New 3-Hour Cut Of Terrence Malick’s ‘The Tree Of Life’ Highlights August’s Criterion Collection Additions

UPDATE: Criterion announced that “The Tree of Life” will now be released September 11.

Original story follows…

As we mentioned recently, Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” is getting the Criterion treatment soon, and it looks to be a must-have for any true cinephile’s collection. The Criterion Collection just announced their August 2018 offerings, and headlining the group is Malick’s 2011 epic.

READ MORE: Check Out 10 Unused Posters For Terrence Malick’s ‘The Tree Of Life’ From A Gallery Of Over 90 Concepts

The Criterion Collection release of “The Tree of Life” features a new 4K digital restoration of the film, as well as all the bells and whistles you might expect from a Criterion release. However, what makes the “The Tree of Life” release incredibly special is that Criterion is adding a new cut of the film, which adds a whopping 50 minutes of additional footage. Also new to the release are interviews with star Jessica Chastain and Dan Glass, the visual-effects supervisor on the project. All told, this is definitely a 2-disc collection that any fan of Malick should purchase immediately.

But it’s not all Malick in August. Criterion is also releasing a new 4K digital restoration of 1943’s “Heaven Can Wait,” directed by Ernst Lubitsch. That disc also features home recordings of Lubitsch, a film critic conversation about the project, and a thirty-minute program exploring the life and career of screenwriter Samson Raphaelson.

August also sees the Criterion release of the 1980s punk film “Smithereens,” from filmmaker Susan Seidelman. “Smithereens” was notable for being the first independent feature to be screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. The “director-approved” special edition includes a new 2K restoration, new interviews with Seidelman and actor Susan Berman, as well as early shorts introduced by the director.

Rounding out the new Criterion Collection films are “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” and “Memories of Underdevelopment.” ‘Gregorio Cortez,’ as you might expect, features a new 2K restoration, as well as a new interview with actor and producer Edward James Olmos. “Memories of Underdevelopment” has a new 4K restoration, as well as tons of new interviews, a feature-length documentary, and a new English subtitle translation.