If there's one movie this year that we are just sick and tired of talking about, it's 'The Tree of Life' by a mile. While we're more or less convinced that it constitutes a stunning achievement of film making, we still can't explain those dinosaurs or the fact that it turned into a cosmic ballet for 30 minutes.So if you're one of the many who wondered "What the hell is going on?" at some point during the film, Sean Penn is here to tell you that you're not alone. When asked about his reaction to the film in a recent interview with Le Figaro, Penn provided a surprisingly honest response -- one that revealed his motivation for accepting a role in the movie to begin with.
It's not often we hear about a movie star slamming his own work, so click through to see what Penn had to say about Terrence Malick's 'The Tree of Life.'
I didn't at all find on the screen the emotion of the script, which is the most magnificent one that I've ever read. A clearer and more conventional narrative would have helped the film without, in my opinion, lessening its beauty and its impact. Frankly, I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing there and what I was supposed to add in that context! What's more, Terry himself never managed to explain it to me clearly.There's something to be said for Penn's reaction to the finished product. In the end, 'The Tree of Life' may be far easier to appreciate than to enjoy.
What did you think of 'The Tree of Life?'
[via The New Yorker]
Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Trailer for 'The Tree of Life'