetry -- and we'll see how it works in the film, how much of it actually winds up in there, how much time it takes.

"But the dinosaurs are a very small part of it in the script, like half a page. We see them appear, then we see them wiped out, then we see the mammals begin to emerge.

"And then, we see Jack's childhood, his first discovery of the world, his connection to his parents, the arrival of his brothers, and their coming of age. The stuff with the family is wonderful, but it's not very plot driven, small little moments built on small little moments. The kind of thing only Malick can pull off. This is the bulk of the script itself, 100 pages or so out of 126.

"The third part of the film flashes forward, and we see the death of the universe. This is again in the mode of those early scenes that showed us the creation of the galaxy and of human life. We see the Earth grow hotter and then die, basically. We see the galaxy die, but then we see new ones come about, and we see the visual manifestation of the Multiverse theory.

"Again, so much of this is conveyed through such powerful language that it's hard not to come away from the script powerfully moved. The idea is not that the worries and cares of humans are smaller than a tiny speck of sand, but that we're part of some vast process, that 'the same power which burns in the stars and nebulae burns equally in us."

"To what extent it will be realized on screen, and how much time it will probably take, remains to be seen."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 23, 2010 at 3:15 PM

comment #1

Lost_Contacts says ...

The Eloi are gonna love this...

It sounds intriguing. I can't imagine another director who would even try to do this film today. I hope he pulls it off.

Posted by Lost_Contacts at July 23, 2010 3:48 PM

comment #2

115thDreamer says ...

Well....there you are. But....using the old yardstick of 1-page-equalling-one-minute, the thing is only going to be 2 hours long, and it's going to cover the entirety of the universe? No wonder's it's taking so long in Post - that's a lot of cuts.....

Posted by 115thDreamer at July 23, 2010 3:55 PM

comment #3

LanceMc says ...

Sounds exactly like we've known the film to be for a couple years now, anyone who's been following all the news anyway. But it's great to read some snippets from the actual script.

That's something that's always fascinated me about Malick too. I've never gotten the chance to read an actual screenplay of his, but he really seems like such a great writer, and all the snippets from his works i've read here or there are beautiful. Would like to get my hands on some of his written work.

Posted by LanceMc at July 23, 2010 3:55 PM

comment #4

Markj74 says ...

Sounds like my kind of film. Can't wait.

Posted by Markj74 at July 23, 2010 4:04 PM

comment #5

Markj74 says ...

Sounds like my kind of film. Can't wait.

Posted by Markj74 at July 23, 2010 4:05 PM

comment #6

Gabriel says ...

Sounds remarkable. It also sounds like nothing that's trying to win an Oscar (which is great news). The dinosaurs clearly aren't hurting it, but they fit in with the rest of the prehistoric era - it would be wrong to remove them.

Posted by Gabriel at July 23, 2010 4:15 PM

comment #7

Ray DeRousse says ...

I don't think Malick has ever attempted something this heavy with effects or this far outside his comfort zone before. I'm excited to see it but I'm kinda nervous for the guy as well.

Posted by Ray DeRousse at July 23, 2010 4:25 PM

comment #8

Wrecktem says ...

I looked up the word "pretentious" in the dictionary and it said "please reference Tree of Life."

Posted by Wrecktem at July 23, 2010 4:34 PM

comment #9

moviechick44 says ...

This movie has been thought of and discussed so much and for so long, I have a funny feeling critics are going to turn on it. I think fans will like it but critics can be pissy and usually they don't like projects that get delayed and also the idea that Malick takes so much time between projects, I just think they are going to be ready to pounce if it's nothing but spectacular.

Posted by moviechick44 at July 23, 2010 5:08 PM

comment #10

Eloi Wrath says ...

I don't think the 1 page per minute rule of thumb applies to Malick.

Moviechick: I seem to remember New World's reception being fairly lukewarm at the time. But it's grown in reputation as the years have gone on. I absolutely love it.

Lost_Contacts: Aronofsky at least tried something this ambitious when he made The Fountain. It may have been diluted a bit due to WB scepticism, but the idea was grand.

