10 Movies You Have To Watch AGAIN To Fully Understand
4. The Tree Of Life (2011)
Terrence Malick has recently tended towards a loose, experimental approach to narrative, eschewing the traditional three act structure and Hollywood understanding of what makes a movie.
The Tree Of Life is the prime exemplar of this new directorial thesis (forming a solely stylistic trilogy with 2015's Knight Of Cups and 2017's Song To Song), with wondrous cinematography that carries Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain and, uhh, dinosaurs through a gorgeously shot and Alexandre-Desplat-scored 139 (or, for those bold enough to traverse the extended edition, 188) minutes.
There are Biblical references, jumps back and forth through recent and distant pasts, and atmospheric shots of space. But what on (or off) Earth is going on?
The first viewing of Tree Of Life is purely for the spectacle - a chance to sit back, relax, enjoy the visuals and not get too caught up in abstract ideas like story and plot. The second, then, is for assembling the present and past, working with what you know and connecting Jack's (Penn) childhood, visions and relationship with his father (Pitt) to his present, future and worldview. Every viewing thereafter offers the opportunity to piece together the film's philosophical and theological themes and broader existential mission statement.