Deep Roots and Heavenward Growth

The Tree of Life isn't exactly a movie but more of a visual poem. Director Terrence Malick meditates on the nature of human existence with the help of flashing images and disembodied whispers. The setting is Texas. This is a land where folks debate whether life comes from loving, purposeful creation or ruthless, impersonal evolution. The film suggests our tree is rooted in both. Our spirits are miraculous gifts, but we're still tiny specks in the universe.

Sean Penn is a Houston architect in a world of steel and glass. News of a family tragedy shakes his foundation. He is forced to remember that humans design awesome structures but have little control over the cosmos in which we set them. The Tree of Life begins with a quote from the Jewish scriptures about God asking tragedy-struck Job, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?"

Sean Penn and Elizabeth Hurley Sizzle

You may remember Sean Penn's hit Dead Man Walking, but probably don't recall his Dead Woman Writing. Actually, it was called The Weight of Water. If your brain tends to atrophy with standard Hollywood fare, this two-layered, emotionally-complex film may keep your senility at bay. Plus, Elizabeth Hurley rubbing an ice-cube all over her breast then sucking on it may not qualify as performance art, but it aint exactly boring either.