Watched A Studio Screener
"The only way to be happy is to love. Unless you love, your life will flash by."
--Mrs. O'Brien (as played by Jessica Chastain)
Since joining the Visual Effects Society, I have not really taken advantage of some of the perks that go along with it. The one exception this year was when J and I spent the night at the California Academy of Sciences. One of the most common benefits of membership is that we're asked to vote on films for awards season, and since that's starting to come up, I've been getting flyers for local screenings at different theaters around the Bay.
In addition to these theater screenings, some studios will just send you a copy of the film on DVD. This week, I got a disc from Fox Searchlight of Terrence Malick's Tree of Life. It came with a very stern letter telling me the disc is individually coded that ties it to me to prevent piracy.
This film chronicles the childhood memories of a middle aged man (Sean Penn) as he ponders the meaning of life. It is a non-linear narrative with some experimental elements to it.
It also stars Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain as the parents of the man and his two brothers.
There are some really gorgeous shots in this film, mostly during the more abstract scenes, which included some space scenes.
I really enjoyed some of the nature shots that did not include any visual effects as well.
As far as a storytelling narrative, I was not a huge fan of this film. There were sections that were very beautiful to watch. However, I did not feel that they contributed to driving the plot. I think I knew what he was going for, but I just didn't care for it.
It was a privilege to have the opportunity to watch this film as a VES member, and I look forward to watching more very soon.
Related Item:
The Tree of Life (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)
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