tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17951989.post1899030899334624407..comments2024-03-13T06:02:45.251-05:00Comments on Cinema Romantico: The Tree Of LifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17951989.post-40294225081845844552011-06-17T16:20:33.786-05:002011-06-17T16:20:33.786-05:00I also was curious about Sean Penn. The character ...I also was curious about Sean Penn. The character just seems to exist to allow for the story to be told in flashback. Did he take the part just to work with Malick? Was the part more beefed up in the original script? Was it an Adrien Brody situation where it got cut down in editing?<br /><br />That said, he certainly appeared credibly contemplative when on camera.Nick Priggehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17895803287589438170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17951989.post-11051659446462860582011-06-17T09:34:29.396-05:002011-06-17T09:34:29.396-05:00After I got out, I thought I was unique in finding...After I got out, I thought I was unique in finding the first hour to be captivating and the second hour-plus to be tedious, but I guess it just proves that I am fairly close to the critical norm even in a film that defies conventional criticism. I just felt like he was repeating himself in the second half and that the end in particular was pretty soppy. I also thought that Sean Penn needed a bit more to do, even though it's funny to say that in a movie where none of the characters really "do" anything. I'm with Andy in liking the creation of the universe sequence, which basically means I have no problem with Malick going completely off the rails -- I just need it to ultimately produce some kind of reaction in me. The first half did, the second half did not, really. Overall, though, still a very valuable viewing experience.Derek Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13750747272647975591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17951989.post-6061659046409043722011-06-15T08:22:14.381-05:002011-06-15T08:22:14.381-05:00Thanks, guys! I agree, reviews on this are tough. ...Thanks, guys! I agree, reviews on this are tough. I wrote this in, like, a 12 minute burst. And I hear you, Castor, on the creation sequence. I remember thinking to myself exactly what you said. I definitely went with it, though.Nick Priggehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17895803287589438170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17951989.post-23033626553845885542011-06-14T23:25:04.057-05:002011-06-14T23:25:04.057-05:00@ Andrew: I hear you on writing a review after see...@ Andrew: I hear you on writing a review after seeing this movie. It took me a whole day to put my thought together and it was painstaking to write the review.Castorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15317266954630009383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17951989.post-16701374303515265172011-06-14T17:40:51.501-05:002011-06-14T17:40:51.501-05:00I finally saw it last night! I'm still not sur...I finally saw it last night! I'm still not sure what to think. I thought it was incredible. But I had a second film afterwards, so I didn't have the time to process it. A second viewing will be required. More perhaps.<br /><br />You're right though...how much footage does this guy shoot? Every frame is like a mini masterpiece (and there are lots and lots). The film is like a massive extension of the trailer. Actually, I think there are some shots from the trailer that weren't even in the film. I could not believe what I was seeing most of the time, but I gave up trying to formulate a review or analysis half way through, because it made me exhausted.<br /><br />@ Castor, I might be alone, but I hoped the creation scene would go on longer. I loved it!<br /><br />Nice review Nick. I'm not going to attempt anything for at least a couple of days, and might even wait to see it again, when I'm not seeing 2/3 films a day.Andy Bucklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15655573933693289124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17951989.post-32830383375697398672011-06-14T16:53:28.929-05:002011-06-14T16:53:28.929-05:00The creation of the universe sequence was overlong...The creation of the universe sequence was overlong. I feel a lot of people who are going to give up on the movie are going to do during that part of the movie. <br /><br />Malick is well known to shoot miles of film and then works for months or years to edit his movies. There is funny anecdotes that he would sometime have his actors play out a scene but he would then be busy filming something in the background instead.<br /><br />Nicely written review Nick!Castorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15317266954630009383noreply@blogger.com