Film: Hereafter
Starring: Matt Damon (Invictus and Goodwill Hunting) and Jay Mohr (Jerry Maguire)
U.S. Release: 2010 (rated PG-13)
Director: Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino and Million Dollar Baby)
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 129 minutes
It sounds like a strange punchline. But what do you get when you cross two academy award winners, a has-been comedian, and a story about the afterlife? Well apparently you get Hereafter, renowned actor-gone-director Clint Eastwood's latest look at the taboo topic of life after death. Throughout his career, Eastwood's been as close to a sure-thing as anyone else in the history of cinema. However, with his outside the box look at life and death, he's sure to draw some harsh criticisms with Hereafter.
Set in present day, Hereafter follows three people who, for different reasons, struggle with their own mortality. First, there's a French Journalist Marie LeLay who survives a near death experience and can't come to terms with what happened. Next, there's George Lonegan (played by Damon), a middle-aged psychic who can actually communicate with those who have passed on to the next life. And finally, there's Marcus, a young boy from London who loses someone close to him and is searching for resolution. The stories surrounding these three lead character's ultimately come together for a thought provoking ending.
There's plenty to discuss about Eastwood's freshest work. Hereafter is a puzzle, as is life. We learn throughout the movie the obvious, no one knows what happens when we die. Even George's character, who has remarkable abilities to communicate with the dead, knows very little about what lies ahead. However, one thing is certain. Becoming consumed by death and all of its mysteries takes away from living. In there lies the beauty of Hereafter. It's poignant, yet simple, message reminds us all to appreciate what we have. There are so many things to be grateful for and so many emotions to experience. Taking them for granted is a tragedy and a waste of the greatest gift we've ever been given, the gift of life.
Despite it's strong message, Hereafter is undoubtedly filled with flaws. It's middle of the pack dialogue, acting, and pacing do it no justice. It feels like an eternity waiting for all three stories to culminate to a nice and sweet, yet unfulfilled, final scene. Eastwood lets us down with a slow, gradual build up to a minimal resolve. I've come to expect more out of Clint Eastwood, and perhaps that is the reason I was so let down by the film. Hereafter is truly mediocre for the typical director, but well below average for an Eastwood picture. If you have to see it, hold off until its DVD release.
Stars: 1.5 out of 4 stars
Here's a gradebook outlook of films currently in theatres:
Movie Grade
Hereafter C-
Nowhere Boy A-
The Social Network A-
Conviction C+
My Soul to Keep D
Secretariat C-
Red C-
The Town A-
It's Kind of a Funny Story C-
Starring: Matt Damon (Invictus and Goodwill Hunting) and Jay Mohr (Jerry Maguire)
U.S. Release: 2010 (rated PG-13)
Director: Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino and Million Dollar Baby)
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 129 minutes
It sounds like a strange punchline. But what do you get when you cross two academy award winners, a has-been comedian, and a story about the afterlife? Well apparently you get Hereafter, renowned actor-gone-director Clint Eastwood's latest look at the taboo topic of life after death. Throughout his career, Eastwood's been as close to a sure-thing as anyone else in the history of cinema. However, with his outside the box look at life and death, he's sure to draw some harsh criticisms with Hereafter.
Set in present day, Hereafter follows three people who, for different reasons, struggle with their own mortality. First, there's a French Journalist Marie LeLay who survives a near death experience and can't come to terms with what happened. Next, there's George Lonegan (played by Damon), a middle-aged psychic who can actually communicate with those who have passed on to the next life. And finally, there's Marcus, a young boy from London who loses someone close to him and is searching for resolution. The stories surrounding these three lead character's ultimately come together for a thought provoking ending.
There's plenty to discuss about Eastwood's freshest work. Hereafter is a puzzle, as is life. We learn throughout the movie the obvious, no one knows what happens when we die. Even George's character, who has remarkable abilities to communicate with the dead, knows very little about what lies ahead. However, one thing is certain. Becoming consumed by death and all of its mysteries takes away from living. In there lies the beauty of Hereafter. It's poignant, yet simple, message reminds us all to appreciate what we have. There are so many things to be grateful for and so many emotions to experience. Taking them for granted is a tragedy and a waste of the greatest gift we've ever been given, the gift of life.
Despite it's strong message, Hereafter is undoubtedly filled with flaws. It's middle of the pack dialogue, acting, and pacing do it no justice. It feels like an eternity waiting for all three stories to culminate to a nice and sweet, yet unfulfilled, final scene. Eastwood lets us down with a slow, gradual build up to a minimal resolve. I've come to expect more out of Clint Eastwood, and perhaps that is the reason I was so let down by the film. Hereafter is truly mediocre for the typical director, but well below average for an Eastwood picture. If you have to see it, hold off until its DVD release.
Stars: 1.5 out of 4 stars
Here's a gradebook outlook of films currently in theatres:
Movie Grade
Hereafter C-
Nowhere Boy A-
The Social Network A-
Conviction C+
My Soul to Keep D
Secretariat C-
Red C-
The Town A-
It's Kind of a Funny Story C-
No comments:
Post a Comment