The actions of Van Sant’s film might manipulate, but the themes behind them are unexpectedly powerful and resonating.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 28, 2025

This schlocky dud from the trailblazing American auteur remains a hard pill to swallow, even for fans of the trio of notable actors headlining.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Sep 30, 2020

Part of the wonder of The Sea of Trees is that Van Sant refuses to ever actually define the journey for his characters or for his audience.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.0/4.0 | Sep 22, 2020

The underwhelming script for The Sea of Trees keeps weighing down McConaughey's performance as well as the rest of the movie.

Full Review | Aug 28, 2020

I'm not saying it's great, but it's not terrible either.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Jul 11, 2020

Drama about life-changing journey; suicide, mature themes.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 14, 2019

Filmmaker Gus Van Sant certainly does an effective job of initially luring the viewer into the deliberately-paced picture...

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Aug 6, 2018

The interest that once greeted every new Gus Van Sant film has been evaporating for some years now. And this latest movie, which can aptly be termed pathetic, only strengthens that feeling.

Full Review | Jan 10, 2018

This script is so fundamentally flawed I can't imagine anyone wanting to produce it.

Full Review | Oct 14, 2017

It's only 110 minutes long but drags on for what seems like a lifetime.

Full Review | Aug 21, 2017

It's sappy, and in no way original.

Full Review | Dec 27, 2016

A sumptuous, rewarding experience. "The Sea of Trees" is quietly mesmerizing and exceedingly wise, understanding there is profundity in every direction one gazes.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 30, 2016

A perilous adventure in which (McConaughey) stumbles over symbols, like rocks in his path, and steps on allegories, which crack like twigs under his feet.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Sep 9, 2016

If you look past the surface, dig deeper and trust its mysterious, supernatural mission, it could make for one of the most emotional experiences you'll have at the movies this year.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 7, 2016

... a muddled and relentlessly downbeat examination of marriage and mortality that's more pretentious than profound.

Full Review | Sep 2, 2016

Van Sant seems unsure of what kind of movie he's making or what he's trying to say. It's best to just enjoy the scenery and look the other way.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Sep 2, 2016

No wonder Watts rules the movie. She's playing the only remotely sympathetic character; the men seem consumed by grief and guilt and platitudes.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Sep 1, 2016

The Sea of Trees is an emotionally inauthentic and narratively confounding mess that fails to ring a true moment despite the prestigious team behind it

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Aug 31, 2016

A morbid soap opera that's overlong and dramatically undernourished.

Full Review | Original Score: D | Aug 31, 2016

Sea Of Trees is the best movie about Aokigahara yet, but considering the competition, that's still not saying much.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Aug 29, 2016