I only vaguely remember The Thin Red Line, and most of what I remember is the soundtrack – one note sustained by organ, I think – over soldiers walking and walking and walking. At the time, I was young and Saving Private Ryan – arguably still a better film – had just been released, so I wasn’t all that interested in an “art” movie about war. However, The Thin Red Line is a film I’d like to revisit if, for no other reason, than that I still find myself thinking about it often, wondering if my young brain missed something important. It’s weird.

Anyway. Tree of Life is Terrence Malick’s latest offering and, according to various critics and friends, it is either horribly pretentious and nonsensical or the greatest film about everything ever. When I first saw the previews for it (many moons ago now), I knew I wanted to see it because it looked both “science fiction-y” and meaningful in a way that, perhaps, didn’t conform to Hollywood cliches. Still, I somehow missed it when it was released. Regardless, I expect Tree of Life to be its own thing, oblivious – or, at least, uninterested – in what a typical film is supposed to do or be.