Posted by Eloi Wrath at July 23, 2010 6:09 PM

comment #11

actionman says ...

as kenny powers would say -- i just came in my pants

no other film for the rest of the year matters as much (to me at least) as tree of life

Posted by actionman at July 23, 2010 6:25 PM

comment #12

hiviper says ...

I knew this sounded familiar. It'll be like this, only better (sorry for ther spanish version:}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGRz_KoVllk&NR=1

Seriously though, looking forward to this one. And I loved Adaptation and The Fountain (sort of)

Posted by hiviper at July 23, 2010 6:54 PM

comment #13

actionman says ...

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Posted by actionman at July 23, 2010 7:38 PM

comment #14

DeeZee says ...

Tears of a swan...
Captain Jack does video for Comic Con.
Also, the link has a teaser for "There Be Dragons".
Ruffalo confirmed as new Hulk.
Elton walks with the animals.
R.I.P. Daniel Schorr.
Cage drives angry.
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Rudd takes on the idiot brother role.
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Brolin, McConaughey and Swank: together at last?
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Posted by DeeZee at July 23, 2010 10:52 PM

comment #15

DeeZee says ...

Oh, yeah, Stallone's taking fan questions.

Posted by DeeZee at July 23, 2010 11:22 PM

comment #16

DeeZee says ...

Speaking of Stallone, it took me a while to find this public domain masterpiece again, but...

Posted by DeeZee at July 23, 2010 11:49 PM

comment #17

herve leger says ...

I believe the fans will like it, but critics can be pissy, usually they do not like it, you can postpone the idea, Malik need so many items, the time between projects, I just think that they should be prepared to attack,

Posted by herve leger at July 24, 2010 12:07 AM

comment #18

Hip Hop Homey says ...

Weren't they talking about doing some kinda IMAX companion film with this? So, how do the dinos go by in a flash in they want to fill out another feature with said dinos?

Posted by Hip Hop Homey at July 24, 2010 6:14 AM

comment #19

The InSneider says ...

I hear it's great from a few folks who have seen it...

Posted by The InSneider at July 24, 2010 8:11 AM

comment #20

Jonathan Spuij says ...

In a few years time it'll make a fine double-bill with Agora, judging from this synopsis.

Posted by Jonathan Spuij at July 24, 2010 9:26 AM

comment #21

paul_kolas says ...

Based on this "synopsis", this is easily my most anticipated film of the year, possibly the past several years. Maybe Malick will put all of it on screen the way it sounds, maybe he won't, but I know he must be trying his damn best to do so. It doesn't matter what the critics will say about it, but I can guaranfuckingtee you that Manohla Dargis will cream all over it. And on a side note, I don't give a damn about what movies are the Oscar front runners at this juncture. Most prognosticators are made to look like fools by year's end anyway.

Posted by paul_kolas at July 24, 2010 10:41 AM

comment #22

Kieslowski says ...

I cannot wait for this movie. Can anyone expand on what Penn's role in the movie. I just hope he has the meatier part. Pitt ruins everything.

Posted by Kieslowski at July 24, 2010 12:09 PM

comment #23

aris says ...

Pitt ruins everything? Not BURN AFTER READING.

Posted by aris at July 24, 2010 1:03 PM

comment #24

Noah Cross says ...

Brad Pitt's voice work as Patch Boomhauer was a humorous addition to a 2003 episode of "King of the Hill", so he doesn't ruin everything. (And he was great in "The Assissination of Jesse James", the best film of 2007 film... and if you think "Seven", "Fight Club", "Twelve Monkies", etc. are ruined films, Kieslowski, then you probably enjoy as many films as DeeZee.)

Posted by Noah Cross at July 24, 2010 2:34 PM

comment #25

Kieslowski says ...

Brad Pitts roles in Fight Club, Seven, Burn After Reading - pretty boys - who contributed to each effort in terms of acting as much as a throw pillow.

Brad is best when doing second tier/background roles - True Romance, 12 Monkeys or Thelma and Louise.

(By the way I love all David Fincher movies except of course for Benjamin Button - which I am convinced Pitt balckmailed Fincher to direct)

Posted by Kieslowski at July 24, 2010 2:39 PM

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