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"THE TREE OF LIFE"
(2011) (Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain) (PG-13)


At-A-Glace Content Summary

Alcohol/Drugs Minor
Blood/Gross Stuff Minor
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude Heavy
Frightening/Tense Scenes Heavy
Gun/Weapons Minor
Imitative Behavior Extreme
Jump Scenes Moderate
Music (Scary/Tense) Mild
Music (Inappropriate) None
Profanity Minor
Sex/Nudity Mild
Smoking Minor
Tense Family Scenes Extreme
Topics to Talk About Heavy
Violence Moderate


QUICK TAKE:
Drama: A 1950s era Texas boy becomes disillusioned with his father who obviously has a different plan than his wife for raising the boy and his two siblings.
PLOT:
It's the 1950s and the O'Brien family lives in a suburban Texas town. Mr. O'Brien (BRAD PITT) and Mrs. O'Brien (JESSICA CHASTAIN) don't see eye to eye on how to raise their three kids, oldest son Jack (HUNTER McCRACKEN) and his younger siblings, R.L. (LARAMIE EPPLER) and Steve (TYE SHERIDAN). As was common for that era, Mr. O'Brien's stern ways override her more accepting and compassionate ones.

Yet, as the dad tries to instill a survival of the fittest mindset into his kids, Jack in particular doesn't respond well to this behavior and upbringing. At first he's scared of his father, then resents him and comes to hate him, all of which leads to increasingly bad behavior on his part and partially taking out his frustrations on his youngest sibling.

Many years later, Jack (SEAN PENN) is a disillusioned and unhappy adult, and the death of one of his brothers has left him feeling even emptier. As both stories simultaneously play out, the film examines the evolution of the family and its various members.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Some older teens might be drawn to its headiness, and fans of Pitt might be interested as well. Otherwise, kids will stay far away from this one.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For some thematic material.


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