Brett McCracken

Between Two Trees: A Review of Peter Leithart’s Shining Glory

Peter J. Leithart. Shining Glory: Theological Reflections on Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2013. It’s not your average big-budget, Brad Pitt–starring movie that receives a book response from a systematic theologian. But Peter Leithart is not your average systematic theologian. And Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life is not […]

Jason Morehead

Emmanuel Lubezki: Terrence Malick made me a different man

Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki was recently interviewed about his work with Terrence Malick on The Tree of Life, and discusses some of the technical aspects of working with the acclaimed director. But this is perhaps the most interesting bit: Lubezki, who has since made his third film with Malick, an untitled love story with Ben Affleck and Rachel […]

Brett David Potter

Are Artists the High Priests of Culture? Part I

In his seminal Art in Action (1980), Reformed philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff emphasized the way in which the artist, “when he brings forth order for human benefit or divine honor,” participates in “man’s vocation to master and subdue the earth” (77). Such a creationally-grounded ‘job description’ applies equally to artists inside and outside the boundaries of the church. On […]

Jason Morehead

Experiencing "The Tree of Life" as a father

At times, I think it’s all too tempting to approach The Tree of Life as a primarily esoteric or philosophical exercise. Of course, Terrence Malick doesn’t do much to dissuade that sort of approach, thanks to his existential dialog, non-linear narrative, and abstract-yet-beautiful scenery. As a result, it’s easy to approach Malick’s movie as if […]

Trevor Logan

The Tree of Life: A Son of Tears

God will make man see things, if it is only against the black background of nonentity. God will make Job see a startling universe if He can only do it by making Job see an idiotic universe. To startle man God becomes for an instant a blasphemer; one might almost say that God becomes for […]

Peter M. Candler Jr.

The Tree of Life and the Lamb of God

In one of the most astonishing passages in the book of Genesis, in the book’s second creation narrative, the Lord God is depicted as a gardener, out for a leisurely evening stroll in the garden he has just made, clearly pleased with his creation. In fact, there is almost a sense in the text that […]

Ben Bishop

Nature, Grace, and the Siren Song of Nostalgia: A Review of The Tree of Life

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of three reviews on Terrence Malick’s latest film. In reviewing any new work, particularly one from someone as storied and reclusive as director Terrence Malick, upon whose oeuvre critics tend to either lavish praise or shower derision, one has to gauge the newest constellation against the […]

Ron Reed

Speaking Of Slow…

Terrence Malick may be notorious for taking decades to complete a film, but he seems to be becoming more prolific of late. He will reportedly follow The Tree Of Life, due out later this year, with an untitled love story starring Christian Bale, Javier Bardem, Rachel McAdams and Olga Kurylenko. Sight and Sound, April 2010