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Oct 25 2011
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Movie Review

The Tree of Life reveals stunning cinematography

Terrence Malick’s Cannes award-winning movie is overly pretentious, yet challengingly engaging

I think I missed what most critics claim was a stunningly spectacular movie.

Directed by Terrence Malick, who brought the critically acclaimed films Badlands and Days of Heaven, The Tree of Life follows a young family in the 1950s. In particular, the life of Jack O’Brien is showcased as he faces the tribulation of growing up as the eldest son of three, with a father that is simultaneously both loving and harsh, and a gracious and loving mother.

At the Cannes Film Festival, The Tree of Life received the coveted Palme d’Or award, which is given to the director of the best feature film. A nod to Malick’s amazingly detailed film.

The cinematography was breathtaking; of that, there is no doubt. The plot riveting and compelling and the acting by Brad Pitt (Mr. O’Brien), Jessica Chastian (Mrs. O’Brien) and supporting actor Sean Penn (old Jack) were brilliant.

Newcomer Hunter McCracken (young Jack) is definitely a face to watch in the coming years, though as his character loses his innocence at a death of friend, I felt the compelling urge to smack him several times during his gloomy and antipathy mood swings – which, I suppose, is a testament to his youthful acting skills.

I’m definitely excited to see which direction McCracken will head, especially after engaging in such an emotionally charged character.

Yet despite the sparkle, the movie fell flat in my opinion.

I found it pretentious and it dawdled at a pace that added too much length to a film that could have said it all in a shorter period.

The first half failed to connect smoothly and remained disjointed in quite a few places, most noticeably in the prolonged digital feature by special effects master Douglas Trumbull (Blade Runner, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, 2001: A Space Odyssey).

Trumbull artfully recreated the universe from a single beating heart and the majestic power of wildlife, to the period before the Big Bang and the destruction of dinosaurs. A work of genius, Trumbull is phenomenal in his digital crafted designs; the slightest wave of swaying tree limbs, to the breath of life from a frolicking creature.

I cannot argue that it was not brilliant, because it simply was. Trumbull is a favourite of mine and his works are on my Top 10.  Despite that, I found that his magnum opus worked more against the film than with it.

If I wanted to be awed by the magnificent wonders of the world, I would sit down for a cup of tea and watch Planet Earth. I understand the artistic concept of symbolically attaching the creation of the earth to God and the power he holds but it just didn’t work. It was overly lengthy and out-of-place in an otherwise interesting film.

Through Trumbull’s digital solo, Chastian and McCracken’s voices are heard questioning the intentions of God and the purpose of life. The voice-overs does connect the movie in a manner that gives the audience a slight understanding of why the film sequence is cut the way it is cut.

The second half proved more successful, rewinding to the beginning of little Jack’s birth and the growth of the O’Brien family, before journeying through their lives of ups and downs.

Penn, who’s role as a supporting actor, focuses in on the loss of his brother, triggers the memories of what life was before the death of his younger brother. Flashbacks reveal the intricate behaviour of three rowdy brothers growing up and the delicate bond that connects them together.

Bonds between mother and son, wife and husband, father and son, and strangers to the family, are given at first a cursory glance before everything zooms into the macro.

Nevertheless, the ending was over dramatized and reminded me of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kings where the cuts kept coming. The metaphorical symbolism attached with God and open hands was dampened by the switch of scenes and the simple fact that it kept repeating. From one cut to another cut, it was the same scene sliced together multiple times, from different angles. Idyllic and spiritual, but unnecessary.

The Tree of Life isn’t a film everyone will enjoy. Some will fall in love; others will wear quizzical looks of confusion on their faces. It’s just one of those films that viewers will either be engaged with or find restless.

It is, nevertheless, worth a watch should you have time to spare. Malick returns with a vision, though fragmented a periods, and it does come across as the movie wraps up.

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Oct 25 2011
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Article

Grand Forks Royal Canadian Legion Facing Bankruptcy

The Grand Forks Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59 turns 85 this year and it may be its last.

In a fiscal year where everyone is feeling the tightening budget, the legion is also suffering from the threat of bankruptcy and could close its doors.

“We need people in the area to know what the legion does. All the money that we raise, over 80 per cent of that has to be given away,” stated Director Ken Gresley- Jones.

“If we can’t survive as a branch, then we won’t be able to help all these people that we have been helping over the years,” he continued. “The purpose of the legion is not just supporting veterans and their families, but all the support that we give to the community.”

Youth groups, sports clubs and medical research within the community have seen donations from the legion for the past 19 years, totaling $385,207.

Typically, the legion has raised funds in the past by renting out its lounge and hall for wedding receptions and parties, and fundraising events, such as bingo.

“We’re in trouble because the lounge has traditionally kept the branch going and people aren’t using the lounge anymore,” said Gresley-Jones.

Secretary Elsie Fredericks explained that all money that enters the gaming accounts is put directly into the donations account to be given to local groups.

“We can’t keep any of the money from the gaming account to ourselves. Other than the expenses for organizing bingo or other items, all the rest goes towards our donation account. That’s why we’re able to give out that money and we have to; none of that money comes to us,” she said.

Fredericks indicated that many people have remarked about the amount of money they are donating and that the legion should keep some for their own costs.

“They don’t understand that we’re not allowed to keep any of that money. Eighty per cent of our funds have to be donated and only 20 per cent is kept for administrative needs,” Fredericks stated.

Treasurer Georgina Ortis agreed, “Every time we get our picture taken handing out a cheque, it looks like we’re rolling in dough. But it’s a two-sided picture because we’re not. The other side is we’re just not getting operating costs.

“I know we’re not alone in this, a lot of other legions are also effected. The changes to the drinking and driving laws have affected everybody and when you’re in a small rural community with little services, it’s hard.”

The legion currently has 259 members, but the treasurer pointed out that membership is low.

“Each year we fi nd that we lose 20 to 25 members, through different reasons; some move away, some die, and some just lose interest.” Gresley-Jones added, “The requirements aren’t as rigid as they were at one time to join the Royal Canadian Legion.”

Some fundraising events that the legion has been discussing include a Robbie Burns night and a dance and roast dinner on Oct. 14 for $10 per person.

“Someone has volunteered live music, so we’re hoping to set up something regular, maybe a Friday or Saturday night dance; throughout the winter particularly,” said Ortis. “Because of our lounge, gaming and liquor license, you have to either be a legion member or a guest of the legion member to participate in the activities. If you are interested in dropping in, guests are encouraged to phone a member who will sign them in. Each member can sign up to four guests.”

Ortis mentioned that selling the parking lots outside could be considered but would be a last resort.

“The community can help by attending our fundraising events, join us, rent our hall – if they do that, we can continue to help out all these people,” Gresley-Jones remarked. “It would be a damn shame if all the groups we help are affected. It would be the domino effect; groups we help would fold as well.”

As for the fate of the Grand Forks branch, President Jerome MacDonald said, “It’s tough to say what’s going to happen in the next little while; it’s going to be six months, or it could be a year.”

After the First World War, veterans started to create small groups together across Canada in support of other soldiers and their families. By 1925, it was known as the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Services League (BESL). Yet it wasn’t until 1960 that the Queen gave consent to add the term ‘royal’ and it was added to the legion’s name, hence The Royal Canadian Legion. The Royal Canadian Legion branches across Canada have raised and donated money to various youth groups, sports clubs and other foundations since their inception.

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