Hereafter (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
'Hereafter' (directed by Clint Eastwood) tells the story of 3 people who are touched by death in different ways. The main plot involves George Lonegan (Matt Damon), a timid San Francisco-based factory worker who gave up a successful career as a psychic because he couldn't take living his life as he was; contacting the dead overwhelmed him. His older brother (Jay Mohr) wants George's 'gift' to produce money again. But George considers his gift a curse - one that has robbed him of a chance for a normal life (i.e., ease of being, romance). The curse rears its ugly head when a budding relationship btwn. George & his cooking class partner, Melanie (Bryce Dallas Howard), goes awry after she discovers his secret & asks for an impromptu reading.
The 2nd person touched by death is French woman, Marie Lelay (Cecile De France), a survivor of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Due to her near-death experience, the visions she sees while in limbo between life & death becomes the driving force in her very existence. Given a leave of absence from her job as a political TV journalist, Marie begins to investigate the experiences of others who have also touched the hereafter. When she expresses her need to write a book about this, she finds no help from her job; disdain, even. One publisher tells her that unless she writes about politics, her 'niche market' hereafter book would likely prevent her from continuing on at her current workplace. She then goes and does what her heart tells her.
And the 3rd plot thread involves London schoolboys, Marcus & Jason (Frankie & George McLaren); twin brothers who are struggling to keep their family together (Social Services wants to remove them from custody of their drunk, druggie mother). But tragedy strikes. While picking up a prescription for his mom, Jason is hit by a car. His death leaves Marcus bereft beyond words. With no twin brother, & being thrown into foster care ... his existence is that of a hollow shell. Hoping to make contact with Jason (from beyond), he begins seeking out psychics. Most wind up being frauds. An internet search leads him to George. But would the retired George receive him? The lives of these 3 people intersect; as each is desperate to know if and/or how life exists in the hereafter.
One of this film's biggest assets is also what hampers it: a slow, deliberate, but thought-provoking storytelling pace. The performances struck a chord with me. I liked seeing how each character copes with death (tormented by it, obsessed with it, need for closure). I appreciate how spiritual the movie is, without having to really specify religion. I liked the somber mood of the film. But it's that very mood & pacing which may not sit well with some audiences. The 129 min. running time isn't the problem; the 3-layer story needed that length, if not more. But the pacing & script could have been tighter. It's a fascinating original story that just needed some dramatic focus. That said, regardless of the quiet, languid pacing ... I like how Eastwood & writer Peter Morgan, through use of forgivable contrivance, was able to link the 3 stories. Parts of them are gloomy. George's is most interesting. But the effect you get in the end from all 3 is substantial.
Matt Damon gives his most understated performance, yet. I feel like I know his George; know his type. In fact, aside from the psychic character component, I felt very close to George; felt for him, understood him. And I commend Damon for having the intuitiveness to keep George at such a sympathetic, even-keel throughout. Cecile De France - never heard of her. But wow, do I know her now. Not only is she a knock-out, but I found her performance to be quite layered & affecting. And Bryce Dallas Howard toned down her usual over-the-topness in the small, but pivotal role of Melanie. As mentioned, the pacing & lack of dramatic focus hampered the film, a bit. But you can tell that - despite the script - the actors knew what they were doing every step of the way.
Another aspect of the film that bears mentioning is the opening Tsunami sequence. Simply put, it's masterful. The serenity (before the strike), the eeriness, the tidal wave, the catastrophe, the mayhem, the 'you are there' effect, the noise, the special effects, the havoc left in its path ... I found it all to be exceptionally handled. You know, Clint Eastwood is something else. He goes from being Dirty Harry, to doing Unforgiven, to directing himself in romantic pieces like Bridges of Madison County, to winning another Oscar with Million Dollar Baby, to creating the preachy-but-solid Invictus last year. The man never stops. His conservative filmmaking methods may stay the same, but the material is always challenging. With this film, contrivances aside, these are smart characters doing & saying smart things in their discovery of life's painful, wonderful uncertainties. 'Hereafter' is an absorbing movie to watch, if you let it.
The 2nd person touched by death is French woman, Marie Lelay (Cecile De France), a survivor of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Due to her near-death experience, the visions she sees while in limbo between life & death becomes the driving force in her very existence. Given a leave of absence from her job as a political TV journalist, Marie begins to investigate the experiences of others who have also touched the hereafter. When she expresses her need to write a book about this, she finds no help from her job; disdain, even. One publisher tells her that unless she writes about politics, her 'niche market' hereafter book would likely prevent her from continuing on at her current workplace. She then goes and does what her heart tells her.
And the 3rd plot thread involves London schoolboys, Marcus & Jason (Frankie & George McLaren); twin brothers who are struggling to keep their family together (Social Services wants to remove them from custody of their drunk, druggie mother). But tragedy strikes. While picking up a prescription for his mom, Jason is hit by a car. His death leaves Marcus bereft beyond words. With no twin brother, & being thrown into foster care ... his existence is that of a hollow shell. Hoping to make contact with Jason (from beyond), he begins seeking out psychics. Most wind up being frauds. An internet search leads him to George. But would the retired George receive him? The lives of these 3 people intersect; as each is desperate to know if and/or how life exists in the hereafter.
One of this film's biggest assets is also what hampers it: a slow, deliberate, but thought-provoking storytelling pace. The performances struck a chord with me. I liked seeing how each character copes with death (tormented by it, obsessed with it, need for closure). I appreciate how spiritual the movie is, without having to really specify religion. I liked the somber mood of the film. But it's that very mood & pacing which may not sit well with some audiences. The 129 min. running time isn't the problem; the 3-layer story needed that length, if not more. But the pacing & script could have been tighter. It's a fascinating original story that just needed some dramatic focus. That said, regardless of the quiet, languid pacing ... I like how Eastwood & writer Peter Morgan, through use of forgivable contrivance, was able to link the 3 stories. Parts of them are gloomy. George's is most interesting. But the effect you get in the end from all 3 is substantial.
Matt Damon gives his most understated performance, yet. I feel like I know his George; know his type. In fact, aside from the psychic character component, I felt very close to George; felt for him, understood him. And I commend Damon for having the intuitiveness to keep George at such a sympathetic, even-keel throughout. Cecile De France - never heard of her. But wow, do I know her now. Not only is she a knock-out, but I found her performance to be quite layered & affecting. And Bryce Dallas Howard toned down her usual over-the-topness in the small, but pivotal role of Melanie. As mentioned, the pacing & lack of dramatic focus hampered the film, a bit. But you can tell that - despite the script - the actors knew what they were doing every step of the way.
Another aspect of the film that bears mentioning is the opening Tsunami sequence. Simply put, it's masterful. The serenity (before the strike), the eeriness, the tidal wave, the catastrophe, the mayhem, the 'you are there' effect, the noise, the special effects, the havoc left in its path ... I found it all to be exceptionally handled. You know, Clint Eastwood is something else. He goes from being Dirty Harry, to doing Unforgiven, to directing himself in romantic pieces like Bridges of Madison County, to winning another Oscar with Million Dollar Baby, to creating the preachy-but-solid Invictus last year. The man never stops. His conservative filmmaking methods may stay the same, but the material is always challenging. With this film, contrivances aside, these are smart characters doing & saying smart things in their discovery of life's painful, wonderful uncertainties. 'Hereafter' is an absorbing movie to watch, if you let it.