The Tree of Life (Movie Showing May 2011)

Film Title: The Tree of Life (Showing May 2011)

Film Type: Drama, Fantasy

About the Film:
"Three of Life" is scheduled to be released in the US on May 18, 2011. It is a drama-fantasy film directed by Terrence Malick who happen to be the author of the said film. Starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain.

Director:
Terrence Malick ("The Thin Red Line")

Writers:
Terrence Malick

Publishers:
Bill Pohlad
Sarah Green
Grant Hill
Dede Gardener
Brad Pitt

Casts:
Brad Pitt as Mr. O'Brien
Sean Penn as Jack
Jessica Chastain as Mrs. O'Brien
Rachel McAdams as Jane
Kari Matchett as Jack's Ex
Joanna Going as Jack's Wife
Kimberly Whalen as Mrs. Brown
Jackson Hurst as Uncle Roy
Fiona Shaw as Grandmother
Crystal Mantecon as Elisa
Tamara Jolaine as Mrs. Stone
Hunter McCracken as Young Jack
Dustin Allen as George Walsh

Plot:
The first official plot that was released was made by Summit Entertainment on their official website in September 21, 2008. The plot of "The Tree of Life" is about the a young Texas boy's journey from childhood to manhood.


Here are some insert from the author/director (Terrence Malick) himself about this film.

We trace the evolution of an eleven-year-old boy in the Midwest, Jack, one of three brothers. At first all seems marvelous to the child. He sees as his mother does with the eyes of his soul. She represents the way of love and mercy, where the father tries to teach his son the world’s way of putting oneself first. Each parent contends for his allegiance, and Jack must reconcile their claims. The picture darkens as he has his first glimpses of sickness, suffering and death. The world, once a thing of glory, becomes a labyrinth.

From this story is that of adult Jack, a lost soul in a modern world, seeking to discover amid the changing scenes of time that which does not change: the eternal scheme of which we are a part. When he sees all that has gone into our world’s preparation, each thing appears a miracle—precious, incomparable. Jack, with his new understanding, is able to forgive his father and take his first steps on the path of life.

The story ends in hope, acknowledging the beauty and joy in all things, in the everyday and above all in the family—our first school—the only place that most of us learn the truth about the world and ourselves, or discover life’s single most important lesson, of unselfish love.

Pre-Production Review:
Well definitely this is a star-studded film. Just imagine making Brad Pitt a father of Sean Penn. Is Sean Penn older than Pitt? Well that is the magic of Hollywood. If you love the Brad Pitt films "Legend of the Fall" and "The Curios Case of Benjamin Buttons" then you'll also appreciate this film. On the other hand, Sean Penn is an excellent actor when it comes to drama. The first ever film that I appreciate Penn on drama is his film "I am Sam". At the same time this film is had a bit of sci-fi concept and I am very much interested to see what is that.

Photos:



News & Updates: (WikiPedia)

• In an October 2008 interview, production designer Jack Fisk, a longtime Malick collaborator, suggested that the director is attempting something radical. He also implied that details of the film are a close secret. In early March 2009, visual effects artist Mike Fink revealed to Empire Magazine that he was working on scenes of prehistoric Earth for the film. The similarity of the scenes Fink describes to descriptions of a hugely ambitious project entitled Q that Malick worked on soon after Days of Heaven has led to speculation that The Tree of Life is a resurrection of that abandoned project. The website aintitcool.com has since reported that the prehistoric scenes are being filmed for a separate, IMAX-specific project "depicting the birth and death of the universe." That film is being described as "not narratively connected" to The Tree of Life; rather they are "thematically complementary pieces." In a March 2011 interview, the visual effects supervisor, Dan Glass, stated that the film would feature microbial and astronomical imagery, along with dinosaurs. He summarized the film as "a very powerful movie about memories, emotions, and our place in the world."
• Terrence Malick pitched the concept of The Tree of Life to River Road Entertainment head Bill Pohlad while the two were collaborating on an early version of Che. Pohlad recalls initially thinking the idea was "crazy", but as the film concept evolved, he came to feel strongly about the idea. The Tree of Life was announced in late 2005, with Indian production company Percept Picture Company set to finance it and Donald Rosenfeld onboard as producer. The film was set to be shot partially in India, with pre-production scheduled to begin in January 2006. Colin Farrell and Mel Gibson were at one stage attached to the project. These plans did not come to fruition.
• In October 2007, Bill Pohlad announced plans to produce the project through River Road. Sean Penn and Heath Ledger were involved in talks to star. In December 2007, Brad Pitt was reported to be in talks to replace Ledger, while Penn remained attached in a supporting role for the film. Jack Fisk is reported to have done research for the film at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Filming began in Texas. Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki returned to work with Malick after collaborating with him on The New World. Locations included Smithville, Houston, Matagorda, Bastrop, Austin, and Malick's hometown of Waco.
• The namesake of the film is a large live oak tree that was excavated from property a few miles outside Smithville. The 65,000 pound tree and root ball was trucked into Smithville and replanted.

Movie Trailer: